The Backward Glance

On our recent visit to St. Augustine we wandered into a used book store where I came across a fabulous book of historic costumes. I fell in love with the couple on the left dressed in their empire style outfits from the early 19th century. I decided to put them standing on a checkerboard marble floor with heavy drapery framing them. Although I have heard numerous lectures on perspective, sketching the floor gave me more than a little trouble. After quite a bit of trial and error pages I was definitely ready to forgo the whole idea. Anyway, I think I've got it just about where I want it so I sketched it on to the canvas. This painting, project number 5 for this blog, will be the biggest painting I've attempted ~ 30 x 36 so there might be some further changes to the layout. It was the glance that sold me though ~ what is she looking back at ~ the handsome footman, the table laden with desserts, her giggling girlfriends?

A Bump in the Road

Last night we went to a reception at the Cornell Museum of Arts & American Culture at the Old School Square (http://www.oldschool.org/cornell.asp) in Delray. We saw an exceptional exhibit of watercolors and oil paintings by artist Dean Lamont Mitchell (for information about the artist see (http://www.askart.com). Mr. Mitchell's paintings showcase his expertise in brush control. Some of his paintings can almost be broken down into simple geometric patterns. And yet the patterns combine to create a realistic interpretation of his subjects. Beautiful!

The bump in the road for my own artistic journey in trying to find my own style is that lately I have been experimenting with much freer brushwork. Trying to get a softer look with more depth I have been working not only with more paint on my brush but with less regard for hard edges. The painting above, while not complete, demonstrates this style on the left side of the house. I added more texture because I felt the house felt too flat. In my mind each side has its good and bad points. While I do believe that the subject matter will usually dictate painting style, sometimes, as in this case, its hard to determine which way to go. Clearly, though, both styles don't work on one building!

New York City Sunflowers

One of the things I love about living in New York are the flower stands on many of the corners. Row after row of beautiful blooms provide a welcome oasis to the eye. I found these magnificent sunflowers bursting with color on the corner of 86th and York Avenues. After sketching them in on a 16 x 20 linen canvas I blocked in the background and the dark centers of the flowers ~ can't wait to see them blossom!

Young Russian Girl

My father-in-law while working for the Russian military intelligence during World War II was posted to Berlin. Along with many fascinating stories about his experiences there he left behind thousands of photographs. This one I've chosen for project number 3, a charcoal pencil drawing, is of a young girl in Eastern Germany taken soon after the war ended. One can already see etched on her young face the memories she will carry the rest of her life. We have no idea who she is or what became of her.

Key West Rooster

For the second project I have chosen to do an oil of this fabulous rooster we came across on our visit to Key West. These roosters roam freely all over downtown but I have decided to give mine a home. I am hoping to get some nice contrasts in this painting between the dark interior and the light falling on the outside of the hen house. The last picture shows the background roughed in and the rooster himself ready for some blocking in.

White Tulips

Inspired by both Linda B. Cromer (http://www.lindabcromerwatercolors.com) whose brilliant work I saw at a show in New York and by Sylvia Abrams whose fantastic watercolors were exhibited at the Valencia Palms Show, I have decided to do a still-life watercolor for the first project on this blog. The first photograph is of the still-life I set up in the studio. The one beneath it is a 9" x 11" drawing. I then traced the small drawing and used that tracing to transpose a faint outline on a 14" x 20" 140 lb cold pressed Arches watercolor paper. Looking at the final drawing I realize I may have been a little over-ambitious with the intricacy of some of the patterns. Uh-oh.

Works in Progress

Welcome to my blog! Now that I have my web site up and running and have the Valencia Palms art show behind me I am ready to start 5 new projects. I will be posting about each one along with photographs each step of the way. There will be one watercolor, one drawing, and three oils paintings. Please feel free to e-mail me at Margaretlyons@rcn.com with any comments or questions.