Bridge

First go at the bridge. Pretty happy with the house on the right.
Letting go of my dibilitating perfectionism.

More solid

Still slow - it's funny - been showing this to people and they all
think it's finished. Even with the missing / painted over railings.
Maybe they know something I don't! Actually it's something that I
forgot that I should remember always... When I was a lighter on
animated films everyone complemented my "eye" but complained of my
speed until I realized that things only have to be good enough to
please the audience. I don't have to do everything to the absolute
best of my ability, no matter how much I'd like to. It's time to
crank this puppy out.

Getting so much harder

The closer I get, the longer everything takes. Every color choice
counts now and it's slowing me down big time. Olympic day yesterday
so no brush touched.

Headbashing....

into wall. That's the day I had. Trying to control stress levels.
It's good to have a deadline, bad to have pressure which is very
unhelpfull to the painting process.

Late start

Bad day :p

Another step closer

Took a family day yesterday then "locked" myself in the studio today.
Pleased with my progress, if not my speed... Added yellow orche to the
pallette - gives me a bit of an orange range to match the bricks and a
yellow green for the plants. Still amazed at what a limited pallette
can do. May still need a blue to cool the bricks in shadow. Hope to
have no underpainting showing after tomorrow - would love to finish
actually but the day is looking pretty busy.

All in a days work

Finally got a decent chunck of work done! Here's the first pass of
the canal with some color. At first I was worried that I didn't have
a good understanding of my pallette, but then I just forged ahead with
4 colors (dk red, dk green, unbleach titanium, and titanium white)
and this seems to be almost enough. Getting some lovely grays,
tempted to add a blue and a yellow but I want to see how far I can go
with this minimalist thing first!
Really trying hard to stay out of the details... Must keep using the
big brush!

Today

More Ste. Maria, more blocking in values on canal. Yesterday took a
art history video break. Day before that Ste. Maria as well... Why
can't paintings just paint themselves? I must get much faster because
my interest is waning as my energy does. Really hope I have childcare
tomorrow so I can actually get a chunk of work done! So exhausted.

[sent from iPhone]

One canal painting

Blocked in. Check.
(Really really really going to try and stay loose this time)

Back at it

Only had yesterday off actually to enjoy some Olympic festivities,
though I did end up with a bit of time to figure some stuff out -
ended up printing out full size print of Ste. Maria. Between the
scaffolding removal and severe lense distortion this one is giving me
a tough time. I was planning on changing the lighting as well. Don't
think I have time for that now. Here it is in all of its temporary
color glory. Starting to look like something!

Back at it

Didn't get much time, but I was able to do a bit on blocking in Ste.
Maria. Losing my voice but gaining energy which is fine, don't need
to talk, just need to paint!

Inlaws are here visiting so I'll catch a bit more painting time (In
between feeding the crew and some Olympic festivities!)

Having thoughts about doing the cafe with acrylics on paper. Can use
them over the pencil sketch as was the plan with watercolor but then
really play with leaving drips and obvious layers. Could give the
cafe chairs some nice solidity as well. (Excuse me while I ponder 'out
loud'.)

Do'in what I can

Edited and transferred Canal picture onto canvas, since I could do that propped up on the couch.
Now back to bed.

Really sick day

want to vomit - took a real sick day today.

Sick day

Lost 4 hrs so to not expose our sitter to our horrible unshakeable
cold... So spent some time researching granulation media and what
monument my lion is from and JSSargent. Note to self, don't look at
any more Venice paintings by JSS until after I finish a few. Unless I
want to inspire fits of jealousy and feelings of inadequecy!
Limited studio time spent on lion and in loosely blocking in Ste.
Maria. Why the upsidedown grid action? Doing some scaffolding
removal, so I've got to figure some stuff out. Nice to have two to
work on at the same time, give the brain some variety and I won't see
lions when I close my eyes anymore!

Slowly but Surely

I'm really enjoying seeing these iphone photos - because:

1. Even though I'm not feeling like I'm making much progress, I can see that I actually am.

2. I get a distance view so I can really see how the painting is reading - it's to easy to get lost in the details and lose the big picture.

_Must_ _do _ _the_ _Acrylics_ _Much_ _LOOSER!_
Keep promising myself to try loosening up, then keep getting sucked in!

There has been much gazing into space - very hard to keep focus when you are exhausted and can't breathe!

So.... Very.... Sick

But still painted anyway - didn't make much progress but don't think I
wreaked anything. Off to bed in the hope of a better day tomorrow.

Oz

Feel somehow that my beast looks like a cross between the cowardly
lion and one of those flying monkeys. Maybe because he looks a bit
pensive at this point, or because I'm projecting, or because I've got
a cold coming on.
Hoping to make some big breakthoughs this weekend and pick up some
granulating medium!

More paint

Tests indicate that I should be able to erase even heavy lines from
under the paint. Actually I kind of like the combo but my drawing
would have to be much tighter to pull it off, so I think the lines
will leave when I introduce darker paint. Still kind of feeling
everything out at this point, but I'm fairly happy with my progress if
not my speed!

Work Work Work

Making progress... it's slow but it's progress...
Salted the lion's stairs with preschooler leaning in to show me what she made... difficult to paint with someone pulling on your arm.
No tears today so making progress on the babysitter front as well. Should have a decent chunk of time this weekend, and next week now that everyone is getting used to each other...

Paint has arrived

Not much of it, but at least it's there. Started on the easiest bits
and color/ texture tests (hello table salt!). Should get a good chunk
of time tomorrow to have a go at the beast.

ETA paint on paper

Estimated 7:30 pm tomorrow, after preschooler calls it a night.
Here's the one I'm ready to jump into - stairs should be a good warm
up before the lovely flowing fur. Don't quite understand the front
paw yet, but I'll have a bit of time during "Little Scientists" to
work it out in the morning...