Canyonlands Large block-in

I have started this block-in of a Utah Canyonlands Sunset.  I did this previously at 11 inch by 14 inch.  This is at 18 inch by 24 inch, so I have expanded it.  I blocked-in a darker color and I will add layers and subtract color to get this where I want it.  I liked in the smaller side so I want it bigger and a way to practice to improve, repeating paintings and experimenting.

Head studies - More practice

So back to work today, I worked on some head sketches.  These are basic layouts of the structure for doing head studies.  The first is a muscular structure, then with the basic shape, then with basic shading, and finally more complete shading and shadows.

Octopus - Finished

A Good Memorial Day to you, I finished this up and then started a larger painting but it is not ready to show.  I mostly made small adjustments to this Octopus with more suckers added and then adding the little shadows on each.  I added small eyes to finish its head.

Spring Yellow Flowers in a Beach Pail - block-in plus

I have gone back to doing some painting this weekend.  This is a Spring flower planted in a child's Beach pail with a little shovel.  I will have to figure out the type of flower, and I will update that later.   I want to work the darks better in the leaves and better set the flowers.

Profile and shading studies

I am continuing to work from the Andrew Loomis book practice sketches in pencil

Angry Old Men Sketches

Happy Friday, I worked on Quick Sketches of Angry Old Men, sort of a good way to de-compressing from the regular work week.  I am getting faster on these and I want to get that way so i can draw people in person quickly.

Laughing Heads

So quick sketches tonight of laughing heads.  I am trying to get better at quickly drawing heads and capturing facial expressions. These are basic and a good way to practice. I use to do some of these on the Metro train but these are better for a quick ones.

Mouths - A way back finally

So after some work, some travel, and some new printer/scanner difficulties, I am back to posting some of my art work.  This is a set of mouth studies from the Andrew Loomis book.  I did these this evening and they are pencil studies of mouths at difference angles done quickly.

The Eyes have it

Drawings of eyes with pencils for practice.  It was a long day at the regular job so a quick escape to art-land for some therapy.

Portsmouth Island Finished

I put the final touches on this oil painting of Portsmouth Island.  I made some edge adjustments and added my clouds, while making small additions to the waves along the beaches.

Head and Muscle sketches

Tonight, I worked on faces and the underlying muscles which can lead to the different facial emotions.  Drawing is the underlying basis for all the work and improvement needed.  This is work to improving skills in painting portraits.

Head Shots sketches

Long day today, so I just worked on these head shot sketches to include facial muscle sketches done in pencil.

More face sketches

I am alternating nights.  Tonight I drew faces from Loomis.   Tomorrow I will return to painting.  So I whipped these out.  I need to keep working on the basic skills.  I will need to keep repeating skill practice between painting drawing and other things.  It needs to be an endless process of competition against yourself.

Portsmouth Island, North Carolina

With this series of photos you can see how I develop a painting from block-in to refinement.  While not done, I like how this is advancing.  I need to finish the wave action and to sort out the green vegetation on the barrier island.   This is an oil painting.

Monday Night Faces

After a day of work, I decided to draw this evening, so I have been practicing the quick sketch of faces from the Andrew Loomis Book.  This is part of the practice of 10,000 hours.  So enjoy it.