Long awaited
Wednesday, January 4th, 2006
Last night I finally finished this portrait of James playing guitar that was his Christmas gift. I gave it to him this morning and it was a hit. I have to say, I’m really happy with the way it turned out. It’s the biggest thing I’ve painted so far and it was a major challenge to take a (rather poor) 4×6″ photo and make it look all right at six times that size. I’m continuing to refine the style I began in Mrs. Carpenter’s painting and the Lucy painting. It’s kind of exciting to have a “style” that is distinctly mine. I mean, it’s not a completely unique way of painting, but at this point, I’m not sure there are any of those left. Its official title is “James” and it’s a 24×36″ acrylic on canvas. Woo hoo.
In other news, I’ve decided that when I am a fabulously wealthy artist with my own custom-designed studio, I will have a servant whose sole task is to clean my palettes for me. Failing that, I’ll have a sink that comes up to a normal standing height, so that after I’ve finished scrubbing half-dried acrylics out of the corners of two palettes, I’ll still be able to stand upright. I mean really–if it kills my back this much when I’m 18, imagine how it’ll feel when I’m 45.
Next up on the projects list: Finish up the painting of a VW Beetle that I’m working on, then start on a set of acrylic gouache/watercolor/calligraphy prayers to donate to my parish and my middle school for their upcoming silent auction fundraisers. I also want to use the last of my Border’s gift card to buy a book on medieval calligraphy and manuscript illumination.
Next on my list of new skills to learn: gilding (especially in the context of illumination), paper making, and silk screening (which, yes, has been on this list for years). Also possibly bookbinding. I’ll have to read up on that.
Feeling like this is going to be a very good year, art-wise.
