Thursday

I worked a little more on the face and hand, but since the paint is still quite wet I need to give it a break. I find with some of the thin paint applied it will actually start removing the underlying color, which I don't want.  So I moved over to the sheets and blocked them in with thicker paint.  I am thinking with the cloth and the see through quality of it, I could really have some fun with the light.  

I have been studying some of the work by Joaquin Sorolla (1863-1923), he lived in Spain and was alive the same time as Anders Zorn and John Singer Sargent.  Sorolla was  the master at painting cloth in sunlight.

Now if only I could capture the same quality, I would be so happy!

Richard Boyer

Wednesday

I started a new 24x36 painting today. Charlotte hanging up her laundry in southern Sweden.  Yes I figured other people would be interested in her dirty laundry!  Actually with the wind blowing the sheets have this great translucent quality to them, almost like sails on a boat. So I really want to play up the colors in the cloth.

The last two days we have been hammered with snow and the last two days I have been up skiing the powder. A friend of mine, who I went to school with at the University of Utah was here for a few days. And of course he wanted to get all the skiing in he could before heading back to the city life. So the past few days we have hit knee deep powder runs all day long.  And now my legs feel it.

Richard Boyer

Friday

This painting has been lying around my studio for close to six months.  I had the position of the horses head looking away from the viewer. The gallery had it for a month or two, people complained about how dumpy the animal looked and why no one could see the face.  No bites as they say. So they sent it back to me and I changed the angle so the horse was looking directly at the viewer. Still no bites. Now I have turned the head ever so slightly and we shall see how it fairs with the public. If at first you don't succeed, try, try, try again, my grandmother always use to say.  Maybe third time is the charm?

Actually I sent the image off the horse painting to the Oil Painters of America show; along with the two girls walking in the water.  Only one of them can get juried into the show, but I figured with my rejection record from these shows it would be better to increase my chances with two sacrifices. 

I tried this last year and both of my entries were rejected.  As an Artist you learn to develop thick skin.

Richard Boyer

Thursday

I did another quick figure study today as practice. Another one of those fair blond swedish models, Felicia. She is reading a book at the old farm house in Halsingland. 

We are suppose to have crit tonight, where I wouldn't mind showing it to them. The only problem being this morning we got hit with a freek rain shower, which coated the ground and all surface streets in pure ice.  I tried to walk the dog earlier and couldn't get up the hill on the sidewalks. It was like walking on an inclined skating rink!

Richard Boyer

Wednesday

Over the summer we did a trip up to the cabin with Robert Duncan and Bryce Liston, there we had a photo shoot with a model called Lillias.  She was very good and coming up with natural poses, so our cameras were going off like crazy. Well I decided to try a quick study from one of the shots, giving myself an hour and a half.  

And as I post it now I can see that it needs some more work, such is it with figurative work. So to help fix this problem I will practice on another one tomorrow, before the crit session.

I was just informed that an old friend from colleges, Joff Mang passed away from a bout of brain cancer. One of those aggressive forms that leaves you no chance of survival.  He will be missed.

Richard Boyer

Tuesday

This painting has been going back and forth for quite a while now…I would say I have painted the figure over a half dozen times now. Standing back to look at it, I feel the figure looks better now, more like a woman instead of a line-backer.

That being said, I am sure there will be a few more adjustments to be made, before sending the image off to the Oil Painters of America show.  They have a jury selection committee it has to go through and only then when excepted can I send it off to the show in Texas

Richard Boyer

Friday

I took a break from the alleyway painting and decided to do some more fine tuning on this piece before I try to get it into the Oil Painters of America show. They tend to be very picky about even the smallest of details.  So after the crit session last night I did a few small changes

Richard Boyer

Monday, Jan. 14

We seem to be locked in a cold spell now for some time. The storm moved out on Sunday and left single digit temperatures in its place. Even the dog complains about the morning walk, as the snow freezes between her paws.  I can see where a lady wouldn't want to squat in waist deep frozen snow to go to the bathroom!

Back to the alleyway painting, I added some figures in it and defined some of the background buildings and foliage.  There are actually roses hanging down from the windows, so tomorrow I'll have fun with the color of all the flowers.  I just have to make sure it doesn't become too gaudy. The last thing I need is for somebody to say it reminds them of "Thomas Kinkade"

Richard Boyer

Friday

Send in the rescue dog team, we need food and supplies.  It started last night and it is predicted to go through tonight as well.  The storm of the century with several feet on the way.  This morning I dug out the car from over a foot of snow and we are still seeing it coming down.

For the first time we had to cancel the crit session last night, too much snow and traffic was a stand still in the valley. Nobody could make it up to the house.

Richard Boyer

Thursday

Day two of the Alleyway painting.

I re-worked some of the stones to the left and threw in some base values for the plants hanging out of the windows.  The right wall was also painted and will most likely need some more work tomorrow.  

In the background, in front of the building I would like to have several figures to add some interest; so tomorrow I also need to block them in and figure out what they will be doing, maybe walking back into the scene?

Richard Boyer

Wednesday

I started another Provence painting today.  Ron at the May Gallery has a client, who maybe, sort of, possible ?!? could be interested in it.  I always get a lot of these!

So I will do the painting, finish it off and sent it to the gallery. A month later I will naturally find out the client is no longer interested in buying: which seems to be the norm.

Well I can't be too bothered by it, once its done I am sure it will find a home with somebody else.

Richard Boyer

Monday, Jan 7, 2013

It's been a while with Christmas and a few other things; maybe some day I'll have to get into it.  For now I have a lot of painting to do, with a show at the may Gallery coming up in February and the Oil Painters of America show deadline at the end of the month.

This painting here has gone through a few changes.  The figure in front, Anna has a new leg position, the last one wasn't looking all that good.  I also lightened up her dress and made her a bit more in the same value as my daughter behind her.  That meant the water had to be re-painted as well.  And I am sure a few other changes will come about after I take it through the crit session on Thursday?

Richard Boyer