DONE!

Had the hardest time photographing this with the galkyd finish but this is the best I have for now. Honestly, I'm so tired of looking and accessing and redoing that I'm sort of numb when I look at it. I feel good about completing a goal but not sure how successful I've been in communicating my feelings through the painting.

Here is the explanation for "Antiphon":
An “Antiphon” is a term used for a “call and response” style of singing. Its application here expresses the spiritual interaction between God and His children through prayer. This antiphonic duet becomes a continual harmonic exchange when both heed the supplication of the other, including God’s call to make known His wondrous “song of redeeming love”. The woman is portrayed both singing as well as listening. With eyes closed, the worldly distractions that would deter her from hearing God’s response are diminished. The stained glass represents the veil separating us from our Creator. The distortion of the glass obscures our vision but God’s light illuminates our paths to truth.


On to the next project.

Nearing The Finish Line

Haven't posted for some time. Been sort of consumed with this and other projects. After some deep reflection and honest appraisal of my other idea for this, I ended up starting from scratch and doing it using the mediums I feel more confident with. I simplified it too and closed her eyes, hoping, by so doing, I have conveyed the feeling that not only is she singing; she is listening too.
After sketching it out, I put down a layer of matte medium. On top of that I started putting down opaque gouache washes of the general color masses. Then I put down layers of Prismacolor Nupastel, lighting and darkening the shapes. Then on top of that, I started putting in the details in with my old faithful Prismacolors. I have now put down two layers of matte medium and will follow with oil glazes. Must be finished by Thursday.
For some reason, using colors that I can see right before my eyes, removes the "mystery" of color mixing and it's application. I wonder if something is wrong with my brain.

Good News/Bad news

GOOD NEWS: Suzanne Collin's sequel to Hunger Games is due out September 2009.


BAD NEWS: The sequel to The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss has been postponed. It will not make it's April 2009 publication date.

MORE GOOD NEWS: My entry made it into the International Church Art Exhibit being held at the Conference Center, March 20th thru Oct. 11th.

Church Exhibition Painting

I'm not sure if I ever posted that my entry made it through to the first round of the worldwide exhibit of my church. I have to have it display ready and edit my narrative down to 150 words and have it to the museum by the 23rd of January. I just picked it up from the framers. I don't think my chances of getting through the final round are good, but I'm happy that I've made it this far, especially considering that this painting started out as another concept and due to "deadline desperation", I had to crop it and go a whole different direction. Another strike against it is the size. Just 14x12 framed. But, being that it's really my first serious attempt at oils, I'm okay with the fresh tones and expression. I worked very hard on that face...almost giving up.

Desperate Deadline Decision

Okay, this project has taught me many things. One: I shouldn't have attempted PAINTING this picture. I should have stuck with what I know. Two: I forgot oil has to dry. Color pencil does not. My deadline was looming before me when I realized both of these facts and knew I would not make it. SO. . . I had to get a little creative. I still needed to finish the hand that held the stones and knew I couldn't do it in the time I had. So I cropped AND renamed it and went a completely different direction. It became more of a portrait of an individual in the scriptures. SO, here goes:

New title: Alma's Awakening.

Here is my explanation:

"Awake, my son; put on the armor of righteousness.

Shake off the chains with which you are bound..." ( 2 Nephi 1:23).

One of the most inspirational and hopeful stories of the Book of Mormon is the conversion of Alma the Elder in the courts of King Noah. Little is known of his background other than he was one of the court priests and was in attendance when Abinidi was being questioned and reviled. What we do know is upon listening to Abinidi's testimony, Alma experienced an awakening of the spirit and it's stirrings caused Alma to hear the truth of the gospel and at the risk of his own life, plead for the life of Abinidi to be spared. From this experience, Alma's life was changed forever and he became an instrument of God's power. Alma's story demonstrates God's insight into the hearts of His children and the potential that is so often hidden from others and sometimes ourselves. I have tried to capture in this portrait that moment when the spirit resonated within Alma and he stopped to listen and allow the miracle of conversion to take place.

I do not have any expectation of making it into the exhibition, but I did want to accomplish this goal. I plan to finish the rest of the painting. Despite my frustration with this new medium, I believe I will come use oil more and more. Lesson learned.

Five Smooth Stones Update

Here's an update on FSS. I ended up drawing this on clayboard. The plan is to seal it and then do some oil glazing....very subtle since I want the graphite to show through. I promise, I will post the explanation for this piece next time. I may be slow when it comes to art but I'm even slower when it come to the written word.

Speaking of which, I just finished a wonderful little treasure of a book, Keturah and Lord Death by Martine Leavitt. It's a YA novel, not too long with tender, poignant passages strewed throughout with a surprising ending.

Five Smooth Stones

Every three years, my church holds a world wide art competition. I have been giving this alot of thought since the start of 2008. I've had the idea and the photo references shot for quite awhile. Of course, procastinating as usual, I've just started the piece with very little time to spare. I'm not even sure I have enough talent and skill to make this work, but my friend Anita and I have set this goal and I want to at least give it a whirl. Here's the start of the first initial layout. I will explain what it's about in the next update.