Sarah Rose

I just finished this painting (although I confess I may go back and do more detail work) :

(click to enlarge)

“Sarah Rose” (2009). Oil paint on composite board, 16” x 49”.

The scale of the figure is larger than life, and unfortunately scale is the hardest thing to convey in a picture. To give you an idea, consider that on this same size board I was able to easily fit my entire body nearly life-size:

“Stripped Bare” (2008). Oil paint on composite board, 16”x49”.

(click to enlarge)

With the similarities, both in medium and subject matter, it is obvious that "Stripped Bare" was a major precedent for "Sarah Rose", which I was very concious of while painting. I even kept "Stripped Bare" propped up near my easel.

People are always interested in how I get from a blank canvas to the finished work. Although a few roommates have had the opportunity to see a painting from start to finish, it is largely a private process. Therefore I've decided to give you a guided tour via photos I took at various stages:

There you have it, start to finish.

Finally a painting!

It's been a while since I picked up the paintbrushes and got back to oil painting. I made an attempt last week on a self-portrait but didn't like how it was going so I put it aside for now, and went in a new directcion. I started the new painting today, which I'm much happier with, and here it is:

I'm painting on the same wood composite boards that I used for my horizontal nude paintings. The surface absorbs the oil in an interesting way, making an almost velvety surface.