Back on the easel

Some of you have been with me since I started this painting back in January. The figure has become so special to me, I have not found a suitable environment for him. Like I am not hearing the frequency, or the story clearly for some reason. I have painted, repainted, and walked away from it for long stretches. I worked on getting a sky laid in today and played with a few loose ideas for the ground on which he sits......

Happy weekend all.

Pen and the Infamous Baboon Painting

"Pen" goes to her new home in the morning, so I am preparing her to go today....

The infamous baboon painting that some of you have agonized over with me hangs in my bedroom incomplete. I believe in this painting, and have been waiting for the right time to go back to him. Yesterday, I put it on the easel and immediately got more information. Initially, I thought that the painting was a dream that another animal was watching...from her perspective. Now I know the dream is the baboon's. I realize I have to paint over most of the background in order to follow the next bit of information, so the meticulously painted birds will probably have to go.

Here is how it looks as of yesterday:

Let's see how it goes.

Today's Painting

Back to my simian friend today. I really have battled with my mind over the last week or so after such a set back on this painting, but I was damn determined to get to it this morning.

I have exchanged the sparrows for swallows which was the right fit all along. I remembered the pair that returns every summer to our breezeway. I wrote about it on The Helium Burden blog back in June. What a great lesson on perseverance they are and I needed that reminder while struggling with this painting. So, I have talked about the crap lighting in here, so I will unload a photo in the morning of work done today with my swallow lesson in mind and Marvin Gaye as my musical companion.

Thanks, all, for your kind words and encouragements regarding this painting.

It is time you all see the true madness that is Tracey Clarke when it comes to oil painting.
So, way back, losing several days work here at the end of the week. It has been a rather frustrating day. I went for a run after throwing a few things this morning (don't tell me you guys don't do that, too) and came back fearful of confronting my mess. In hindsight (why can't it ever be foresight?) I failed to listen to my gut and not only painted the birds too large but also chose the wrong birds.

In painting over the birds I have to repaint the background, so all the transitions have to be reworked from left to right. I am only fairly certain I have completed the left side. It will have to wait until tomorrow to be sure. Because of the crap afternoon light, the right side is way off in color.

Man, do you ever just have one of those days?..... I give myself a headache.

Painting Update

More fun at Michael's today after a morning coffee with a friend. I haven't been in some time and needed a can of picture varnish. It wasn't until I got home that I realized I picked up retouch varnish. After the long check out line of little elderly ladies buying fake greenery, I am terribly resistant to returning for an exchange and repeat. I do have a few cans of Soluvar around , so will have to use that in a pinch. "Chosen" is going to its new owner this weekend and needs varnish. It is about 30 degrees out today, so this will be an interesting project.

I felt the necessity to walk away from my current painting today. I feel rather frustrated and see that I must take a few steps back in the process. Throughout the afternoon I have walked into the studio for one thing or another and glanced over at the easel. My response is an emotional one, first of awe at what I see coming to life on the canvas, the second is dread over the elements that have to go or be reworked. Can I pull it off?......

Another issue pressing me is the studio lighting, which is poor. A string of headaches in the afternoon alert me to this problem. I understand that this can be easily remedied. If anyone in my artist family has any ideas or would like to share their own lighting situation I am sure I would be greatly helped.

Painting Update:Yesterday's work

I painted another layer of blacks and glazed a few elements on the face yesterday. As well, I started to put in the birds....More of the same today. Craig made me put the distant islands of grass back in.