A riddle, wrapped in a mystery

 

A study for my next painting. I see all my mistakes and will correct them in the next painting. Trying to get a feeling of mystery. The painting will have a full-body pose though and a different background. Thanks for looking in.

Stay healthy,

Bill

Flotsam and Jetsam

Here is a little treasure that I picked up ion my vacation this year. When I look at something like this I always think nature is a astounding. Oil paints on linen on board.

Thanks for looking in,

Bill

Standing man’s back, oil painting.

 

More an anatomy study then a finished painting. I like the dark reds in the shadows, that is  something the mighty Frazetta used to do in his paintings.. This is a short post this week, gathering thoughts for a facebook page and starting the Ebay motor maybe next week. I’ve been gathering my pictures and looking through them to see what I can auction off. The thing with Ebay is you usually have to stick with one style and motif and that is you on Ebay, but looking through my stuff, I don’t have one direction that I’ve been working on. Oh well, eyes closed and lets do it.

See you around,

Bill

Self Portrait after a day at the beach.

This is me after not shaving for two weeks and coming back from the beach. I painted this wet on wet and it took me about eight hours to finish.  I’ve a few projects on the back burner that I need to get finished and then I’ll be doing another bigger painting with a woman staring at you and I’ll try to put a few ravens in it because ravens are cool.

Thanks for looking in,

Bill

Vacation sketches and why I will stop chasing likes.

Hi people,

Heres a little of what I’ve been doing and a clue to where I’ve been the last week. It was good to get away from everything and get your mind on other things like walking on the beach and looking for cool stuff that has been washed ashore. I’ve also have been thinking about what I’ve been doing the last year. I realized I’ve was doing my best / creative work when I wasn’t chasing “likes” and doing what I felt came from my inside of me. Now anyone who has stopped by here knows I’m trying to paint a dragon. This just isn’t working, I’ve done studies, I took pictures of friend and relatives posing from me, but it just doesn’t feel right, I can’t explain this any better. Maybe it will come when I’m not trying to force it, but right now I feel the need to do something else. I’m strange that way sometimes, my best ideas and drawing / paintings come when I least expect it.

I realize I’m lucky because I don’t have to rely on my art for my income, I have a day job to pay my bills and put food on the table. I dream of supporting myself and family with my work but being realistic is probably safer and you can go on vacation without worrying about not eating.  So, my motto for the coming year will be- “Stop Chasing Likes.” You’re free to join me.

Stay healthy,

Bill

Road Toad.

 

On one of my daily walks I happened along a toad sitting in the middle of the road the other day and luckily I had my camera along and took his picture so I could paint him when I got home. I present to you the Road Toad.

Thanks for looking in,

Bill

Still life cookies on a plate.

I started painting still life a couple of weeks ago. I like to do smaller-finish-it-in-one-sitting paintings on the weekends when I work on bigger paintings during the week. This way I can try new things out and they are pretty fun to do. My last painting I was doing a series of alla-prima portraits of silent movie actresses, now I will be painting still life of thing I find around the house or things I see.

This one I was drinking coffee and eating some delicious Pinzenrolle cookies when I decided to paint them.

Thanks for looking in and heres to Germany’*s soccer team, Hooty-hoot.

Bill

“The Raven’s Song,” Oil Painting finished.

 

I finally finished this one after three months of painting. I really tried my best at getting her face just right, I think I spend three weeks on her alone. I am very happy with this painting, and will probably be hanging this one in my home after framing it. This will also be my submission for the art exhibit in our town this fall.

I still haven’t started on my next painting yet. I didn’t have time to take any photos or start the graphite drawing. I will finish up a some of my smaller paintings that I have laying around here before moving on.

Thanks for stopping by and stay positive,

Bill

Oil paints Alla-prima portrait Alice White

 

 

Hi people, closing in on the finish for my larger painting. I’m also gathering reference material for my next painting. I’ll be doing a photo-shoot with friends of mine, to get the right gestures. Heres a portrait I did this weekend of the silent movie actress Alice White. I usually work from a black and white picture and really don’t know what color hair she has or what kind of skin complexion. I just sort of guesstemat, and try to make it look good in the end. This will probably be the last Portrait for a while, next week I’ll be doing a small still life and try to see if I can get it done in the same amount of time.

Thanks for looking in,

Bill

 

Sketchbook Dragon study.

Hey people, heres something from my sketchbook. I’ve been looking at a lot of lizards and reptile lately trying to get ideas for a dragon. I will probably go with this head, but more horns on his head and maybe one close to his jaw. My next step is to take this into blender and model and then sculpt him. I’ve one or two more weeks on my current painting, I’m closing in on the final layer and we are slowly but surely becoming friends again.

Thanks for looking in and stay healthy,

Bill