Work in Progress

I’m really excited about this new piece that I’m working on.  Again, something new- skipped the grisaille underpainting and painted directly over the burnt umber layer using a “closed” palette.  I’ve never relied too heavily on a premixed palette but I’m sold on it now.  I used a bit of a modified Munsell setup, lots of premixed strings with strings of grey to control the intensity of the colors.

This is the first layer of color.

1st Layer of Color "Finding a Missing Memory"

Next I’ll lay in another layer of color to smooth everything out and adjust textures.  After that I’ll focus on highlight scrumbles.

Hope you guys love it as much as I’m excited with it….

J.

This is the first layer of color on my newest piece… next will be scrumbles of light and texture….

This is the first layer of color

Here is my latest piece in progress- “A New Way of Thinking”.  A lot of problems in this world would be eliminated if we all just opened up our minds a bit more.  Thinking is Divinity.

This is a raw umber underlayer on ochre/burnt sienna/ultramarine ground….

1st Underlayer of "A New Way of Thinking"

I’ll be applying a tonal layer of whites and green-blacks, known as verdaccio, over this.  Once dry, then the verdaccio underlayer will support the warm translucent color glazes that I apply over it.

Here is the first color layer on “The Channeler”…. next I will paint warm light and texture on the stone to help harmonize and deepen the piece….

First layer of color on "The Channeler"

This is the last underlayer before I start applying thin glazes of colors…

Grisaille "Dead" Layer before applying colors....

This is my latest piece in the works, “El Cuervo Blanco con Juevo Negro”

White Crow with Black Egg Underpainting

It’s 8×10″ Oil on Canvas.

This piece is about humanity and the choices that we make as individuals and, therefore, as a whole. It is serious, yet humorous. Sometimes mankind is so serious, it’s funny… and sometimes we are so funny, it becomes very serious.

Best,
J.

Piece in the works… “The Paradox”

This is the painting underlayer….

Here is the color study….

Opening the Heart Chakra Underpainting

This is the 3rd layer of my new painting “Opening the Heart Chakra”. First layer was a monotone wash of yellow ochre with the lights wiped out. Second layer was a monotone tonal underpainting with burnt umber. This layer is a grisaille of burnt umber/black and white.

Next will be color glazes and scrumbles, then a last layer of highlights and lighting effects.

This piece will be at my Tall Wall Feature at The Hive, in LA, September 2010.

Enjoy,

J.

So, I’m gearing up for about 8 more new pieces for my big feature show at The Hive, in LA.   I’m kinda going through a bit of a block at the moment, but every time I do this, when I come back- I can paint better than ever.

It’s funny because when this happens, I tell myself, “Well, this time is different… I have actually lost my connection to my ability for good.”  And then in the next breath, “But I say this every time, and I always paint better when I get back.”  “But… what if this time is different???”  Haha!  I just need to sit down and draw, really.

Here is my latest piece that I’m working on, titled- Ying Yang Complex.

Ying Yang Complex Underpainting

It’s pretty self-explanatory.  Without Ying, there is no Yang.  Always a constant battle, but always a constant acceptance….

This is just a loose grisaille (black-and-white under-painting that will add tonal effects to the transparent and semi-transparent color layers later).  I’ll lay in a layer of color starting on Monday.

Keep you guys posted!

Best,

J.