Sneak Preview

Due to popular demand, it has been requested that I post more. I wanted to wait and only show you finished projects, but oh well. 

This is the progress of Christ Takes His Cross. At the time, I still had to finish his face,hands and background, and crown of thorns. I have since finished the painting, however, I have not photographed it yet. But, you get to see the progress. 

Don't judge it yet.... 

The Kiss of Death

Here is the second painting. I did this from a drawing and absolutely loved the minimalism. I wanted it to be simple but descriptive. The negative shapes really make this composition dynamic. I am really proud of how I manipulated the ink and brush. I was tempted to keep working and working... but there does come a time when one too many brush strokes ruins a painting. 

I was afraid that ink would bleed on these canvas panels- it doesn't - in fact it creates a really cool texture. 

*feel free to comment, I'd love to know what you think*

Agony finished product

Here is the first of many paintings to come. 

I have been working on preliminary sketches, but I wasn't excited about this project. Themes, motifs, colors, value -the technical aspects-were a millstone around my neck. Not an environment where creativity can flourish. 

So I rethought everything. 

I stopped sketching and just started painting. Getting back into the flow of the paint was crucial. It is amazing how you can plan and sketch and predict how picture should come out, but once you put that first stroke of paint down, everything can change. 

It was freeing. 

4 hours later- 2.5 paintings done!

[disclaimer] I cannot take credit for the main figures in these paintings. I have gathered pictures from the internet to create these compositions. The settings are original, but the main figures are not. I do take credit for the ability to reproduce these images, and manipulate a paint brush in a way that describes what is going on ;)

Agony

I was inspired by this statue and this figure has become the "Jesus" figure in my first sketch for the first station " Jesus in agony in the garden of olives". The top is a detail of the second. I have not decided on the final composition. 

I love this statue because the raw emotion of grief is conveyed. It even makes my heart twinge. 

Lenten Endeavor

The next four weeks entail a most arduous labor of love. I have been commissioned to do 14 paintings/drawings depicting each station of the cross. By far the largest and most important commission I have received, I am a little scared in my abilities. These works will not be housed in a gallery, but in a chapel, on Good Friday. In sequence, starting from Gethsemane and ending in the tomb, students will have the space for personal reflection.

 Since I cannot draw from observation, like I've been schooled to do, I have to compose scenes from scratch. The internet is a valuable tool. This is not the first time in history the stations of the cross has been depicted in art. I am in awe of  those who have gone before me. Now it is my turn to join the "religious artists." This is big! I'll post what I've come up with.

Les 

A Promise of Things To Come

This is an ink painting I did a few weekends ago. A few years ago my sister when to Japan for 3 months and brought back authentic Japanese brushes, rice paper, and ink for me. Why has it taken me 3 years to open it all and play with it? I'll never know.