November 2016

As promised, a few photos of my multi media art. In particular, the Steampunk movement has inspired me to do more than draw and paint on canvas/paper. Always a good way to use up spare nuts, bolts, old jewelry, buttons and other odds and ends laying around.

Here's what I have so far. All Chanel logos were created by hand, not copied or printed from the internet. Some old Chanel related drawings are included because I decided that Chanel inspired and Steampunk work quite well together. See if you agree.

October 2016

Although October is over halfway done, just a little update on my current projects.

Still working on the Chanel inspired studio and have created lots of stuff from recycled and thrift objects into things that fit the motif. Still in progress would be the furniture updates and computer desk/work areas. This still counts as painting, right?

I get a comfort feeling from Chanel as it was one of my first loves, my first identity, one of my first perfumes. OK, Lanvin was my first, but Chanel followed closely.

I've been doing some private works, including military works, which of course, cannot be shown due to privacy issues.

Busy for the upcoming holidays and wish all of you well.

C

August - September 2016

Focusing on home deco. Lots of gold paint, gold foil decoupage, etc. Candle holders, knick knacks and picture frames in gold, going for the "Lux" look. Chanel logos in frames and paint.

May, June, July 2016

Just to catch up on my works a little after being in the hospital for a burst appendix recently and now I'm in recovery, starting to get back into the swing of things.

A graphite portrait of Jon Snow from Game of Thrones for my daughter, Kimberly, who requested this fan art. I did this on some smooth bristol board with several pencils, a 4B mechanical with AinStein lead, assorted 3,2B Mars Lumograph pencils, Carbon Pencil by Wolff and a chunky 6B from Cretacolor. The fur was developed with a side motion of the chunky one and worked over in the other graphite. Some smoothing was done as well as picking with a kneaded eraser and a mechanical Kohinoor eraser stick.

The finished drawing above and the collage show a number of steps for the work. 

March and April 2016

Jessica riding her horse, Winston, on the beach in Sonoma County, CA.  Watercolor on Arches cold/press 10x14" 140lb paper. 2016. Photo reference used for the painting from the owner.

February 2016

Got out my box of oil paints today. So many artist's grade ones in beautiful colors including real cobalt purples and blues, real cerulean (also a cobalt), real cadmium reds, all the earth colors, lead (yes lead paint) whites, real ivory blacks. Winsor & Newton, Grumbacher, and others. Lots of them are really old but still vibrant and usable. I need to do some oil paintings. I have a couple of canvases to paint over as well. Artists do this a lot. Some will need a slight sanding to remove the raised parts of paint.

Got lots of inspiration going to the beach with the family yesterday in our three car caravan. Lots of traffic but the ocean and cliffs were inspiring. Also, the old schoolhouse (now museum) where Hitchcock filmed "The Birds."

January 2016

I've been busy finishing up some commissions and late promised paintings and drawings. First on my list is one of my grandson, Xochim for my daughter Gretchen's birthday on January 15th. He has just started school and I wanted to save that first day. What a sweetheart!

Pretty satisfied with this one, but I want to try again with different paper. This was on a sheet of 11x14 hot press Fabriano studio. I would feel more comfortable doing another with a cold press all cotton Arches.

I need to paint my friend, Jessica riding her horse. I still have to choose a photo:

I've ordered more paper so I have a block of cold press Canson Montval. I have had good experiences with Canson in the past, so I can't wait to try it. Economical and good quality.

Next, I'm getting a nice quill mop brush. Princeton is making a really good synthetic one I'm going to order it soon.

December 2015 - January 2016

Working on a commission for a client who wants a watercolor of her daughter (whom I've done one of about 5 years ago). Her daughter requested a painting to include in a collage. My client sent me a photo as reference (I also took the liberty of viewing her daughter's FB page for other references, just to be sure I've done it right. After not painting for a while it took a few tries to get into the groove again.

Here is the final painting and shots of the tries. Since I'm giving the client all of these, I won't pick the one so just chalk it up to "learning curve."