Decisions, Revisions

College Seminar, Oil on Panel, 12"x24"

The top left example does not quite illustrate the intensity of the blue ground. It was more cobalt than it appears. I felt this leaned toward an illustrative aspect and moved to a Payne's Gray.  I've also decided to put one more apple in behind the glass bowl.  Still wondering if the genders should be separated and symmetrical as they are.  

What's Going On Here?

 

College, 12"x24" Oil on Panel

In my mind the Cardinals will be in an interior setting.  Background to be determined.  But, I'm considering a midtown blue toward the indigo.  The Cardinal to the left of the bowl will sit on a sprig of winterberry.  

Copley Society of Art, Small Works: Symphony

 

Four times a year the Copley Society of Art, of which I'm a member, calls for small works from the members.  These works can be no larger than 200 square inches and framed.  My work above, Cardinal with Paintbrush #2, will be shown there along with the below.  I'm pleased to have Cardinal featured on the CoSo website.  

Rose of Sharon, Oil on Panel, 10"x10"

A Few Birds Later

Enjoy. Holiday Shows, Member Shows, Juried Shows, Christmas Presents.

The Critic, 2022, Oil on Panel, 16"x12"

The Studio Assistant, 2022, Oil on Panel, 12"x12"

Female Blue Bird, 2022, Oil on Panel, 6"x6"

Brown Pelican, 2022, Oil on Panel, 4"x4"

Great Blue Heron, 2022, Oil on Panel, 4"x4"

Snowy Egret, 2022, Oil on Panel, 4"x4"

Three Part Harmony, 2022, Oil on Panel, 12"x24"

 

The Male Northern Cardinal

 

Male Northern Cardinal, 2022, oil on panel, 6"x6"

The Baltimore Oriole: Balancing Act #6

Baltimore Oriole Balancing Act #6, 2022 Oil on Panel 8"x8"

I was interested in finding how a very loose painterly ground would work with a tight subject.  As you can see I compromised a bit.  The light is probably due to the photographic process as much as the painting process. 

 

Organization Required

 It seems I have been uploading progress to another account.  I'm quite disorganized with accounts associated with both my professional name of Gunnels and my married name of LaGue.  Once I take the time to figure out how to merge them, I'll be more consistent.  This brings me to missed posts.  Below are the completed paintings that will be submitted to the Copley Society for the Annual Holiday Show.  They are all 6"x6" oil on Panel.

Male Eastern Bluebird

Female Eastern Bluebird

Female Northern Cardinal

Northern Male Cardinal

 

Northern Male Cardinal, 2022, Oil on Panel, 6"x6"

He just hopped right off the easel today.  Preening his beautiful red feathers, he seems to say, "Are you looking at me?  Aren't I gorgeous?"  Seriously, I elected to have him exist in an undefined space with some depth created through values.  

Works on the Easel

 While I still have 3 other paintings on the easel, I've also added these 4.  I like working on multiple pieces as it gives me time for thought, analysis and drying.  All of the works pictured here are 6x6" oils on panels.  I've approached them as male and female pairs but can be considered stand alone.  They are intended for the Copley Society's Small Holiday Works.  

Hydrangeas are in Bloom, A Work in Progress

 

Hydrangeas in Blue Vase

The hydrangeas are in bloom. As always, I'm seduced.  I'm also in mourning for my beautiful cobalt aquamarine vase that I have always used to paint hydrangeas.  I clumsily knocked it against an unforgiving object and cracked it.  Still in solid form I'm afraid to fill it with water less it shatter.  This vase is four sided and filled with various blues and reflections.  I found the shape to be more traditional but not as lovely as the cobalt sphere.  😢

 

The American Goldfinch and The Baltimore Oriole

 

                                       American Goldfinch, 2022, Oil on Panel, 8"x8"

Baltimore Oriole, 2022, Oil on Panel, 8"x8"

I'm in a bit of a painters block. As such I've resorted to old reliables.  I can get engaged just with the color.  

 

                        

 

 

A Jar of Nuthatches

 

A Jar of Nuthatches, 2022, Oil on Panel, 12"x24"

Usually a Nuthatch will be observed upside down on a tree trunk.  Sometimes one is even seen hanging upside down from a branch.  But as I wanted a Jar of them I opted to have them perching along a few branches posed in ways to show all aspects.  After much work I realized the composition was weak.  The 5 birds should have been placed lower in the frame.  So....one more bird in the lower left was added as well as more branches.  (see the previous video posting to see this progression)

A Jar, work in progress

Once again, I have begun a painting that doesn't work.  The first problem I spotted was the panel was too large.  Then, the birds were just too evenly spread.  And, although Nuthatches do hang upside down, that bird looked ridiculous with the other four. Finally, the ground was too insubstantial.  Take a look at the video to see where I am now with more adjustments needed.  

The Effects of Orange on Blue, 2022

The Effects of Orange on Blue, 2022, oil on panel, 24"x36"

The Effects of Orange on Blue

I began this still life about a month ago with the idea to set a few blue ceramic pieces against a dark ground.  I initially composed the piece very asymmetrically hoping for an atmospheric effect.  You can see in the video the various changes I made.  The asymmetry just did not work, nor did the large cobalt vase.  Oranges were changed out, hyacinths became daffodils and forsythia to balance the oranges.  The size of the glass cobalt vase decreased and increased.  At this point I believe I'm ready to settle in with finishing.  Oh, yellow is a bugger to use over indigo.  LOL 

Back in the Saddle Again

 

Toward the Horizon (WIP), 24"x36"

I've been away from my studio for 6 1/2 weeks in Imperial Beach and Mexico City.  The daily sunset show was so awesome and inspiring that I committed to producing a really large image rather than the small 6x12's I usually make.  This is hardly finished.  The water is only blocked in.  I need to bring oranges into it in order to keep a balance between sky and water.  Just to prove my inspiration below is the untouched photo.  

Imperial Beach, CA

The Baltimore Oriole with Oranges

Baltimore Oriole with Oranges #1, 2021, Oil on Panel, 12"x12"

Baltimore Oriole with Oranges #2, 2021, Oil on Panel, 12"x12"