Shawnrey at the Firehouse

This is the second painting of Shawnrey for the two session pose. I had planned on doing this view the first time. I liked the composition and the painting fell together too soon . Sometimes when that happens I also stop to soon and later I feel the work is not developed enough. This time I kept working even though I was unsure where I was going. I felt I had ruined it. But later I decided it works. It is 20" by 24" acrylic.

Karen

Shawnree in a Green Dress

Shawnree is one of my favorite guild models. She has a beautiful expression. But I had a hard time with this painting. This is the painting I was doing two years ago. The resulting 20 x 20" oil is good, but not what I want. However, frustration alone gets me nowhere. I placed it on top of the fireplace, so I can look at it everyday and figure out what I did not like. I am learning to be more patient with myself as a painter, and to do some writing about the paintings, which is also very helpful. Rebeca

Shawnrey at the Firehouse

I took awhile to set up my easel and paint and got a good sense of the space. After working on it for awhile Debra asked if I minded if she moved over in front of me to draw. I told her no and realized her new position improved my composition. It is an 20 by 24 acrylic. Karen

2nd Installment
Here's Shawnrey after some more work. The blue cloth has been changed, to put it in better perspective. The sofa has been repainted a more uniform red. Everything, including Shawnrey herself, is sharper and more defined. I hope this is an improvement!

1st Installment

Our space keeps changing--like the sofa now has a striped cushion. We tried a new

"pick a number" system for staking out our painting positions; it worked pretty well. I ended up setting up over by the door, which was a first for me.

I enjoyed painting Shawnrey. Her brilliant green dress contrasted nicely with the sofa fabric, and her hair had a great texture. I was pretty much out of black paint so I pulled that old trick of mixing prussian blue and alizarine crimson to make a very dark purple, which I used for Shawnrey's hair and the black parts of her dress.

David on the Red Sofa

David was quite cooperative considering that the pose made his hand go to sleep. I liked his expression and the hat he brought along. But I was entranced by the pelt on which he was sitting, which I left for last. This pelt, together with the sofa, makes for an interesting pattern on the rectangular space of the canvas. I think this painting ended up attracting me because of the primary color harmony. My palette was pretty simple too: titanium white, alizarin crimson, lemon and cadmium yellow, and ultramarine blue. Rebeca

David at the Firehouse

The changes at the Firehouse are good for painting. The sense of space is more interesting and the room has more light. We were all excited about having the model on the couch. I need a better camera now. I am not doing that well capturing paintings that have more texture. It is an 18 by 24 acrylic. Karen

David

Our space at the Firehouse has been
reorganized lately, giving us lots more
room. In addition, a nice red loveseat
has materialized, provding a welcome
break from the rattan chair.

This painting needs more work. It
seems to need more yellow, somehow.