OK... Tuesday 30th Sep.  The last day to get another work completed in September.

Whats on the easel today

 the sneakers are starting to come along.  It looks a little bland and I have some ideas to make the painting look more interesting.. but for now lets just get the sneakers finished.

This is what I managed to do yesterday

I have to scuff them up a bit yet... they look kinda new don't they.

Yesterday I also finished the old boots I have been working on.. I have them on the web site under recent works, but here it is as well........

Today I might start a few more in the studio

all the best

Pete

Whats on the easel for Sunday, 28th September.

When I was looking in my studio I found lots and lots of unfinished paintings.... This week sometime I am going to get them all out and figure what to do with them.  Sopme go back 3 or 4 years.

Until then, I will just keep working on the current stuff.  I have the boots (see last post), and I also have the following paintings that I am working on.

Brigette has been modelling for me and I have done a couple of paintings from the session we did (see my web site).  This is one I am currently working on.  It will take some time, and I plan to get back to it occasionally as I dont want to rush it.  This is where its up to.  Brigette has promised to do a couple more photo sessions for me but we haven't been able to connect yet.  I am hoping that we will soon.

For the planned show (still life's.... if you can think of a catchy name for the show please let me know!) I am progressing on my show theme.  The following is a work in progress (WIP) of a pair of sneakers I have started, and will run in parallel with the "old boots".

This is the rough in.  I draw lightly with pencil until I am happy with the general shapes, then I redraw the main lines with a permanent marker.

Once I have done this I have covered the surrounding canvas with a wash of Titanium White and Raw Umber.  I like the Windsor and Newton "Winton" raw umber because it has a rech earthy tone unlike any other umber on the market.

Next step is to start the block in.  I don't focus so much on defining shape by shading, although I do try and put in some of the main shadows.  This will be defined later.

Step 3 is to complete the shading.  I will worry about the laces much later.  Now I have something to work on.

I'll post more as we progress.

regards

Pete

Whats on the easel.

I am still planning on an exhibition of still life paintings around everyday items... this may evolve into something else, who knows.  Currently I am doing shoes and boots.  The Puma painting was the first.  I am working on the second, an old pair of boots, and planning the third.. some Converse sneakers, which I will probably block in today sometime.

So whats on the easel today....  The old boots

Pete

Well I have been slack haven't I.  First entry in a while.

Whats been happening.   Not much.  I still don't have a regular job which is a bit of a worry, but at least I am getting to paint a bit.

Currently I am doing a bit of still life.. I have always shied away from still life because I don't like the tradiutional vases of flowers, jugs and fruit that you see all over.  I wanted to do something a little minimal, as realistic as my abilities allow, and is not fruit/jugs/vases/flowers etc.

It took a while, but one afternoon I noticed Debbie-Lee's old sneakers laying on the lounge room floor, and I thought what a good subject!!.  I photographed them and painted the following painiting.. in oils.

PUMAS,  September 2008, 91.5cm x 91.5cm (36in x 36in), Oil on Canvas

I have also decided that its about time I was serious about marketing my art, so I am going to put together a series of paintings for an exhibition then flog them around some galleries to see if there is any interest.  They will be still life paintings, starting with Pumas above.  I have already started on my second painting of a pair of old boots.... they won't all be of shoes, just things I find that could be turned into a still life painting.

I'll keep you posted

Pete