24 x 52 combined size oil on linen
Well ... I'm on the 2 yardline and ready to get into the endzone with this project. I'm going to wrap it all up today. Mostly on the areas where the hair on the kids meet the sky and background ... and the boys club hand and the girls ..... is there really a time to say finished ? Say what you gotta say and then get out ... I've found it is easier said than painted.
I started and finished the background yesterday and my days as a matte painter at ILM really came in handy. The only major difference is that now I add alot more paint and I want the viewer to see the strokes. The key is getting the tones and values right and you will be amazed how quickly it can come together without over thinking it. Thats the key. I see colors and shapes .. I don't see trees and houses and hills. I see patches of amazing color next to each other signifying a tree and house. Its when I get that concept into my head that I can paint freely without being psyched out by all the amount of real estate to paint.
I connected the paintings by stapling them together with cut out cardboard straps. Its quick and easy.
Here you can see how I just block in shapes. I stand back CONSTANTLY at
a distance of about 10 feet. I want to approach and see the painting as a viewer
would in a room. It has to work at a distance. I would rather hear, man that looks
great from here and as you get close its only dabs of paint ... rather than ... did you
see how he rendered that eyeball!
I mix my darkest cool grey which is just above the mid grey on the scale and
I don't deviate from that range for the landscape. Therefore I have a logical
value range to work with.
The entire color tones on the kids were blues and blacks and white. They
really liked those colors. So I kept the background wall warm and neutral
and found color in the backround landscape that echoed the color
notes of the sitters.. except that I added dashed of small brighter colors that would
spark the eye. The Fall colors were perfect to pull this off.
I hope the client likes it tomorrow! ... and I hope he has a check ready!
Posts
Am I always the first to comment.. lol .I am sure the client will LOVE it! The neutrality of that wall against the blues in the girl's clothing works well. Overall it looks pretty good where I am sitting and will be fabbo on the client's wall. Well done Frank!
ReplyDeleteApril ... It could be that you work next to your computer like me ....thanks again for the pics
ReplyDeletef
Frank, this painting is terrific, so well executed. I like how you shared your process with the gray scale to register your values for the background, that is essential in mapping out the work. Like you said, everything else falls into place.
ReplyDeleteHey, you inspired me to sign up for a portrait painting class this summer at our local college...we'll see how that goes!
Hey Denny... Me and some art buds will be painting in Bodega Bay the first week of May ... may be you can join us ... ?
ReplyDeleteFrank, thank you for the invitation, that sounds really appealing...I'm sure I can swing it. Will you let me know the details later?
ReplyDelete(denny.holland@comcast.net)
Oh my goodness! Just spectacular, Frank! In fact, I had take a few minutes of self-loathing and envy to whimper in a dark corner before I could comment.
ReplyDeleteThank you for showing the progress and discussing your process. Questions - will it be dry tomorrow when the client comes? Do you show it to the client in a frame even if they did not order it framed?
Frank, this is turning out wonderful! What you mentioned about painting the landscape as color shapes is something I am just beginning to learn. I took a little walk without my glasses the other day, and it was amazing how much easier it was to "see" paintings right in front of me - everything was simplified into value and color masses and just screaming to be painted.
ReplyDeleteJeremy ... You just figured out something I do unconsciously know that I think about it. I take my glasses off to see the big shapes all the time .... bravo
ReplyDeleteTHREE portraits--gadzooks. You did an exceptional job--I am certain your client with love love love these paintings.
ReplyDeleteSome artist (I forget who) said, "There's no such thing as a finished painting. There are only good stopping points."
ReplyDeleteLooks great.
These are amazing, I'm sure your clients will love them.
ReplyDeleteFrank I am sure they will love this. I really like that you did this as 3 canvases. What a wonderful idea.
ReplyDeletePatti
Hey Frank,
ReplyDeleteBeautiful portraits!! Your doing some truly stunning work. That background is great!
Frank,
ReplyDeleteThe portraits are marvelous!! Thanks for lettingus see the whole process!!