Sunday was special because I had the pleasure of meeting and photographing NHL star, Mark Recchi. Over the next few weeks, I’ll paint his portrait.
I’m back
I’ve not been posting for awhile because I have been incubating a plan for the future. A couple paintings were done since December, Janskins, which was posted and a portrait of Julie Hall that I will post if it’s accepted into the FCA Open Show for April.
I’m gearing up for an exciting solo show in 2013 at the Kamloops Art Council Gallery. All I will say at this time is it’s a portrait show and I expect it to draw big crowds! Why? because of who will be featured in the portraits.
With most of my painting energy focused on pieces for this show, I will post snippits of the paintings so as not to give away the image until the show opening.
Here’s a snippit of Julie
Monumental Drawing – finished
For me, the word “monumental” is steeped in a realm of feeling and history that would take a book to reveal its depth and breadth.
For those who have known me and my endeavor to complete the Monumental Drawing, know now, that it is finished.
I started it in 1996.
I’ve just entered it into a juried show in New York called, “Artist’s Wanted.” This show has the potential to give this piece a life of it’s own – at last.
Visit http://Budreau.artistswanted.org/yr2011 to view the 30 foot tall work, read about it’s journey, and vote using the blue button. Your vote counts towards a Peoples Choice Award.
Please note: the piece is so tall that I can’t get a good photo of it in one photo, so I stitched several photos together – click on it for larger view, and if in the enlarged view it appears to shrink, or still looks small, click once more.
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Monumental Drawing 30'x5' Pencil on Stonehenge (stitched photos here)
Drawing
The ability to draw well is essential in your art toolbox. Being able to convey your ideas or drawing exactly what you see or to convincingly convey from your imagination or as end unto itself, drawing is key. It makes setting up for the end result, stronger. Like a well built house, a solid foundation and framework is inside and often cannot be seen, same with drawing before you paint.
If you want to get past a stickman, or if you just want to improve your skills, sign up for my 2 day drawing workshop at Trends Art and Frame in Kamloops.
March 4, and 11, 2012 10am -3pm
150.00 for 2 days and includes all supplies
Call Leslie to book your space 250-372-9331
Drawing Workshop
For those of you in the “neighbourhood” who may like to hone your drawing skills, or learn some drawing skills, I’ll be teaching a 2-day workshop at TRENDS Art & Frame in Kamloops on Sunday March 4 and Sunday March 11, 2012. It runs from 10am-3pm. Phone Leslie at 250-372-9331 to sign up. If drawing a stickman gives you grief, you will get a lot out of this workshop.
$150.00 and includes all the supplies you’ll need, just show up with a lunch and an open mind. Looking forward to seeing you there.
Painting: Janskins – 4
I put a good 5 hours on this today. It’s pretty close to being finished, will see how it looks in the morning.
Painting: Janskins – 3
What is Janksins? I think it was a product name a few years ago, but that has nothing to do with the title of this painting. It’s a nickname that evolved for her.
So here we go folks, flesh tones and then I had to let loose a bit on the hair, collar and background! Maybe someday I’ll settle down and do the rest with as much tenacity. I’ll see how it looks in the morning – it may need some adjustments.
Painting: Janskins – 2
About 15 years ago when I lived in a quiet and solitudinal log cabin near Kanaka Creek in Maple Ridge, BC, my friend and fellow artist came for a visit. As most friends do, we took pics of one another to remember that time and I’m so glad I have them as I so rarely get to see her. A few days ago she emailed to tell me that a mutual friend of ours was badly injured. As tragedy often does, it brings people closer together. I pulled out this picture of her that I always liked and felt it was at last time to do a rendition.
Here the values are laid in with Burnt Sienna because I want the warmth to show through in places. I always enjoy this stage of painting.
Painting: Janskins – New
It’s been a week of creative struggle and confusion, well it’s actually been going on for longer than that, but the holidays with 12 days off, until today, have been a set back as far as painting goes. The loose and spontaneous painting I was trying lately spun me off the rails. The canvas burn pile grew more than I would like!
To get back on track I made a few drawing studies and that didn’t work, I looked at works of masters, like Holbein and Durer and Bravo to pull me back, I even wrote to someone I admire for advice and she so kindly replied – thankyou!
So today I returned to the easel and made some progress.
I have to admit I’ve been dodging putting flesh tones in my portraits, not because I’m intimidated by them, but they feel restrictive. If you’ve seen my previous portraits, they are less than true to life in terms of colour and I’ve had a lot of fun doing them. Today however, is flesh tone day.
Below is the sketch.
Painting: Marine-ah – 3
I have to say that using white is not my favourite choice because of it’s cooling down power to rich vibrant colours. I played around with options on my pallet before settling for white to make the sea green hue I am going for. I’ve only had the morning to work on this piece and now have to go on to other things for the rest of the day so here’s where I’ve left off. The colours I’m using are Pthalo blue, Permanent Green, Titanium white and a tiny bit of Naples yellow.
