Watching What You're Watching

Or not. But insomniacs and the rest of the world can unite, as I will be painting from late wednesday night through the banker's workday on thursday. You can watch me paint pluff mud on the RLS webcam under news and more. Normally, with a show opening around the corner, I would be doing a painter's tribute to the 48 hours of le mans, but I am getting old. So I figure if I can finish the foreground, many won't notice the rest of the unfinished areas. This way I might actually get sleep and be coherent for an opening. Hope to see you there! RLS 2 Queen St. Charleston, SC Friday, April 2nd, 5-9pm.


And lest I forget, the latest painting in the gallery: ul 92 (rutherford)!

Light

Months ago I shot the series of reference photos for this painting, but was never really impressed with the light. Figuring I could always shoot the scene again later, I started using what I had. It is a view from a path I walk often at sunset, but whenever the the light is perfect, undoubtedly I left my camera at home.


Because the weather never agrees with deadlines, I will be using my color studies to help define the shades and hues. On the back of each, I label where I was, the conditions of light that day, the time (+ or - time to sunset/sunrise), the direction in relation to the sun, the area of sky, and the colors I use.


Luck of the draw and with a little mixing and matching, these three represent three areas of sky just before sunset on a clear day. After close attention to the horizon line and a light wash to create a warm under layer, I have a great base for some lowcountry lines.


-jb.

Woowho, It Is Spring!

Which I am declaring today simply because it was pretty to paint outside and the clouds are back! FYI those would be the big puffy ones that this time of year only hiccup short showers.


It is also deadline time, so I am trying to finish up the small projects that hang around the studio and get them up on the website by Thursday.Today was
painting on the flat, mixing colors over the ICW at sunset, covering the last panel in the color series (definitely a #3 moment), and now I'm off to work a small sliver of Grey Bay at low tide.



-jb.

Five Favorite Things About Being an Artist: #3

As I have exhaustingly detailed in earlier blog posts, completing the painting part of a painting is a mix of pain and pleasure. But, completing the first layer is always a joy! It is a small moment where you first get to see what a painting will be.


Instead of focusing on all the work that lies ahead, the second layer with all its details, I focus on the triumph of getting it to this point. In this case, the days of trying to figure out when the tide will creep up onto the flat, the inevitable days of getting it wrong, keeping my camera safe from the passing thunderstorms, the endless photo edits, to even the physical fact of the prepared panel and the countless hours of coating, sanding, and recoating. But here is where that panel disappears, where the last of the white (or in this case where I used a tinted ground, pink) dissapears, and all that hard work is behind you and a painting emerges. Thus, #3 on my list of five favorite things about being an artist...

-jb.

Switching Walls

My studio is set up so I can work on two walls at once. This way I don't get burnt out by focusing on just one painting. Also, I can keep an eye on what I will be working on next. Today I shifted the lights to illuminate my next big project.


This painting is a 180 degree view from Goat Island Municipal Golf Course out to Mt. Pleasant. It will keep me busy until my show opens April 2nd. Along the top is a photo series of the clouds. The bottom is a rough photoshopped version of the entire scene. Lastly, in the distance, are two of the four studies that I paint on site.

-jb.

Finito

It has ended. Pronounced DOA on Sunday morning at 1:52 am after an hour plus of staring and doing little, say goodbye to "Spiral" and hello to "ul 90 (mixed messages)."


Of course nothing is so simple, and this painting has yet to be "completed." For example, it needs to be cleaned, glazed with a slight touch of color, and then after a year, be varnished.


All of these adjustments will just slightly alter the painting, make it complete, but for the record, i count a painting done when i am finished with the paint.

-jb.

Killing and Murdering

i often use this diction when talking about finishing a painting. i want the painting to die, but this makes no sense. first off, a painting doesn't really exist until it has a viewer. you could argue that i too am a viewer, but i would say i am the one who viewed. secondly, the act of finishing a painting makes it complete and whole, the opposite of death. finally, i am not a violent person.


i would guess it is the grief over the end of the idea that makes me equate finishing with death. when i stop painting, the idea is over and there is only result.
result that i can always find fault with.


so here, blade by blade i am ending this painting. maybe for these reasons i am always hesitant to finish a painting. or rather, anxious. this is the final push, and if i am diligent, will be done in six to eight hours.



and fred! your paintings speak nothing of death (but i needed a segway into the blog). in fact, you paint with more life than most i know, and probably save a good bit for yourself too. congratulations on your opening tonight!

-jb.