Have a lot of difficulties with this painting. For one, the model forgot to bring his hat and staff for the second session, so the only thing I can do is try and work on the face and clothing. Since I felt that I had to stop, otherwise, I'll overwork the painting, I did a sketch of the model as well for the daily sketch.


Session one: June 17, 2006
Session two: June 24, 2006

Since the poses are broken up into two, three hour sessions, I usually start out with a line drawing of the figure and then end the first session with most of the form blocked in as an under painting. On the second session, I try and focus on the lights and shadows as well as subtle tones and colors. My ultimate goal is to be able to paint like Sorolla.

The model for this pose is a little quirky. She missed the first session, which was supposed to be on the 27th of May due to an emergency. But since she did not let the modeling guild know about it till too late, she had to make up that session without pay. Seems ridiculous, but what can you do. Needless to say that she was a bit upset about that for she had to drive to the workshop on her own dime. Her quirkiness stems from the fact that she was doing these breathing exercises, behind some storage racks, while on her break. What made them strange was the fact that everyone heard this rhythmic crowing sounds that could not be readily identified. I thought it was from a bird that had nested inside the building. I guess one must be a little quirky to be able to take ones cloths off for arts sake.

Session one: June 03, 2006
Session two: June 10, 2006

I was away at the annual E3 convention, held in L.A. this year, for the first session of this pose, so I only concentrated on something less complex then the entire figure for the second session. Also the pose was not too inspiring. Even so, three hours for a portrait was not enough. This model was not happy with the painters at the workshop because of the smell of the turpentine used. It's funny, because I actually love the mixed smell of oil paints and turpentine. Oh, how I would love to have a studio to just do paintings in.

Session one: E3
Session two: May 20, 2006

Moving away from the classical Dutch style paintings with dark backgrounds and trying the opposite. I've always wanted to try and have a lot of subtle color changes within my paintings. If I were to paint monochromatic, it would be a lot easier, but that's just too easy, and not too exciting.

Session one: April 29, 2006
Session two: May 06, 2006

Well, it's been about three months of painting and I'm still struggling with what it is that I'm trying to accomplish. It's not getting any easier, but at least I'm beginning to get the hang of the color mixing. Still a bit stingy on the amount of paint I put down. I guess I'm just too afraid to waste paint on a bad painting, but I need to get over that, HA!

Session one: April 15, 2006
Session two: April 22, 2006

This model was quite bored and that pose made him uncomfortable after a while.

Session one: April 01, 2006
Session two: April 08, 2006

Some sad news about this model. Two weeks after this painting was done, I heard that he had passed away.

Session one: February 25, 2006
Session two: March 04, 2006

The first session of this painting was no charge, because of the fiasco from the week before, which is great.

Session one: February 11, 2006
Session two: February 18, 2006

This was a quick two hour painting done at one of the patron's apartment because the clerk at the workshop didn't show up to open the studio. Rather than having a non-productive day of painting, One of the people volunteered her apartment for everyone to use.

February 4, 2006

The fifth painting and it's not getting easier. This one was done at a Saturday morning workshop that a friend had me joined because he's been going there, too. It's two sessions, three hours each session for two Saturdays.

Session one: January 07, 2006
Session two: January 14, 2006

This is the fourth painting since the start of my attemp at painting again after many years. The First was quite horrid, and so was the second. The third was better, but was given to a friend who wanted it.

December 16, 2006