Many Works in the Fire

I am working on several pieces of different sizes.  I continue to work on the two commissioned pieces of Cardinals and Orioles.  But the drying times are long probably due to the very hot and humid weather we are having.  I have a call from one gallery to bring in new works.  There is also a call from the Copley Society to enter a juried show.  So below are all those works.

Minkcove, Diptych 36"x48", Oil on Panel

Pictured above is the large piece begun for The Drawing Room in New Bedford.  Anthi Frangiadis, the owner, has approved.  It is a view of the marsh seen out my studio.

Unity,  18"x36", Oil on panel

The Copley Society of Art's Fall juried member show is entitled Unity. Their call states, "During these challenging and often divisive times we face, in this thematic juried show our artists will reflect through their work the important and positive ways in which unity is celebrated. We invite your entries and interpretations."  Since I don't usually paint the required size or thematically other than birds, I was uncertain about an image.  Then, I remember the dories in Kennebunkport and decided that they were the perfect image of unity.  

And, finally with the cardinals I have inserted the last bird.  

Many Works in the Fire

 For the near future, unless something of important significance occurs, I'm simply going to post images of the works in progress.  I welcome comments or questions during this time.  

Cardinals and Orioles, Works in Progress

Now that we have pretty much settled on the imagery and composition, I've started to apply 'real' paint.  I'm working on both paintings simultaneously to keep them as a working pair.  Then, a most unexpected problem occurred.  Perhaps you can see here the table line that is visible through the fruit.  Because I had taped off the ground and applied the paint so thickly with a palette knife I now have a raised area.  I will need to go in and scrape out that raised area.  

 

Cardinals and Orioles, Works in Progress

 

The patron did not care for the center singing birds. He felt they were too long and thin.  I agreed and looks for birds that could sit tall for the pyramidal composition but not sing or be too out of proportion.  I removed the singing birds and then had to attempt to fill the ground with a matching color.  

Rose of Sharon

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

This slide show is of the ten working sessions, each approximately 3 hours, for The Rose of Sharon.  

Cardinals and Orioles, Works in Progress

 

The two backgrounds were worked in order to created a mottled, textured surface and a complement to the birds and fruit.  This was applied over days with a palette knife.  It then took days and day for them to dry enough to work on.  I'm still short a few birds.  As I said earlier the format has created some difficulty with the number of birds and fruit agreed upon.  I will be sending images to the patron for input and approval.  

Cardinals and Orioles, Works in Progress

This many male Northern Cardinals would probably not be hanging together.  They fiercely defend breeding territory from other males and do so with the most beautiful voice. The Orioles are more social.  They are seen feeding in pairs on the nectar feeder. These two paintings have been commissioned.  The upcoming posts will show the many stages that transpire as the patron and I collaborate on ideas. Commission work is different and somewhat more difficult for me.  This time for instance the patron wanted a particular canvas size and format that made it difficult to re-create a similar painting he had seen.  

He had seen this painting which is 12"x24" and wanted a similar composition but a format that was 16"x24".  That meant either a lot of empty space above and below the birds or really huge birds.  We finally compromised on 14"x24".