I decided to break things up a little and use different paper for this piece. It is 11×17 Tan multi-media paper. I was very pleased with the results.
The Pugilist (selfie) 11×17 Tan paper & watercolors
Tag: diary
Lin
At least until Mid-July I will not be able to take photos to use as raw material for my Cinefield® work. I continue to happily paint, enjoying myself. As I am locked into a groove, this piece too was done in my Talens Art Creation Multi Media 4×4 inches pocket pad.
Watercolor & paper 4×4 inch Pad
I had a little bit of paint left in my palette. I also had few of a different style I had bought while doing residency in Paris. These have a different style of pigment and look to them. I decided to do a loose experiment. Unfortunately, I grabbed the wrong pad of paper. I have a tabouret drawer for every style I use. Some are for different mediums but look the same unless you take a beat and read cover. I meant to use multi-medium paper which can be used with watercolors and other wet mediums.
Instead I ended up with regular tan toned sketch paper. This meant that among other handicaps I could not do my proper blending. I decided to continue on anyways. Despite it being my first time with the paints and the wrong paper for the wet medium, I was pretty pleased with result, especially for a first foray.
Quick painting 5×7 Tan toned sketch paper.
Amanda
Still not sure when I am going to have a chance to take photos to use as source/fuel for my Cinefield® work. In the interim I have been enjoying painting and drawing in my trusty pocket pad. A few people had commented on noticing I had changed type of pad I use a few months ago.
Always on me now is Talens Art Creation Multi Media 4×4 inches. It stands up to blending I do when watercolor painting and same with water soluble graphite. A small thing, but which makes a big difference for the times I throw it in my bag instead of pocket is that it has an elastic which holds it closed. This means that the pages are never torn nor bent.
This piece is watercolor & multi medium paper 4×4 inches. As always, if you have interesting photo of yourself that I might be interested in drawing, drop me a line
Delight
I currently have no new raw material (photos) for my next Cinefield®. I do not mind as I am enjoying painting. Portraying human flesh with paint continues to give me the same pleasure as when I initially was able to do it well.
Here are two new pieces. Both are watercolor on paper. One in my pocket pad 4×4 inches and the other a new paper I recently discovered 5×7.
There is a great quote by author Paul Auster along the lines of “Do a thing simply for the beauty of doing it.” As an artist, I came up pre-internet (this was when I also had to have a string of terrible day jobs) A buddy and I would do literal Xerox-staple ‘zines. We would run all over town bullying, pleading & annoying Bookstores, Record stores anyplace, to carry them.
If two people saw them, you felt like you were one hundred feet tall. But, this was the bonus as it was about serving the process. It was a calling, a romance, which I am still swept up in. There was not the worry of social media numbers, likes. reposts etc.
I have noticed that many Parisian artists sort of have this attitude. Of course it has become a necessity to maintain an online presence no matter where in the world one is, but you do not see heads bent in prayer to screens in the same way you do stateside.
Do a thing for the beauty of it and the rest will follow, it may not be as immediate as posting and then getting a “like” but it will be more lasting and meaningful.
Paris Painter III
I have been greatly enjoying using my newish pocket pad for painting. It is interesting how ambient light effects a piece. If a room is naturally darker then the application of paint is thicker whereas a really bright space less paint is used. This is because of how the eye perceives the colors.
My studio has a natural sort of yellowish/gold tinge to it. I am fortunate in that I can see in my mind’s eye how to compensate for it.
“M After” Watercolor & pocket pad 4×4 inches
Drawing with impulse buy pencil
One of my other favorite statues in Paris
so many buildings have plaques denoting who lived there, when and what they did. There are many for Picasso who had numerous homes in the city. Sometimes an artists had many homes because they kept skipping out on the rent! With some artists you see several plaques all within the same arrondissement.
Paris Painter II
The lighting in my new studio is different, but I feel I have a handle on it now. I am well into the swing of things. I’ve mostly been using my semi new to me pocket pad for painting. Drawings been spread out all kinds of paper. 4×4 inches
I discovered a new to me paint company. They have been around since 1830. Among many greats, Matisse and Renoir got their watercolors from them. They remain very artisan. Just looking at the paints you see the difference in pigments. They also have proprietary colors.
paints are not paints, each hue has its own distinct properties and then this varies even more from company to company.
Not knowing if I would like them, I just bought five to try. This is why on my first piece skin doesn’t have volume & mass I usually achieve. I instantly liked the paint, it handles diff than anything else I have used. Decided to go all out, new 5×7 paper, new paint.
Maestro. One my fave statues in all of Paris.
R (Adventure of a Paris Painter 1)
For the first time in a decade I’ve had to change my Parisian studio. Gone the view of the dome for Val de Grace and the enormous bird who sleeps in the windowbox among the geranium, his throaty song heralding dawn.
I was a little sad of course. On the other hand in warmer weather once past the noon hour I would not have to paint clad in a sarong and tee shirt or risk baking like a potato.
I am still learning the light in new place, ideal times to paint.
Here is my first piece, watercolor and pocket pad 4×4 inches. I was pleased with the results.
Quick sketch,new to me paper
Zam-Zam
This is my last painting in America for a while. It is Watercolor & French cotton paper 5×7. (As has become my practice I will use whatever paint is left in palettes to do a pocket pad piece too)
I was very pleased with how it came out.
I am always looking for interesting people to draw, feel free to email me photos (people only) if you think you may have something of interest.
Do not forget about my newest release, available in paperback & kindle:
Memory Museum
Anyone who has followed my blog or social media pages knows that I have largely eschewed the too prevalent “buy my stuff” postings. I want an audience, not customers.
Showing what I do is easier with my visual work than my writing. With that, I do once or twice a year call attention to a new release. Not a bad average in trying not to annoy or pressure for those who take the time to follow me.
My latest release is just out. It is available for Kindle & paperback on amazon Most likely I have said this with the last three releases, truly, this is a personal favorite.
Shimmy Shimmy Ya
I am in the process of getting the release of my next collection ready. And, I am few weeks out from returning to Europe, so I can not devote massive amount of time required by Cinefield® work. The actual work involved in creating a piece aside, I can’t have my studio take on the inevitable sprawl of sheets of tiny cut out shapes which is part of the process.
Instead I have been doing paintings which is different but as rewarding for me.
Each Cinefield® has been different from the previous and sometimes, time between creating them actually can help. As does going to different places to take my raw material photos.
Here is my latest painting. French cotton paper 5×7 inches & watercolor.
Paper Life Painting 