I have some new paintings uploaded and one painting up for sale! There are still things to tinker with. The plan is to be more consistent in uploading new work going forward. Also, maybe I’ll try some new things like chronicling the making of a painting.
A February update
I am messing around with procreate a little more, working through oil painting, and contemplating how I will sell some old stuff off by opening a store. Recently, I have been trying to journal a little more and record my thoughts about the work that I’ve been doing.
Digital
Feb 5, 2024
I was playing around with alpha lock on the layer. I want to get a better understanding of how to paint in #procreate. So, I understand that alpha lock will make it so that whatever is already present in that layer is then what can be “worked on top of”. It’s a kind of mask. Then I used freehand selection to quickly hash in shapes, but the color fill is like the paint bucket of old photoshop and such. But, with alpha lock, I can paint onto those filled in shapes with another brush selection like the watercolor brush that I tried today. I should also try using the selection tool and color fill to make a tonal painting and then using other brushes with alpha lock to get a texture on top.
For now, it looks like the only way to do different multiple color fills is to toggle the selection tool.
Jan 21, 2024
What I’ve learned so far
There are some nice tools to use from their Beginner series.
Use of alpha channel lock to draw/paint only on parts that have some existing paint and not have paint transparent parts of the layer
The Gaussian blur adjustment
Color drop and the separation radius
selection and Transform where we can warp objects
Some layer blending options like overlay and subtraction
Gestures
Two finger
Undo
Three finger
Redo
Clear layer with a grab and scrub
Custom color palette
Add color swatches
Remove swatches have to be when color is docked to bar
Using the same brush type from painting to erasing by long pressing on the eraser tool in the tool bar
Long pressing on canvas to use color picker
Potential uses for what I’ve learned
If I make use of fine lines in illustrations, I can then do many color drops to do fills. I may have to hold off on using the painting brushes except for flourishes and finishing touches because of the way it behaves as is in procreate.
So, I can make some sketches, take photos of them and then import them into procreate. Then I can trace over them and plan out my color palette.
Oil Painting
Feb 6, 2024
Yesterday, I started a study using some of the ideas I picked up from some Michael Carson pieces and what I’ve learned over time in alla prima.
The start was pretty good. Using some lean medium to help speed up the stain process is nice. Also, it helps let that initial coloring of the surface dry up quicker. However, it was pretty thin, so a lot of white from the gesso still showed through.
Carving out and drawing in the composition with a little bit more paint, I was using burnt sienna only to begin with, helped simplify the process. But, using the yellow ochre by itself was not quite as helpful when paired with the burnt sienna. I could heap a bunch on, but then there would be too much paint for when I want to make adjustments to the drawing or change the hues.
Speaking of adjustments, I did feel like after a while, I was playing it a bit safe with how I was trying to make the drawing more realistic. So things were falling back into some old habits. It feels a little like how things were when I was painting in Ken’s workshops. I guess that’s not necessarily a bad thing, but I want to break out of that into something new. I want it to be more daring in its mark-making and the atmosphere more tangible.
Some of the paint shaping that I did later for the bottles in the background felt pretty good, though. They are catching the light in a way where they are becoming glare-y, but overall, it feels pretty good since I want them to remain in the background.
I do want to continue with some adjustments of the main figure and some of the bar and stool elements. I removed some paint from the face, especially the eyes because it was getting to be overloaded. This way, I can probably draw back in a little some of the details that I want. But, I do want it to reflect more of the sketches that I tend to do with how it’s constructed. Similarly for the rest of the figure, for example the feet and shoes. The bar could stand to be a little brighter and solid while the stools should feel like the fit under the bar a bit while also being out a little. It should feel like they are ready to welcome someone to a seat. Also, I’m not sure if I want to throw a figure behind the bar to be a bartender in the same way that I did the bottles.
For the most part, the paint application is pretty thin. It can be seen through to the lower layers and even the gesso layer. Also, the gesso wasn’t put on the best, because there are lumps and grooves in it. It does draw in the oil and medium pretty well, though. I do want to make the paint more solid and voluminous to really give it that atmosphere that I’m looking for. So, I think I will have to do some smaller areas and nail down the coverage. I do feel that if I go too heavy with the paint in one spot it might somehow unbalance things, but maybe I need to push through that. Since the coverage of the surface is lacking. I do still have to smooth out the topmost paint. It will keep the glare a little more uniform.
Well, it seems like some formatting from markdown files doesn’t transfer over to this new blog editor.
Gonna try to update things more and move some things around here
I hope I can make things clearer by reorganizing where they go. I intend to sell some paintings in the near future. Just let me figure out some stuff since I’ll be moving in mid August and I need to get adjusted there.
I don't know where I want to put this yet
I was messing around with editing the photo so it looks weird.
I forgot I had a website
I forgot. I was caught up with finishing my undergraduate degree in economics and applied mathematics and then finding something to do after I graduated. It became a job hunt and applying to a bunch of graduate schools for math (all of which I was underqualified for) to getting an excellence award for economics at school in the spring of this year to meeting with one of my math professors at that awards convocation. From there, I learned of an online math research conference with a “getting into grad school” panel from my math professor and reached out to one of the presenters. The presenter is the director for the graduate math program at Miami University in Ohio and after a short online meeting, I was urged to apply. Having done that, I was notified that I was accepted for admission (I’m still a little suspicious that I’m taking a spot that was vacated by my friend who was picking between this school and the school he has decided to go to now). So I’m planning how to do/what to do now for the move.
In the mean time, the math professor that I met with has also brought me onto a summer research group in edge covers as well as a summer review of some material for real analysis. So I get to spend a good portion on my summer learning about various aspects of mathematics research as well as learning about counting edge covers and solidifying my understanding of the basics of real analysis.
When I get a chance to do some organizing for the move down to Ohio, I remember I barely have any money. So I’m scrambling to make a little. I have a summer job at a factory and work a bit of overtime, but all of that is pretty draining because I work the afternoon shift. It bums me out that I miss out on a lot of the cool stuff that happens during the summer, especially during the evening hours. To scrap together a little bit extra, I’ve been dusting off some old paintings and prepping them for hanging (I don’t do the mounting myself. I should, though). While getting the old paintings varnished and mounted, I have also been finishing some old paintings and making some new ones. Hopefully I remember to take some decent pictures of some of them after they’re done and before I bring them to the café where they’ll be on display.
Messing around in Procreate
Some sketches from a little bit ago. I’d like to do more, but I’ve been a bit lazy. I have been playing a lot of video games lately. Haven’t been reading as much. Still working on one class the rest of the summer before the fall. Also, the plan is to quit work in late August so I can take on 5 classes in the fall and winter semesters. Hopefully, I finish up my bachelor’s sooner rather than later.
Um, I need to stop being so precious with my materials. I have a bunch of watercolor paper and hardboard panels to paint on, but I’ve been overthinking things. Like on this painting I told a coworker I would do for a commission. Argh! Stop overthinking and get moving on things!
A store?
I’m thinking about opening up a store on this page and selling some paintings. Small watercolor paintings of whatever comes to mind. I’ll give it a try. Hopefully, it’s not too time consuming to operate, and I can make a few bucks alongside my full time job and school.
Accumulating a bunch of crap and experiences
So many things have been going on lately. My job has changed hours. I’ve started school again to study economics. I’m trying to get back into painting and push my abilities to express my ideas to a higher level. I want to grab a smaller camera and start shooting a lot more. Also, I’m hoping to travel and study abroad. And I wish I had more time to invest into path of exile.
I did get to check out Dr. Sketchy’s out in Grand Rapids. That was nice. Some interesting things going on there. And some seemingly wonderful people.
A couple of updates on what I'm up to
I’m doing some stuff here and there. Some oil painting figure studies and the odd photo walk here and there. I am about to go back to school in January. So, I’ve got some that to look forward to.
I’m hoping to study abroad in France next summer. To do that, I’m going to need to make some more money. I think I could sell some of my figure studies for a couple of extra bucks. Maybe, I could do some commissions. There is one that I’m in the middle of working on. Mostly, I have to cut back on some spending. I have been spending a lot of a bunch of random stuff. Some clothes, accessories, car maintenance and repair. But books and magazines are some things I seem to have bought a lot of.
I have more stuff to post. I just need to get them together and photographed and uploaded. Man, I need to focus on all the processes of producing and sharing work. Ugh.
The impetus of this post is because I was asked for more access to my work last night.
DId some photography work
I had fun working with Amalia a week back on this photo shoot. I’ll be using some of those images as references for paintings.
As far as paintings go, I have some things in the works. I am progressing a fair bit through all of the studies I do at the Grand Valley Artists. However, I am still refining certain aspects. I want to adjust ratios of certain colors. Muddle some of the brighter spots for the skin. I want to maintain a bit of a high contrast edge, though. Also, I’m trying to input some more abstraction in my brushstrokes to impart some tension and complication into the image. I think it’ll create some nuance into the work and develop more of a narrative. There are a couple of studies I plan on going back into with these adjustments in mind. Hopefully, I’ll get around to it and can post those soon.
I’m moving really slowly because I’ve been slacking a lot lately and have let myself get distracted too much. I have many panels left to prime. Come January, I will be starting school to study economics. Around the same time as school beginning, I’m also supposed to be starting a new work schedule. Eventually, I’ll stop mucking about and get to it.
Sometimes, I gotta be my own reference
A couple of ideas to mess around with as paintings.
Another sketch
Walking around Holland in the evening
I had a lot of fun walking around and taking these photos. As, I’m looking back at these, I seeing more and more that I vastly enjoy making work that is darker. The light is more isolated and details are dropped more into the background. More space is inject and objects are spread farther out. Moods are a bit more intense. Feels a bit heavier and grounded with the larger swaths of dark space.
Two more sketches in painter essentials
Getting a little more comfortable with the tools and brushes. I’m also solidifying my process a little more after getting a few of these in.
In a following sketch or piece, I would like to try a large, saturated plop of color. it will take up roughly two thirds of the space. From there, I’ll have a more nuanced portion of the piece. More lines, more details, more shifts in color and value.
I’m eager to try out some of these ideas soon, but I’m also going to dig into some new ideas later tonight with some low-light photography out and about in the town.
And, I started a patreon. Please check it out and tell me what you think. Thanks!
A couple of things from last week
A plein-air painting and photo in downtown Holland. Looks like little Holland is getting bigger.
Playing around with Corel Painter Essentials
Gesture controls on the tablet I didn’t know about.
Some thoughts + photos
Thinking over a bunch of things and trying some of it out.
Playing around with setting a slow shutter speed to blur movement and get more of a impressionistic look. It didn’t turn out well when I went out during the afternoon. They were too bright and overexposed. I should have brought some ND filters, but I didn’t think about it at the time. They wind up just hurting the eyes.
Maybe I should play more with focus instead of shutter speed. Have more out of focus. But I still need to have more elements of the image in focus. At least then, the whole image won’t look like mush.
I also have some self-portraits taken. I’m planning on using these photos to use as reference for some oil paintings. I need to take some more photos, though, in various poses. If only I were more personable, I could actually get other people to pose for me.
Some sketches
I did these in Affinity Photo. Just trying it out and seeing how things go. Learning and having some fun playing with different media. Because I realized I don’t want to be stuck to only one thing, and I’ve always been dreaming of doing many things.
Tracking progress
I’ve been talking with some friends about art making. They’re saying I should have some kind of record-keeping. I say that makes sense. I’m not sure how I want to implement it, though.
One says I should stream myself making paintings. I don’t have a good way to at the moment. The studio is pretty small; the height to the ceiling is only about 8 feet. Also, the room isn’t very wide, and I have a bunch of stuff already scattered around the room. So, it’s kind of hard to figure out a good place to set up a camera. Not to mention I would be blocking the audience’s view of the painting, more often than not. Lastly, it’s distracting to interact with people through a stream while making a painting. I’m not sure if I’d be able to do good work while constantly juggling different conversations being typed out in a chat. Unless I structure it so that I just do a large chunk of painting, then take a break and talk to chat for a bit, and alternate between the two segments.
I could, and have been keeping some progress photos, expand on my workflow. Talk about the journey of the painting from concept, sketch, to blobs of paint on a surface. Show some of my palette set-ups.
So, perhaps chronicling the art making process to share with friends and passersby.
A thought
“what is a finished painting or piece of work?
maybe when it accomplishes what it needs to
it describes the story i want to tell well enough
says enough words
or something like that
so i guess i should focus less on the craft and technical points of the painting so much as if i can clearly convey my idea
i do need to have good composition, design, color, values, rendering, balance, etc
but only insofar as it helps me clearly get my concept or theme through
develop the mood, etc
this will definitely help me in my work if i think about completion and the work in general in these terms
i’m trying to say something
it’s not anything groundbreaking, awe-inspiring, or even important to anyone or everyone
but it is to me
and i want to say it
so i should work to that end in mind
allow whatever style or material or medium facilitate the story telling best to be what i use”
I wonder if this will make any sense to me tomorrow.