Broken with Purpose Step by Step

Before I post some more Portrait studies I thought I would add yet another step by step painting. This one is titled “Broken with Purpose” … it all started with a desire to well just paint a broken egg but, it became much more than that as I began thinking on the what the title might be … Broken with Purpose popped into mind and so I began thinking on the title as the painting progressed some meaning about being broken with and for a purpose how that could relate to our own life.

This was the result of that thought ….

An Egg, it has so many purposes that might come to mind. But what came to my mind was that even when broken it has purpose. In fact, with one of its uses it must be broken in order to fulfill its intended function. Such as in the hands of as master Chef … who breaks the egg to take its rich yoke to create something wonderful and so sweet to the taste. In order to bring about this perfect creation the egg had to be broken.

I then realized that sometimes we too might feel broken and of no use. But just perhaps we need to be broken so that we too can fulfill our intended purpose.

It has been said that our trials in life only serve to make us stronger! So, should we feel broken down or perhaps that we should even be discarded. We should pause and consider that this might be the beginning of one of our greatest moments. The moment when in the hands of the Master we are “Broken with Purpose”!

Enjoy!!!

A Little Cheese Cake – Step by Step

Here is another step by step. Only in this one my drawing was direct approach and then right to Alla Prima ( At Once ) wet into wet until it was done. This particular piece was done in one sitting though I do not recall exact time it took to complete.

Enjoy!

“Eric – My Son” Quick Portrait Study

This piece is titled “Eric – My Son”, I wont focus to much on the tragedy that took my first born from us at the age of 19 via a drowning.

Life truly is a vapor, its here then vanisheth as the scripture says. Eric, one of 4 children was the oldest and much loved brother and of course son. Talented, and what a looker which reminds me of a great story about him. One time at Church camp I recall I was working in the kitchen when I saw him come into the dinning area. He was dressed and ready for the nights service which would soon start.

Eric was a sharp dresser, and as I already mentioned was a real looker, as I looked up I saw at a table in the dinning area several of the girls that were attending that year and as Eric entered into the room I saw their jaws drop and the smiles and then whispering …. it was so obvious that they were pleased with his entrance.

I can’t help nut laugh about it as I write, and yet a little pause, and tears for such a loss. I love my son so very much and there is not a day I do not think about him and look at his picture next to my computer at my desk in my studio.

This drawing, is not my best work, It is the first of several studies that will lead up to a painting I wish to do of him. I have wanted to do one for many years now, but, I feel that I my skills are now where I can do it justice.

There is however, a strong likeness, for a 58 minute drawing I am pleased. The hardest part was the picture I was working from His face on the photo is not much bigger than my thumbnail. So I had to use a magnifying glass which sad to say did not help much.

Needless to say I captured him well!

Here is Eric – My Son!!! ( Love you Eric )

8 Ball Corner Pocket Step by Step

I like to give back to the Artist community though some times time does not allow me to do it every where such as the many Artist forums I participate in. But, I will post them here and try to place images else where to get you to the higher res versions of them.

Anyway, I thought I would show one the methods I use. After establishing a drawing here then, ink in stage which consist of umber or sienna. Then its Alla Prima which means “At Once” or “First Time”. Simply, painting wet into wet until the painting is completed.

This demonstrates that process and it is one I find is quite enjoyable. I do not recall how long this particular piece took me, though I do recall when I painted a series of these smaller works and most where in a single night though some because of time constraints ( ever have any of those?) it may have been painted over a few nights.

I hope this helpful and educational for the artist that are searching as I have so many times and found it difficult in the past to find answers well, I hope this will help in search for answers to how do others do it?

First I wanted to post the completed work! Now the step by steps!  Below you will find the find I began with a drawing, where I used the grid method to get the drawing as accurate right from the start so I don’t have to worry about having to make to many adjustments as I progress and so I can get right to painting.  Just  note, I do not use the grid method for most small works but I do on occasion. You will find however as time goes on your drawing skills will be sufficient to get the drawing as needed. I may post various methods of drawing to canvas without the use of a grid, learning to see shapes and put your work together I find most helpful in all my drawing and painting endeavors.

After the ink in I continue Alla Prima until its all blocked in, then, I finish with the final layer consisting of final refinements and highlights.

Portrait and Figure Studies

Here is basically an art dump … from my sketch pad to your pc or your mac

I am adding many speed studies of both portraits and figurative studies. I am also throwing a self portrait study I did in just under 10 minutes. Not bad! But not my best!!!

Also, I want to throw out a blanket thank you and credit to the Deviant art Photographers that provide images for artist study. I will try and get a more specific credit with the names of these wonderful people. They provide a service to the artist community that is just so much appreciated.

Note some of the images however are from Flickers creative commons and free to use, I recommend the site for portrait and figure study.

With that being said lets add the images. One of the image set are of a thumb nail sketch’s of a cowboy study … an Idea for a painting.

A quick Self portrait Man what a good looking Guy

Lady Agnew … One of my Favorites of John Singer Sargent! He was and is amazing and this painting really moves me. There is such a natural beauty to her and what a graceful pose.

I reluctantly post this image. As it is a very quick study of my favorite painting of all.  By William Bouguereau and its entitled The Shepherdess (1889). It is on display here in Tulsa Oklahoma at the Phillbrook Museum. I stood in front of it and was nearly brought to tears by its beauty. I know if I took my time I could give a much better or accurate depiction of such a wonderful piece. But then, these wouldn’t be speed portrait practice.

I recently went to the Annual Tulsa Pow wow, and I had such a great time, met wonderful people and found 2 Models that will soon be gracing my studio in full dress for a model shoot. They are also Artist themselves and create some of the most beautiful Knives I have ever seen and that’s not all they make. This dancer above I am also working on getting to my studio. I am searching for him and believe I have him found. Needless to say he was one of my favorites though there were so many beautiful dancers.

This study is for a piece I want to do. I would like though He come to my studio for a photo shoot so I can get the detail that is worthy the wonderful dance he danced. I was mesmerized as he danced around the floor and fascinated with the eagle like movements. It was like an eagle soaring above and swooping down for its prey at various times.

I am sure there is more depth to each move than I know, but perhaps we can get him to explain some of them and I could play the video as he dances. Wouldn’t that be neat?

I hope these are all enjoyable to you. I will be posting more soon. Also, I am hiring models to come in and we will soon be doing photo shoots for projects I am working on. I am confident you will enjoy what is to come and I will be showing a lot of the steps as usual to producing my work.  More to come!!!

Finished a Gentleman in Venice

Here is the completed Painting Signed and ready to sale.

Note many portrait and figure studies to follow!

A Gentleman in Venice

Here are a few images of the piece almost finished.  I have completed the piece and it will soon be shown locally here soon in Broken Arrow Oklahoma.

I will be posting soon all the steps involved in the creation of this piece. I took a lot of video on this one from start to finish and will be able to put together a very nice walk through of its process. Also, I am looking into taking the video as I painted and put together a progression video so one can see it in action so to speak.

I will be adding other work soon too! I am working on 2 major projects that I am so enjoying, I look forward to sharing as it unfolds. Well, here it is! Please note I will post the completed image soon!

Here is a Dry Brush study

I am trying a dry brush technique that I have come across and have been learning a lot about its history. I wont go into it here but here is what it is. I am using high quality paper and black oil paint. I will share more particulars at another time but I mixed the paint myself using a couple of colors to a blue black.

More black than blue but it I felt needed it to get the consistency to achieve the desired effects. This is only a study, but this is something I plan doing some serious pieces with. They are already in the plans.

I hope you enjoy it, and I only I am sorry to say have a couple shots of progress steps. I was in more of a learning for me stage and only after it started to coming together that I decided to take a few shots of it.  Here is what I have. I would love to know what you think of it. I personally see so much potential in this method.

Study … For a crowd piece

Gathering images for a piece concerning crowds each having a central figure. My hopes will be to convey something, story about the central figure.

If nothing else I hope something of interest to look at by the viewer

Here they are a few of the steps I took. Alla Prima here too. Of course again this is not an attempt again to do a finished piece, however, Its not as loose as the previous study posted.  Again I apologize for the pictures if they are a little dark. I will perhaps work on them at another time. Enjoy!!!

A quick Figurative Study

This piece is just a study of an image I like and felt would make a great study. I didn’t take this one to a completed state as I might a more serious piece. However, I will show a few of the steps so you can see what approach I took.
You will see a charcoal outline, then I went right to it. Alla prima was what I chose for this piece. It was fun, quick, and we are only looking at about 2 hours work here, of course much more if I wanted to refine it to a finished piece.
Truthfully, I love this quickies … they have a freshness I like and I am sure I will explore this technique in future work. Well … here it is … I appologize for a couple of the pics being a little dark. Still I hope it will work for now I may update them later.