Ron's Conversations in Paint

Femme de feu VIII final... Opening another door!

2012-02-09T08:47:00.000-08:00

I completed my experiment on a new textural effect with raw cotton this morning...

Applying textures with a 4 inch roller requires some "getting used to" as every move is finite! A number of application ideas came to mind after this experiment... in support of higher contrasts between mid tones and light tones.

Note to self: "This avenue may be my salvation as I run out of raw cotton/linen four to five years down the line... In a nutshell, when it comes to textures, I want more than the usual painting knife effects on a textured background with either raw of primed canvas. This new technique goes in line with my idea about deconstruction... high risk/high payback!"

Femme de feu VIII - step III.... Making the jump!

2012-02-08T09:19:00.000-08:00

I did a quick third pass (2 layers) with thicker paint to refine the facial features further and create some drama...

My next step is to add textures with a roller... this is totally experimental!

Note: Raw cotton is so different from raw cotton/linen that the technical readjustment is always brutal... but the pastel look is appealing to me...

Femme de feu VIII - step II... Gaining some respect for street artists!

2012-02-07T14:26:00.000-08:00

The second pass was a blocking exercise including a slew of adjustments to get closer to the look I wanted (further alignments are required)...

I realize the skills required to work on a large scale and this partial face at an angle is most challenging for me... besides, the small size of my home studio is a major handicap! I need a thicker layer before proceeding with more drastic moves...

Femme de feu VIII - step I .... A change of pace!

2012-02-06T13:26:00.000-08:00

I cut a piece of raw cotton for this one to make a few experiments with a roller for textural effects (the smoother surface of raw cotton may be more desirable for what I'm after)...

The first pass is an approximation, which implies further readjustments along the way. This close-up was a challenge (22 X 36 canvas) as it required more than my eyes for measurements!

Femme de feu VII final... Getting back into the fighting spirit!

2012-02-02T09:03:00.000-08:00

I finished this one in a hurry this morning making sure not to obliterate the canvas surface...

A minimalist approach is slowly taking place as I continue my artistic saga with raw canvas. As I progress, I want to contrast this approach with some more drastic "curve balls" in the way of marks, drips and color splashes... This is a 28 X 28 canvas.

Femme de feu VII - step III... Down to the wire!

2012-02-01T12:32:00.000-08:00

After having achieved fairly decent realism with much economy of means, I went ahead with some deconstruction using drips, marks and, in this instance, fencing patterns to reflect the fighter's cage...

Scary stuff! As a second step, I went with blueish lighting and kept working at integrating the fence with the fighter's face...

Another pass should do it...

Note to self: " I haven't exploited this kind of lighting a lot having opted for diffused lighting with my recent paintings. It's time to open that door!"

Femme de feu VII - step II... Carving out the female form!

2012-01-31T10:03:00.000-08:00

A second layer this morning brought about some more refinements as I'm still searching for better lines...

I applied a slightly thicker layer of paint this afternoon ...

... before proceeding with more drastic measures such as putting this female fighter in a cage!

Femme de feu VII - step I... Introducing a new variation within the theme!

2012-01-30T13:30:00.000-08:00

Female fighters have become an interest for me... a direct side-effect from my working on the ultimate fighters' series last year. I started this one with a specific "deconstruction" idea in mind...

It will be interesting to see if I can make it work!

Femme de feu VI final... An acquired taste!

2012-01-27T13:20:00.000-08:00

A few more passes and I managed to pull this one off... sort of...

At the initial stage, I realized that smaller eyes led to an older woman by at least 10 years. I decided to roll with the punch and pursue in that vein. The feline look leads me to entitle this one "Jaguar"... in praise of older "predator" women preying on younger men! I don't mind having a few paintings in this series that provoke some uneasiness on the part of the observer. This one is a 30 X 30 canvas... and, at that size, she can eat you alive! ;-)

Femme de feu VI - step IV... Slowly finding the balance between spooky and glamorous!

2012-01-26T13:11:00.000-08:00

This is another one that warrants a multi-layered approach, so I'm still working fairly transparently at this stage...

Part of the reason is that I didn't know right off the bat which approach I would take... so better be safe than sorry!

Note: I was attracted by extreme lighting effects and movement while photographing my model for this series, and now, I'm confronted with a dire need to "fill the blanks" at the painting stage to get the impact that I want from each work...

Femme de feu VI - step III... Trying to carve out the glamorus!

2012-01-25T13:45:00.000-08:00

I only had 30 minutes today for the third layer...

This was enough to refine facial features a little and to get closer to the image that I have in mind. I would like to introduce some calligraphic marks and drips to part from pure realism, and before applying final color layers.

Note: I went to the cinema today to see "Haywire" featuring former mixed martial arts champion Gina Carano. Needless to say... sooner or later I'll be painting female fighters!

Femme de feu VI - step II... Some more finetuning!

2012-01-24T11:51:00.000-08:00

Before doing anything drastic, I pushed it a little further to obtain more drama...

More pulpous lips and thicker eye lashes (and a nose job!) should ultimately give me what I want.

Before going too far with thicker paint, I went ahead and followed my plan to incorporate some design elements in the form of a primitive tattoo...

Hoping to create a tension between the glamorous and the primitive! This is something I want to exploit in the future...

Note: The spooky look is unanticipated... something I have to leverage!

Femme de feu VI - step I... Setting the stage with an idea in mind!

2012-01-23T12:52:00.000-08:00

I roughly approximated facial features for this one, leaving some room for some finetuning later on...

I have some ideas in mind to make this one different from the lot... but as usual, the end image will probably part from my initial vision...

Femme de feu V final...I bit my own lip while finishing this one!

2012-01-19T13:12:00.000-08:00

A couple of successive layers got me a little closer to where I wanted to be on the first place...

I decided to let go of any flamboyant special effects with this one, concentrating instead on the "lip bite"... which was more than I could handle!

My objective these days is to refine my raw canvas technique and emphasize color nuances. Deconstruction using pouring techniques is also on my agenda.

Note: I cropped this one down to a 20 X 24 canvas to accentuate my key focal point...

Femme de feu V - step II... A layer at a time!

2012-01-18T09:06:00.000-08:00

I proceeded with a second layer this morning trying to get closer to the playfulness I want to convey with this composition...

Alternating between fluid and thick layers seems to be my modus operandi these days...

Femme de feu V - step I... What's with a lip bite... anyway?

2012-01-16T14:19:00.000-08:00

Well, can somebody find the question to that answer? ;-)

Not knowing exactly where to go next in terms of subject matter for my new "Femmes de feu" series, I finally opted for the portrayal of a lip bite...

I did some doodling and dripping to start some slight deconstruction... I'm still timid in that department... but will eventually get bolder! This is a 24 X 24 canvas.

Note: I've incorporated a number of December 2011 paintings in my "Femmes de feu" series, realizing that I had already unconsciously started the series!

Femme de feu IV final... Toggling between the shovel and the paint brush!

2012-01-13T16:03:00.000-08:00

Today, I finished this one in a hurry literally toggling back and forth between shoveling the driveway and painting (we experienced a snow storm over the last two days)...

I decided to use more color variations with this one while making an attempt to retain as much bare canvas as possible. From now on, I want to raise color intensity one iota and introduce more variations in my color schemes...

Note: this one will need to be rephotographed in the daytime to avoid reflections... also the hair needs to be revisited!

Update (shot in the day light): I rearranged hair patterns a little and made a few adjustments here and there. The result is a little rougher on the edges than what I'm used to...

Note to self: "I think I want more color nuances on raw canvas but without compromising too much on my usual staining style. Clashing abstraction with pure realism remains a key goal. In that respect, this painting shows more uniformity, and as such, parts from this goal."

Femme de feu IV - step I... A change of tactic!

2012-01-12T10:18:00.000-08:00

After opening the series with a few red faces, I want to part from this approach while retaining some fire in my rendition...

I'm not sure what I'm gonna do ultimately... but I'll most certainly be using red in some fashion. I still want to deconstruct with some "out of control" pours and marks... to get out of pure realism...

Thick dripping honey-like paste is next...

Femme de feu III final ... Still looking for a balance between marks, drips and blobs!

2012-01-08T13:17:00.000-08:00

I'm still having a wrestling match with my new approach incorporating "designer" drips and marks...

The idea is to introduce these destructive elements while retaining convincing realism and balance. In a way, I want to get closer to the art from the street and the freedom that that implies. To be successful, every move needs to be bold and decisive... freshness is of the essence with raw canvas. Things are likely to get worst before they get better!

Update: I pushed it a little further to see if a better balance could be achieved, the idea being to emphasize the head as focal point...

Some more key learnings emanated from that exercise...

Femme de feu III - step I... Beating the iron while it's hot!

2012-01-06T18:20:00.000-08:00

Today, I spent some time buying art supplies for the new year. Upon my return, capitalizing on the lessons learned from my last painting, I initiated another one of those unusual female faces...

In the end, I would like to lean on the side of drama rather than cuteness.... and remain lean an mean in the "special effects" department!

Femme de feu II final... a fertile ground for experimentation!

2012-01-04T14:14:00.000-08:00

As a result of using unfamiliar methods, I overworked this painting, which is not necessarily a bad thing since I ended up discovering the best approach for any future works making use of pouring techniques...

Raw canvas is not very forgiving, somewhat like watercolor paper. Works with the least number of color passes make the mark!

Femme de feu II - step II... Pouring like crazy!

2012-01-03T13:13:00.000-08:00

For step II, I laid the painting directly on the floor and started to pour a number of color mixes "à la Pollock" using pouring gel as medium...

I then moved colors a little trying not to destroy all the patterns that resulted from the pour. I used thick highlights with self-leveling gel for the hair and part of the face to bring the figure on the forefront. All in all, a rather awkward an unnerving exercise for me since it's the first time that I use this technique... still, there is the promise of greater freedom!

Femme de feu II - step I... Two is a trend!

2012-01-02T16:05:00.000-08:00

To start the New Year, I initiated another painting for the "Femmes de feu" series...

I'd like to introduce some blues and greens to counter my natural attraction for monochromatic color schemes.

Femme de feu I final ... First timid steps towards a new pictorial language!

2011-12-29T17:32:00.000-08:00

I finished this one yesterday with a few of "hit or miss" passes, trying to achieve an acceptable balance in my view...

To accomplish what I want to accomplish with this new technique incorporating calligraphic mark making, I need to lay the artwork flat on the floor at least at the initial stage. In this case, I proceeded as usual on my easel, hence the extensive vertical dripping which I tried to leverage by hook or crook in the final design.

Note to self: "I'm getting bored with pure realism... and would like to introduce some chaos in the natural order of things!"

Femme de feu I - step III... Jumping off a cliff hoping to catch a thermal!

2011-12-26T10:34:00.000-08:00

As I initiated a third pass, I realized quickly that I was about to go back to my comfort zone, reproducing more or less the kind of work that I usually produced when remaining relatively under control. Deep down, I'm still vying for total freedom. On the spur of the moment, I decided to throw a monkey wrench into the picture...

I've been toying with this kind of paint application for quite a while but never really had the guts to implement it. I'm back to not destroying too much what resulted from a spurt of spontaneity!

Note to self: "I'm looking for my own iconographic language for fire..."

Femme de feu I - Step II... Trying not to lose too much canvas!

2011-12-24T11:57:00.000-08:00

A last kick at the can before Christmas...

I slapped another staining coat in preparation for the final pass. I plan to jazz up colors a bit when applying the thicker stuff!

Time to join my guest for the evening, my 100 year old mother-in-law!

Femme de feu I - step I... Firming up my ideas about a new series!

2011-12-23T14:04:00.000-08:00

I took an hour or so this afternoon to lay the foundation for the first painting of my "Private Eyes" series. However, a new idea for a series emerged as I thought about potential solutions for this one....

As a result, "Femmes de Feu" (women of fire) will probably replace "Private Eyes" as my upcoming series. We'll see how this one evolves... since most of the time, my paintings have a life of their own! This is a 28 X 28 canvas...

Note: I realized this week that the kind of raw cotton/linen that I'm using may go the way of the dodo bird sooner than later: the supplier discontinued the product recently. I placed an order for 50 meters which should last me 4-5 years! In the interim, I'll be looking for alternative ways to reproduce similar results... too bad I'm addicted to the stuff!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

2011-12-23T09:04:00.000-08:00

I'd like to take this opportunity to wish my family, friends and visitors of this blog a happy Holiday Season. We look forward to spending some quality time with family and friends.

As grand parents, we are lucky to have the prerogative to see Christmas through the eyes of our grand children... and we are ready to handle the task at hand!

P.S. I've got a piece of canvas ready to start a new series... so I will attempt to cast the die before the New Year... sort of a "breaking the ice" exercise!

New series 2012... gearing up!

2011-12-18T09:55:00.000-08:00

Not much painting this week, and mostly thinking a lot about what I'm gonna do next. On Friday, I was lucky enough to have Val (a friend of the Muse) for a photo session in preparation for my 2012 production...

I used a different tactic this time and relied also on video to capture movement. Lately, I've been interested in going the route of raw Belgium linen for my support... so it's with great excitement that I will initiate my new series in 2012!

Update: The price of Belgium linen is a killer (10 times the price of cotton/linen)... but at least I got a yard... as a Christmas gift to myself!

Bather II final... Getting at the end of the roll... my canvas roll that is!

2011-12-13T12:35:00.000-08:00

I still have one piece of raw cotton/linen left after this one... and this will mark the end of my "painting vacation", i.e., painting "no brainer" paintings! I'd like to start some serious work next week. I've got two main series in mind:

"Vortex", a series of large scale semi-abstract faces and bodies with a spin
"Private eyes", a series of large scale faces emphasizing the eyes and leveraging unusual viewing angles

I finished this one in a hurry this afternoon, with the sole purpose of accumulating time on raw cotton/linen before getting real serious with my new series...

Note to self: "After all, total freedom may not be incompatible with total figuration..."

Bather II step I... Still in-between series... painting for the sake of painting!

2011-12-12T14:08:00.000-08:00

I started a painting this afternoon using a small piece of raw cotton/linen (20 X 24). As usual, I just tried to capture the feel of this pool scene before getting more serious...

I wouldn't mind going for a more colorful approach while working with sweeping brush strokes to create a bit of a vortex like effect...

Miss Sarajevo - step II... I pedaled for a while!

2011-12-08T11:27:00.000-08:00

I was not sure how to approach this one, so and I didn't "cast the die" at step one as usual. The risk is the application of too many layers...

In the end, I went for a night scene with strategic highlights and bullet holes in the half destroyed wall!

Note: this one was shot in the evening light, so it needs to be re-shot in broad daylight. This is a 30 X 30 canvas...

Updated picture:

Note to self: "Looking at step I, I just realized that a certain strabismus (misalignment of the eyes) can make a face more "riveting"... sort of a trick from the old masters... and something to keep in mind for future works!

Subnote to self: "There is no two ways about it... the time has come for me to start my painting process on the floor to fully leverage fluid paint on raw canvas... getting a birds' eye view of the painted surface, flying over it like an eagle!"

Miss Sarajevo - step I... Jumping in with improvisation in mind!

2011-12-07T14:00:00.000-08:00

I'm still in a bit of a downer artistically.... so, I just keep painting! An idea came to mind, contrasting beauty with rubble, so I'm trying to implement it...

The challenge will be to make interesting patterns with shifts in values...

Bather final... Beauty makes me nervous?

2011-12-02T14:48:00.000-08:00

I ended up being more prudent than I anticipated with this one... could have been that I overcompensated for the half bottle of wine that I had at lunch time with a friend....

This photo was taken under evening lighting, so it will need to be re-shot... More than ever I want to pursue "raw canvas"!

Update (shot in day light):

I'm in a rut artistically... so any subject that catches my fancy is a good candidate!

2011-12-01T11:54:00.000-08:00

I have a series in mind but it will require a model, whom I have arranged for before the New Year. In the interim, I'm totally restless not really committing myself to anything. Under such circumstances, I tend to grab anything I can get my hands on in the pursuit of my artistic objectives! Evidently, this is a manner of speaking!

I took a piece of raw canvas this afternoon, and quickly laid the foundation for a bathing woman...

I'm a bit rusty with large scale raw canvas... but I hope to get back on track with this one quickly. I would like to stop thinking about what I'm gonna do... and simply deliver visually speaking.

Note to self: "These days, I seem to be yanking my yin and my yang from one painting to another haphazardly... I like it!"

Ultimate fighter XII final... An attempt at the "twirl" with the palette knife!

2011-11-30T14:16:00.000-08:00

For this final pass, I kept applying paint in circular sweeping motions...

The end result in a close-up view is pretty raw, yet colorful...

I've got some work to do with this new way of applying paint... as I'm not there yet!

Note: A certain deformation of shapes beyond paint application was necessary, in order to achieve a certain spin. This was done on a 26 X26 piece of raw canvas...

Note to self: "I've got some new tools that could help me pave the way to more artistic freedom... I think it's time to let go!"

Subnote to self: "I need to keep reminding myself that less is more with this technique... just one iota beyond the second pass would have been perfect..."

Ultimate fighter XII - step I... Trying to lose my art in a vortex!

2011-11-29T11:31:00.000-08:00

These days, I'm thinking about developing a specific aspect in my art that could potentially lead to a more prolonged saga of exploration in one direction. For one thing, I would like the gestures that I use in my painting process to be in line with those associated with my Tai Chi practice. I'm referring in particular to sweeping circular motions. In this line of thinking, I've been attracted for quite a while to the "enso" circle often seen in Zen paintings, the so-called formless form. Another aspect that interests me (I have a scientific background) is the entropy phenomenon which causes everything in the Universe to go from a state of organization to a state of disorganization over time.

With this in mind, I took a second look at one of my ultimate fighter paintings and initiated this experiment on canvas...

It will be interesting to see if I can make some sense out of this rather humble first step!

The healing power of art....

2011-11-24T09:05:00.000-08:00

This painting below will be part of an auction to raise funds for medical research in Multiple Sclerosis...

I wish my former company and team members good luck in their fund raising... and a cure for people with MS!

Gearing up slowly... digging from my bank of sketches and my memory!

2011-11-22T16:20:00.000-08:00

Still not ready for some serious work... nonetheless, not willing to remain completely inactive from an artistic standpoint. Ten years ago, I was in Cuba for a sales meeting and couldn't resist capturing this slender South-American woman from Argentina.... with a rather abbreviated watercolor sketch. I pushed my luck on a 16 X 16 piece of raw canvas to see what I could do in one sitting over a couple of hours...

As a second thought, I pushed the painting a little further to add more drama (in actuality, there was a shower station in this scene by the ocean side)...

I see some potential for free-style painting from memory and rough sketches... as I seem to be in a state of readiness to graduate to that level. I want to resuscitate the technique that I developed during the first part of this year with raw cotton/linen. Very large formats are ideal for this technique though (not this small size) to capitalize on the abstract quality of textures in close-up view.

Note to self: "Since I leverage abstraction in close-ups and large scale works, my smaller scale works will need to be much more abstract so that they align to my larger works."

Laying the foundation for next year... a frantic pursuit for some new nut to crack!

2011-11-21T07:40:00.000-08:00

I'd like to get serious this coming December. Meanwhile, I'm in hot pursuit of something new. A couple more "doodling" experiments:

Turquoise phtalo (or blue) underpainting adding rose fluo before going for skin tones...

Selectively superimposing transparent black and white over colors to establish shapes or to force partial black and white passages over a colorful rendition (I tried the other way around and it doesn't seem to work for me)...

Using a "reactive painting approach" over an abstract background, i.e., finding the subject after the fact based on established patterns and what comes to mind...

With the latter approach, a partial sealing of the raw canvas (with a mixture of acrylic medium and water) will be necessary to promote free-flowing colors for the abstract background.

Based on my last experiments, a number of potential "dogmas" come to mind for 2012:

Use raw canvas or primed canvas depending on the effect sought after
Use sketches as the foundation for my paintings (I should investigate projecting the original sketches on canvas to retain as much "truthfulness" as possible)
If reference material is to be used, use video stills as opposed to photographs (the capacity to select the most impactful image)
Experiment going absolute free style with no "chute", i.e. from memory
Retain the "good" (what I like) from this year, from the past four years
Merge styles that I have developed this year
Make every painting the sum total of everything that I've learned, in other words, all styles and techniques (my vocabulary) should be used, the balance between them dictating the final look

At any rate, something to mull over during the next few weeks!

Note to self:" Is it doubtful that I'm a real artist?... since thinking and free artistic expression work counter to each other. If I allow myself to go berserk within the boundaries of my logic... may be there is still some hope!"

Still doodling in-between series...

2011-11-19T14:28:00.000-08:00

These days, I'm trying to lay the foundation for my 2012 series. Four years ago, I used Phtalo blue underpaintings for my Hawaiian series while using opaque paint...

I'm tempted to throw a monkey wrench in my picture and go back to this underpainting approach with my current use of transparent colors on raw canvas. This will force the use of pure complementary colors and optical mixing on canvas. Over the last few years, I have relied on analogous colors schemes (e.g., red, yellow, orange with some purples, blues and darks for accents). Here is another "doodle with paint" as a first awkward experiment in this line of thinking....

I used turquoise phtalo as underpainting for this one. For more visceral works, raw cotton/linen canvas is tough to beat... and this is only one pass.

Another painting approach that has been haunting me for a while is "reactive painting", i.e., throwing some paint on canvas and building from there. This is my next experiment... and perhaps the only way to subjugate the control freak in me!

Note to self: "I have no time to be preoccupied with style for now... and just need to gobble up!"

Jaguar woman final... Trying to zero in on some prototype "jaguar woman"!

2011-11-16T11:24:00.000-08:00

I remained prudent with this one as I collated different parts from two different models... I stuck to a monochromatic color scheme not to introduce too many variables at the same time!

Next year, I'd like to leverage "the vamp" and the "jaguar woman" in 2 colorful experimental series... just for laughs! I will use the muse as a "body model"...

Note: The first step for this painting represents best where I wanted to go initially... but because the rendering for my jaguar skin back ground was below par, I had to change strategy along the way and go with a more opaque approach.

Note to self: "Deep down, I've always wanted to paint like Frank Frazetta! I see these series as an opportunity to get this out of my system... at least when it comes to subject matter, certainly not style!"

Jaguar woman - step II... Getting closer to a solution...

2011-11-14T14:01:00.000-08:00

I spent 30 minutes this afternoon to push this one further towards a viable solution...

The upper portion still remains to be resolved, especially the face and the body of the jaguar... so I'm still at the underpainting level before proceeding to the next step.

Note to self: "I plunged into this one without much pre-planning... and this is forcing me to improvise, which is a good thing for the control freak in me!"

Chasing the jaguar woman....

2011-11-13T16:13:00.000-08:00

This is a subject that I tackled last year with a rather conservative approach. In-between series, I'm in the mood to experiment... to the extent of making a fool of myself with something totally off the wall, and this is a case in point...

... can I leverage transparency over a haphazard "jaguar-like" skin pattern to depict an elusive jaguar woman? I will soon find out!

Note: This is a mixture of crude Photoshop work and my underpainting as a means to envision what could be...

"Doodling with paint" final - "Cherchez la femme!

2011-11-11T13:57:00.000-08:00

I pushed my previous "doodle" a little more to investigate possibilities with a different subject matter...

... in occurrence looking for some kind of dark eyed "vamp" that could become the subject of a series. Needless to say, it's simmering in my mind!

Note to self: "I see potential in projecting my usual viewpoint which favours interlocking shapes in close-up views."

"Doodling with paint" step II... May be, I'm becoming more serious!

2011-11-09T13:18:00.000-08:00

In the face of my somewhat wrinkled work in progress this afternoon, I stretched it and gave it another coat of paint...

... and realized that, may be, I have the foundation for a steamy bathroom scene!

Note to self: "I'm looking for a bushy haired, dark eyed female character for a new series... could this be it!"

Seeking some artistic stimulation in-between series...

2011-11-08T17:49:00.000-08:00

Today, because of the unusually mild weather for this time of the year in Montreal, the muse and I decided to hit pedestrian streets downtown and visit a few art exhibitions in the process. I was particularly impressed by the Big Bang, a contemporary art exhibition featuring the collaborative work of internationally renowned artists residing in Montreal, and the new wing of the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts covering a plethora of Canadian artists from different eras. We topped it off with the "Les pastellistes 16ième édition" at the Tudor room of the Ogilvie store. As usual, there is alway some ideas to be picked up along the way.

Yesterday, I started another "doodling with paint" piece on a 30 X 30 piece of canvas just to warm up some more with primed canvas and to readjust to a different scale of work...

I ran out of duct tape, so it looks like I may have to stretch that one before the second coat...

Didn't feel like painting today... did a small-scale experiment...

2011-11-06T13:13:00.000-08:00

Some time ago, I obtained a sample of primed cotton/linen canvas from my usual frame supplier. I decided to use half an hour to test this new support for me...

I went at it "alla prima" anxious to see the results. There is definitely some potential for a "thin paint" painter like me!

Note: these days, I'm trying to figure out what I'm gonna do next in terms of subject matter... things are simmering in my mind...

Playing catch up with "prep work"... a good time to think!

2011-11-03T12:44:00.000-07:00

Starting today, I decided to initiate the prep work for my completed paintings (painting sides and varnishing)...

Because of the backlog of paintings, I realize that this is a daunting task! Looks like I'm gonna have some time to think about what I want to accomplish with my future art!

Note to self: "Over the last 12 months, I've been thinking a lot about execution and the achievement of certain effects in an attempt to differentiate myself from other artists and to remain aligned to the themes that I had selected. It's becoming obvious that to progress to the next level, I need to forget about execution and rely more on what I feel. In a way, I see the last 12 months as a calculated step backward in preparation for a leap forward."

Taking stock... and committing to specific avenues... inspired by Lake Placid!

2011-11-01T08:31:00.000-07:00

Nothing beats a walk in fresh air to clear up the mind and regain a sense of direction. Spending the day at Lake Placid yesterday in good company was perfect timing as I'm currently reevaluating my artistic objectives for 2012 ...

Merci Robert et Monique for being our touristic guides in this beautiful area in upstate New-York... just before the snow! This is Mirror Lake downtown Lake Placid.

After some cogitation on my part, in terms of style, I want to develop two streams of works next year: one visceral and high impact, the other more subdued and Zennish. I'd like to emphasize artistic aspects (paint for the sake of paint, mixed styles) rather than illustrative aspects using the vocabulary that I've developed so far (color palettes, brush strokes, painting knife work, glazes, refraction, deconstruction). Based on my experiments, I'd like to use the best technique for each support (primed cotton, raw cotton, raw cotton/linen). In terms of subject matter, I want to pursue close-ups of faces and bodies but, this time... relying more on live sketches rather than video stills or photos, and also shying away from any overt narrative content or the clear communication of a specific idea. There is also the possibility of creating a female personage (a vamp?) that could be featured in a series, something I've been toying with for a while...

This year has been a year of intense technical exploration tackling different supports and diverse subjects and themes. The idea of putting a concrete idea on canvas with some ambiguity was important for a while. Moving forward, after 4 years with acrylics, I'd like to purely test my artistic ability... using less brain and more heart!

Note to self: "My urgency to create a painting a week should be curbed. From now on, I want to concentrate at delivering high impact works without any concerns about speed of execution. In other words, I want to be driven by whatever it takes to get there, i.e., what's in my head."

Taking stock... An unlimited series of self-questioning!!

2011-10-31T19:12:00.000-07:00

As is customary for me at this time of the year, I like to analyze my works of the previous 12 months in an attempt to find an optimal path to follow moving forward. Here are some take-home messages from this analysis (clockwise from the top left):

My most dramatic work on raw cotton/linen was done with both the palette knife and the brush; the canvas was not obliterated completely thus unveiling the natural texture of raw cotton/linen
Glazes and brush strokes on primed canvas are useful to render a blurry effect but I need to get back to more colors now that I understand the principle; brush strokes are difficult to retain on raw canvas as the paint sinks in
I like the chalky pastel look obtained when applying color glazes on raw cotton
Soot and/or walnut stain can produce perfect black and white renditions on raw cotton that are acceptable as is (coloring them may very well add nothing and even defeat the purpose); a soot/walnut stain underpainting can be useful to avoid a first layer of plastic and allow further staining (the idea is to tone down colors applied subsequently)
Glazes on primed canvas produce realistic images that can become more artistic with selective "deconstruction" work
A blurry effect is possible using the brush and the palette knife on coarse cotton (the header for this blog)... but it's an impressionistic approach that is not very differentiating

I will decide on a course of action for next year this week...

Ultimate fighter XI post-mortem.... Arrangement in pink and grey!

2011-10-29T09:03:00.000-07:00

As a last experiment on my previous failure, I went with sort of a reverse "grisaille" by applying black and grey over colors as opposed to the other way around, as old masters used to do...

Funnily enough, this technique could very well have some merit. I'm curious about the impact of a satin varnish on this work.

Note: I felt humoristic this morning, hence the title of this post "winking" at Whistler!

Ultimate fighter XI post-mortem.... The glutton for punishment is back!

2011-10-27T10:18:00.000-07:00

Not feeling like attempting another subject this week, I decided to learn something from my recent failure...

I applied major surgery to the back and readjusted everything else until I was half satisfied with proportions. I used a black and white photo to better assess improvements. Next step was to attempt "salvage therapy" with colors...

There was a price to pay for not arriving there fast. On the other hand, this one gave me the opportunity to experiment a little... so not all was lost!

Note to self: "The blurry effect I have achieved so far on raw canvas is less painterly than on primed canvas. Raw canvas naturally leads to a foggy blur as paint is absorbed by the canvas. I see an opportunity for 3 types of blur: through paint application (brush strokes, refraction), through wiping out paint and through deconstruction. I wouldn't mind having 3 streams of paintings for a while."

Subnote to self: "May be I should go for a few black and white paintings!"

Ultimate fighter XI final... Cropping my way to some composition!

2011-10-25T13:38:00.000-07:00

I seem to be running out of decent compositions for this series, at least as it relates to wrestling positions on the floor. After a few passes, it dawned on me that the elbow on the right was sticking out like a sore thumb...

I elected to curb it somewhat for some improvement! Unfortunately, this composition is also showing too much back for my liking, so I guess this one won't be joining the collection!

For the specific look that I'm now after following my recent paintings, it seems that raw canvas may not fit the bill totally. Pigments need to sit on top of the support... and not sink in! The other aspect is that my new pigments are not as powerful as the ones I routinely use, especially with regard to their staining power. Primed canvas doesn't seem to pose a problem with them but raw canvas is a challenge.

Note to self: "Part of the problem with this painting is that I lost my spontaneity by wanting to apply some sort of formula. Moreover, each time I pussy foot around with a painting, and I don't get what I want fast...results always seem suboptimal."

Subnote to self: "I want to detach myself from my over-dependence on video stills and photographs... I want to move to sketches at least for a part of my future production. This is my challenge for next year!"

Ultimate fighter XI - step II... a bit off balance again!

2011-10-24T12:16:00.000-07:00

Being too hasty, I missed an opportunity for ultimate refraction with this second pass...

With the third pass, I'm not sure if I can get as much "patina" and refraction as with primed canvas without relying on an additional transparent layer of gel acting like a glass layer in-between 2 color layers. I'll soon find out. Raw canvas has a definite textural advantage, but it can lead to a chalky pastel look with fewer layers. I'd like to have it both ways, high patina, lots of textures... in three passes flat!

Note: Initially, I felt like "boxing in" the two fighters to create a smothering effect... as a second thought, I decided to leave some space on the right side... to give the two fighters more room to fall on the way side!

Ultimate fighter XI - step I... Back to raw cotton/linen!

2011-10-22T13:31:00.000-07:00

I started this one with the intent of trying to emulate the "new look" that I've developed using primed canvas... but this time using raw canvas, in occurrence raw cotton/linen ...

We'll see how this one goes... I'm curious about the impact on this support. Not taking too much risk, I duct taped a loose piece of canvas on a board for this experiment...

Ultimate fighter X - final... "Fuzziness" is getting clearer!

2011-10-20T12:41:00.000-07:00

The last pass allowed some refraction, and I ended up with a slightly different look than the preceding painting partly as a result of using less textural effects from the beginning...

To a certain extent, the smoother surface led to less character. On the other hand, I used more transparency with this one and I like the blurry effect on skin tones.

Note: this canvas is not stretched for now...

I haven't tried the new colors along with my newly developed techniques on raw canvas... so this will be next on my agenda...

Ultimate fighter X - step II... testing how far I can go without blue...

2011-10-19T11:43:00.000-07:00

As usual for a first step, I introduced a basic color scheme along with some textural effect...

I like the new colors I received from my sister-in-law very much. Although I have plans to complement my color set with a few strategic blues from the same manufacturer, I want to restrict myself for now and replace my usual blues with purples to see how far I can go with this new color scheme. I think I will call this painting: "Getting some elbow room"... in total disregard to the fighter on the receiving end!

Note to self: "Teal blue is a nice complement to orange and red... I have some withdrawal symptoms already! On the other hand, the prospect of exploring something new, creating a new look is too appealing! By using unusual premixed colors for me, I hope to keep myself off-balance and receptive to new developments!"

Ultimate fighter X - step I... Keeping the momentum going... with "the blur"!

2011-10-18T11:47:00.000-07:00

I wanted to get to 10 works with this series, so I set the stage for the 10th one this afternoon....

I'd like to follow suit on the previous painting when it comes to creating a blurry rendition...

Ultimate fighter IX final ... edging my bet in the pursuit of "fuzziness"!

2011-10-13T13:16:00.000-07:00

For some reason, throughout this third pass, I naturally evolved towards the combination of both refraction and brush strokes to obtain the desired blurry effect...

My natural tendency over the last few years has been to indulge in the use of vertical strokes with either the palette knife or the brush. Why fight it! This new development is setting the stage for next year.

Note to self: "I got caught in my own game... brush strokes do matter for me!"

Ultimate fighter IX - step II... Testing multiple layers...

2011-10-12T16:39:00.000-07:00

These days, I spend more time outside the studio, trying as much as possible to enjoy the last days of Indian summer in Quebec. I did take the time though to slap another coat of paint on my work in progress...

Not much to write home about... but I'm counting on multiple layers to give me what I want in terms of color nuances and character. Meanwhile, the fellow on the right will be getting progressively larger... as a counterbalance to the originally bulkier fellow on the left!

Note to self: "I don't seem to care anymore about my brush strokes... slapping paint right, left and center... as it goes. Could this be the beginning of truthful art for me!"

Ultimate fighter IX - step I... trying to adapt my raw canvas techniques to primed canvas...

2011-10-11T09:01:00.000-07:00

Pursuing this "ultimate fighters" series, I selected this typical confrontational scene this morning to further test the grounds with primed canvas...

Instead of using my usual chimney soot/walnut stain mixture for my underpaintings on raw canvas, I wiped a mixture of raw umber and ivory black on this primed canvas. I want to see if I can build up on what I've learned from the previous painting.

The first color coat led to this fairly visceral version...

Note to self: "Working on primed canvas brings to light what I miss from raw canvas.... and vice versa. I need both!"

Ultimate fighter VIII final... trying to deepen my understanding of refraction and movement!

2011-10-04T13:44:00.000-07:00

With this final pass, it suddenly dawned on me that refraction is much easier to achieve on primed canvas than on raw canvas...

Achieving refraction from one layer to the other depends on everything (paint and medium) not sinking in the fabric. Needless to say, I will need to readjust my methods slightly with raw canvas.

My mission statement stipulates that my aim as an artist is to depict beauty, power and movement using the human form as a basis for expression. At the early stage, 4 years ago, I was attracted by the depiction of female beauty. This year, I really wanted to emphasize power (static power?)... perhaps some sort of an ego trip on my part! With my recent experiments on refraction, I see for the first time an opportunity to depict movement. On thing is for sure, going from raw canvas to primed canvas is like shedding 100 pounds... my paint velocity has dramatically increased!

Update: This is the stretched version below. Ironically, I find the buckled version more interesting... also, from a distance, the first step version had qualities that this one lost along the way... and this is giving me food for thought in terms of future paint application...

Note to self: " I seem to have gobbled up a fair number of styles and methods over the last 4 years... question is: is this finally THE avenue for me? This prospect excites me... at least for now!"

Sub note to self: "Transparency has remained the common thread in my work.... and the one pass painting has never been so close... just like doing watercolors!"

Ultimate fighter VIII - step I... experimenting on... primed canvas!

2011-10-03T12:48:00.000-07:00

For a while, I've been thinking about the relevance of toggling back and forth between raw canvas and primed canvas to keep myself challenged and to remain on the path for artistic growth. After a year of using raw canvas, I have reached a pretty good level of comfort with it despite its relative "unfriendliness" as a support. It's a bit like walking on thick molasses but I love the watercolor feel when spreading diluted colors or stain. I went from a mixed staining/painting approach to total staining approach relying on walnut stain/chimney suit underpaintings for tones.

Today, I want to evaluate the impact of my newly developed raw canvas painting techniques on primed canvas. Moreover, my sister in law (an accomplished realistic painter) gave me a set of new acrylics colors from the US not commonly distributed in Canada, and after a few conclusive tests, I am very tempted to give them a try. This ultimate fighter scene in my back burner seems a perfect candidate...

I never thought I'd be using raw umber and raw sienna... but since they are semi-transparent, they fit the bill (my credo is "transparency"). My color selection doesn't have any blues but two purples instead. I decided to leverage this idiosyncrasy to create a different look... so far so good... I'm totally loose!

Note to self: "Ironically, I'm skidding around on this support from lack of resistance (it's like I've been training with weights)... I like the new painterly look and I will seek to replicate it when I go back to raw canvas! I'm after the depiction of movement, something that has been escaping me thus far..."

Subnote to self: "So much for deconstruction from pure realism... I prefer a one step approach!"

Hot summer day final - The need for a "reality check"!

2011-10-01T09:01:00.000-07:00

This final pass became sort of an experiment in tone adjustment...

I didn't divert too much from reality with this one... and this, more often than not, is the case when I paint the "muse"! My desire to report this moment was stronger than my desire to push the limits and experiment... I'm a sucker for souvenirs!

Note to self: "After the last few paintings, it's time to go back to some deconstruction work with pure reality as a starting point. Deep down though, I want to go free style and invent a new reality rather than interpret an existing one."

Hot summer day - step II... Dripping over a boring area!

2011-09-29T11:56:00.000-07:00

With this second pass, I'm still testing the ground on refraction...

I wiped out the drips hoping to bring some dirt over the white boards from the pier. The third step will reveal if I can max out on "blurriness" or not with this one!

Hot summer day - step I... Diverging but still in the same type of exploration!

2011-09-28T12:15:00.000-07:00

Early this week, I played catch up with some minor house repairs to be performed before the fall. This year, it looks like we may go from summer to winter with no season in-between...

Experiencing withdrawal symptoms from lack of painting, I started this new one today...

...with the objective of leveraging the "refraction" phenomenon based on my previous experiments.

Note: I liked this pose from the "muse" as it reminded me of a famous Andrew Wyeth painting.

Still trying to digest "ultimate fighter VI"!

2011-09-23T16:06:00.000-07:00

This week was a busy week responding to a health emergency involving my mother (thank God everything is OK with her) and helping the Muse with the grand kids. During the little free time I had, I took the opportunity to do some more research in the area of transparency and refraction. Funnily enough, I found my answers in a magazine dedicated to pastel painting. My main objective was to better understand what made the "ultimate fighter VI" painting different from anything that I had done before. Intuitively, I had already figured out some of the answers... but learning how an artist could make pastel layers look transparent was a definite eye opener for me!

More than ever, I want to forge ahead in this new direction for me... cultivating the elusive and blurry!

Ultimate fighter VII - final... Attracted by what's elusive!

2011-09-15T13:59:00.000-07:00

Although I've been thinking too much for my liking while producing this one, the "elusive" image is definitely an avenue that I want to further explore...

These images can be made much more abstract by changing the point of view. I want to reintroduce bold textures in the future, but in doing so, I want to be selective and use them as "props" to detach the observer from the reality that I'm depicting...

Note to self: "My recent objective is likely to take more than a few paintings to achieve... so I'd better brace myself!"

Ultimate fighter VII -step II... a total wipe out!

2011-09-14T12:12:00.000-07:00

I'm still experimenting with paint application with this second step, strategically wiping out paint here and there after each application...

I lost some valuable darks as I got carried away with this new technique (for me!)... but I realize that each application adds character!

Through my experiments over the last few months, I'm really looking at developing a distinctive style and a painting process that excites me while providing me with even more freedom than before. Ultimately, I want to stop thinking while I'm painting! The plain rendering of values at the underpainting stage is a step in that direction. Applying fluid paint or fluid textures over a "grisaille" underpainting becomes a "no brainer". Dripping and splattering introduce an element of chance which also falls in line with this kind of thinking. Hey, I'm still thinking!

Ultimate fighter VII -step I... going for a mish mash of body parts!

2011-09-13T17:10:00.000-07:00

Wanting to add another one to this series, I opt once again for the confusion resulting from interlocking bodies and body parts...

I hope to create further confusion with the rendering. I don't go all out with these black and white underpaintings, preferring to use them as the foundation for a blurry picture.

Note: The cross bars from the frame are showing through... perhaps something that may add to the design!

Taking a slant on the wild side part II... enjoying nature North of Lachute!

2011-09-12T07:16:00.000-07:00

Playing catch up with the last days of summer, this weekend I went along the Muse's memory lane, the road leading to a lot near a lake shared by 5 members of Nicole's family (including her brother Michel) North of Lachute, Québec ...

Nicole hadn't been there for more than 30 years (this is where she spent all her summers as a kid). This is also Tex Lecor's country, and I can understand how this area could have been a source of inspiration for this renowned Québec artist.

Merci Francine et Michel pour cette visite guidée!!!

Taking a slant on the wild side... enjoying nature in the Stowe area!

2011-09-10T11:16:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, we took another day trip, but this time in the Stowe area (Vermont, USA) not much more than an hour from my hometown near the US border...

... this was like an attempt to pack some more memories... of a summer now on borrowed time! We took advantage of my cousin's knowledge of the area. Merci Robert et un bonjour à Monique!

I was flabbergasted by the art galleries and the works of local artists in the area. Many plein air painters and contemporary artists caught my attention and gave me food for thought! The Trapp family estate (the Sound of Music movie told their story) was quiet impressive and definitely reminiscent of Austria.

Close encounter with a flying object - final... Wanting to explore the "blur"!

2011-09-05T09:17:00.000-07:00

I used this final step to increase color saturation here and there, leaving this painting relatively unfinished...

This one was another candidate for a mat varnish after I made slight corrections in the curvature of both arms. I photographed it in the bright sunshine...

Although I favour close-ups since they make figurative abstraction easier to achieve, I still feel the need to further explore the full figure with the ultimate objective of tipping the scale towards abstraction a little. Eventually, whatever my point of view, the general look of my works should remain the same... but to do that, I need to subjugate my rational mind... it's been on my "to do" list for a while!

Note to self: "All of a sudden I want to explore free-flowing textures and flowing paint... real bad!"

Sub-note to self: "I think my new direction stems from wanting to deconstruct from pure realism rather than from impressionistic realism. I think it's a question of maximizing the impact of deconstruction for me..."

Close encounter with a flying object - step II... Not exactly knowing where I'm going!

2011-09-04T08:21:00.000-07:00

I applied a first color layer on this one this morning...

... to test the grounds for a potential color scheme. At this stage, I already knew that I wanted more colors while keeping the "blurry" style of the previous two paintings...

Note: I decided to apply a silly title to this one...one that relates to the observer rather than the painting!

Note to self: "I've opened up the path of the less defined, of free-flowing colors... the attraction is irresistible!"

Sub-note to self: "I think that from there, I want to slowly build back the highly textural environment I came from (Yoga series last year)... without losing the new look. This is likely to take a few paintings!"

Odds and sods... Taking a break from painting!

2011-09-03T12:32:00.000-07:00

Despite the hot weather these days, we're starting to get signs that "Summer 2011" is coming to an end. It's the time of the year where I seem to be getting frantic... trying to catch the sun whenever possible... in an attempt to hold on tight to a constant state of sheer euphoria! Going back to my roots (the region where I was born) is what the doctor ordered...

I pay frequent visits to my elderly parents... and thank God they seem to be doing well these days.

A few days ago, we took the opportunity to visit two art exhibitions in Montreal:

Armand Vaillantcourt's "On n'a pas de printemps à perdre", he's a Quebec legend in sculpture and visual arts
"Parce que c'est lui" an homage to Gilles Carle, legendary Quebec cinematographer who died from Parkinson's disease in 2009

Eighty two years "young" Vaillancourt really cracked the whip with this exhibition... as many of his paintings were done... with a whip! As for the exhibition of Gilles Carle' drawings and photographs of Chloé Ste-Marie (renowned Quebec actress, singer, activist), it was a monument raise to the power of LOVE. Very touching and unforgettable!

Close encounter with a flying object - step I... Keeping the momentum going!

2011-09-01T07:02:00.000-07:00

Working on a backlog of images to experiment with, I went for this one this morning...

I'd like to keep the same spirit as previously... but with more of a contemporary look...

Note to self: "I seem to be getting the knack of it... going directly on canvas with the brush with soot and brou de noix with no preliminary drawing. This watercolor-like process excites me and I don't feel the need to really push it... being contented with going only half way!"

This is not a Velasquez - final.... Velasquez must be turning in his grave!

2011-08-30T13:02:00.000-07:00

I finished this one in 30 minute spurts as the weekend was rather busy with a wedding and taking care of two of our grand children...

With this one, I was trying to explore a painting language for a "dream like/immaterial" rendition. It's a piggy-back on the previous painting, but the subject is evidently quite conservative... and not one of my usual abstracted close-ups... but I had to get this one out of my system! Nonetheless, it does fit in my "smoke and mirrors" series... especially the "smart ass" title!

This definitely requires further exploration on my part... but, in the end, my paintings are heading in the direction of being a "mixed bag" of tricks!

Note: Second photo with a flash...

Note to self: "I'm starting to have a broad painting vocabulary... question is... can I say something?... do I have something to say?!"

This is not a Velasquez - step III... An adjustment phase!

2011-08-28T07:24:00.000-07:00

After analysis, I felt the need to adjust the figure a little, particularly the "barn door" proportions of the back ...

This is bound to have a ripple effect elsewhere! I will then be ready for some "deconstruction" work... sort of an attempt to lose the figure into the background without losing it... this is the difficult part for me!

Note to self: "When rendering the figure I need to get rid of my bodybuilder frame of mind... the moment I start applying paint... figures tend to take epic proportions easily... and sort of get out of control!"

This is not a Velasquez - step II... The point of view makes a big difference!

2011-08-26T12:14:00.000-07:00

I've been wanting for a while to try a traditional subject matter to test my current "off the wall" techniques...

Deconstructing a whole figure is more difficult than doing it with a "macro" point of view... I realize I'm a bit timid! I definitely need another layer!

This is not a Velasquez - step I... Keeping the momentum going from the previous work!

2011-08-25T10:54:00.000-07:00

Subject matter is less of a concern these days... I have an urgent need to bring some of my recent experiments with soot and walnut stain to fruition...

The title is meant as a joke since it's already apparent that the Master is out of reach for me!

Note to self: "I'm not quite ready for stand alone black and white renditions... I'm getting closer each time... this one needs a slight correction in the spinal area..."

Ultimate fighter VI final... A first hesitant step towards painting fragments of memory?

2011-08-22T10:25:00.000-07:00

In the end, I decided to leave this one relatively unfinished...

I've been toying for a while with the idea of painting what's left in memory just after having seen something in a flash. The look of this one is different enough (relative to what I've done before) to warrant further exploration on my part...

Update: I tried a mat varnish on this one to add to the effect... and photographed it again, but this time in the bright sunshine...

Note to self: "The challenge will be to maintain this look with the application of bolder colors in futur works... I think I'm after a certain refraction effect..."

Ultimate fighter VI -step III... Trying to open a door!

2011-08-21T11:06:00.000-07:00

The third pass was fluid and transparent to retain as much of the original look as possible...

I think I need to take a pause before completion... this "fragment of memory" look is something I've been after for a while!

Montreal world film festival...

2011-08-21T07:58:00.000-07:00

In the context the Montreal world film festival, I had a chance over the weekend to see a documentary on a fellow artist now living in Nicaragua: Jean Marc Calvet. It's the extraordinary story of an individual who managed to find his redemption in the visual arts after having lived a very dark period in his life. It's truly inspirational and Dominic Allan, director and producer, is to be congratulated for his excellent cinematography and the way he approached an emotionally charged situation at the end of the documentary...

Having lunch with Dominic Allan was a real treat. I wish him good luck in all his future endeavours.

Ultimate fighter VI -step II... Lost the habit of raw cotton/linen!

2011-08-19T08:44:00.000-07:00

I aimed at a fluid second pass but was confronted with the super absorbency of raw cotton/linen (I had almost forgotten it seems)...

Still, I like the raw appearance of the painting at this stage. I modified my palette somewhat since the beginning of this fighter series, so I'm anxious to see the impact on this kind of support...

Note to self: "There's no two ways about it... I need to vary my technique depending on the support!"

Ultimate fighter VI -step I... Trying soot and walnut stain on raw cotton/linen...

2011-08-18T13:43:00.000-07:00

I've been wanting for a while to try my recently developed techniques on raw cotton/linen...

A bit rougher but as exciting nonetheless! A perfect monochromatic image is probably impossible to achieve on this type of canvas... but the idea is to retain as much as possible the spirit of this first pass. Strangely enough, soot is easier to manipulate than walnut stain on this type of canvas... it remains granular when diluted.

Note: I'm having a pregnant pause before delineating the upper fighter's left ear!

Soot experiment IV final... Working nuances...

2011-08-17T10:18:00.000-07:00

I took an hour or so this morning to slap another coat of paint in an attempt to introduce more color nuances...

A few finishing touches in the afternoon gave me more or less what I wanted from this picture. This photo was taken in the bright sun shine...

Note: I used walnut stain instead of soot for the underpainting with this one... but both are very similar in behaviour... I think I will call this one "whirlwind"...

Soot experiment IV - step IV... Slowly gravitating towards fully saturated colors...

2011-08-15T11:56:00.000-07:00

For the fourth coat, I decided to go with fluid transparent washes to introduce some nuances...

Another coat will be required to get the darks and nuances I'm after...

Note: I'm developing two sets of techniques in parallel: 1) the use of black soot and/or brou de noix as a substitute for paint in the creation of full-blown images 2) The optimal use of paint over underpaintings made with soot and/or brou de noix. Ultimately, I'd like to mix and match these techniques to create images that show characteristics associated with charcoal drawings, old photographs and contemporary art (drippings, splashes, textural effects, etc...).

Soot experiment IV - step III... Still a bit rough on the edges!

2011-08-14T08:43:00.000-07:00

A quick third pass with thicker painting led to this somewhat roughed out version...

Darker contrasts and more nuances will be the order of the day tomorrow...

Soot experiment IV - step II... Gauging the influence of brown!

2011-08-12T13:50:00.000-07:00

I tried a second coat this afternoon, somewhat impatient about the impact of the brown underpainting...

I reminded myself that, in watercolor, raw umber and Prussian blue were a good combination in a monochromatic color scheme. All of sudden, I know that lips and eyes need to get bigger... and they will!

Note to self: "It dawned on me that soot in conjunction with brou de noix would make for a perfect underpainting."

Soot experiment IV - step I... Trying "brou de noix" as a base instead of soot....

2011-08-10T13:53:00.000-07:00

I took the opportunity this afternoon to start a new painting using a form of walnut stain for the underpainting (somewhat similar to using soot)...

Time will tell if the addition of transparent colors will produce an effect not unlike that from old color photographs... for this one though, I have a more colorful rendering in mind.

Soot experiment 3 final... Soot to kill!

2011-08-08T11:57:00.000-07:00

After the third layer, having fumbled the ball with my soot underpainting, I decided to go full blast with way more paint...

Not surprisingly, I ended up with something else relative to what I had in mind. I haven't given up on soot yet since I saw its potential at step two. A few days ago, I bought some walnut stain (brou de noix) to see what kind of underpainting I could get with that. These days, it seems as if the rebel in me is coming out with more ideas not to use paint.... in my painting process!

Note: I think I will call this painting "deception"...

Soot experiment 3 - step III.. Getting away from soot... again!

2011-08-07T14:52:00.000-07:00

My last step kind of discarded the soot underpainting in favour of creating the mood I had in mind using a number of transparent color washes...

At best, I kept the spirit of soot towards the completion of this painting. The second step could have been final if I had gone for a more elaborate soot underpainting... but I was too impatient!

Note to self: "In retrospect, I could have tinted soot with a powerful transparent blue as opposed to fluorescent rose... I ended up with brown mud!"

Soot experiment III - step II... fog is the order of the day!

2011-08-07T08:39:00.000-07:00

I slapped a second coat on this one trying to retain as much underpainting as possible...

The 3rd coat will need to be subtle to retain the foggy look I'm after....

Sushi making as a substitute for painting.... still dabbling in colors!

2011-08-06T10:50:00.000-07:00

The Muse got a course on sushi making last night from a daughter-in-law...

I took care of the eating part... while still thinking about my next painting!

Soot experiment III - step I... On the coat tail of soot again!

2011-08-05T13:11:00.000-07:00

Having some withdrawal symptoms from not painting for a week, I decided to start this new experiment with soot...

Working in a small studio is a challenge in the rendering of a face in a large 36 X 36 format... nothing that couldn't be corrected by widening the nose shadow and lowering the left side to the mouth...

Right now, I'm using a hybrid approach (soot/paint) partly to overcome my limitations... and to develop a new look. I'm using tinted soot as a first step to short-circuit the process...

Note to self: "Developing a perfect black and grey underpainting in one shot is a challenge... but eventually my drawing capabilities will be up to par. For now, I'm excited about the fluidity of this new approach, and the capability of correcting a little along the way owing to the addition of paint."

Terracotta warrior - final... Painting dirt... literally!

2011-07-31T09:41:00.000-07:00

A third layer seemed to be enough to get me more or less to where I wanted to be...

... a few coats of varnish did the rest (last coat was mat)!

This painting will be a gift for a young black belt who currently lives in a condo in Toronto... and the warrior looks threatening enough to send any of his future guests in the opposite direction! Enjoy Eric!!! ;-)

Terracotta warrior - step II... Trying to get there as fast as I can!

2011-07-30T12:02:00.000-07:00

My objective with this painting is to complete it with 3 layers flat, keeping as much freshness as possible totally in line with the terracotta look...

I'm gearing up for highlights with a palette knife and the addition of some Chinese calligraphy...

Note to self: "I'm noticing big time that my work on raw canvas is having quite an influence on the way I'm smearing this canvas..."

Painting commission: Terracotta warrior - step I... Laying down the foundation...

2011-07-29T17:08:00.000-07:00

Back from vacation, I took 30 minutes or so this evening to lay down the foundation for a painting that will be offered to my friend's son...

I'm going for a monochromatic composition that will appeal to a young martial artist: one of the famous Chinese terracotta warriors of the first emperor of China! This is a 19 by 34 canvas...

Wine drinking as a substitute for painting... I'll drink to that!

2011-07-28T14:13:00.000-07:00

Taking a break from painting... to enjoy Sandbanks (3 1/2 half hours from Montreal) with some good friends...

There is always some painting opportunities... like these kids mingling with the local birds...

... I'll drink to that!