Volcano

Volcano
Originally uploaded by SunToad.

After the last painting, I wanted to do something easy and quick and I wanted to try out that masking technique again.

So, I took an old canvas that had been mostly covered with Lamp Black and then abandoned after the original idea didn't work out, and started laying tape out in lines until I came up with this design.

I thought this one would be fairly simple and be easy to spot, but my wife took one look and said, with complete certainty, that I had painted the Luxor, in Las Vegas. When I explained that it was actually a volcano, she asked if I was sure. Again.

I'm not sure abstracts are my forte. But it was fun and quick and easy to do, occupying a rainy afternoon and I'm mostly pleased with it. What I don't like is that it looks like a background to me. Like I need an animation cell or something in front of it to give it some sort of story or reason for being. I may go back and add to it someday, but for now it's on the wall and out of my head.

I was quite pleased with the way the masking worked out on this one and plan at least two more paintings using the technique, also using acrylics.

Confetti

Confetti
Originally uploaded by SunToad.

The canvas for N'Orleans had been sitting in the stack waiting to be covered over ever since I got frustrated with my inability to put the image down the way I wanted. However, it managed to sit out of sight for so long that inspiration returned and I was able to get out the oils tonight and lay down two new layers that completely changed the look of the painting and, I think, make it work much better.

I began by adding in the light / street signs as a balancing element and then, completely by accident, I'll admit, I found that I liked the look of the multi-colored daubs around the light and thought that look might work well for the whole painting. So I mixed the colors very lightly on the wood and used a medium flat brush to just gently lay colors on the canvas.

I am fairly pleased with the finished result, although I think the girl in the window needs a lot of work, and am particularly happy with the lamp itself. In my own, ever-so-humble opinion, the overall brightness mixed with sloppy patterns works well and fits the name "confetti" better than it does "N'Orleans", hence the change.

(The streets, for the record, are Bienvielle and Chartern, and are real streets in the city of New Orleans.)

I can see where I've improved on my technique since some other paintings (it's been just over a year since I started painting) but I can also see where I have got a very long way to go. But it feels really good to take an idea I thought I had failed at completely and get something down that I like; something that I think is a bright and positive image that makes for a good representation of how I feel about the city of New Orleans.

(One last note, this is a crappy, crappy photo. I need to take some time and photograph these things properly, but I do not feel like putting in the time needed at close to midnight on a Sunday! Also, for scale, this measures about two feet horizontally by three feet vertically; it is one of the bigger canvases I have tackled thus far.)

Snow

Snow
Originally uploaded by SunToad.

Here’s the latest. This one’s a bit smaller than I have been working with recently. I’m not thrilled with it, but, at the same time, this was the idea in my head. They match. Which is a good thing.

I’ve been feeling pretty frustrated with painting recently and nothing I’ve been trying has been working. I’m not sure what to do or where to go for here. I kinda feel like I lack inspiration at the moment. I want to go outside and paint again someday soon. That might put some fun back into it.