Moonlighting - step II... Slipping back to my usual ways!

This second pass parted somewhat from my original intent...

...  which was to minimally intervene with color over a black and grey underpainting. Part of the reason is that I didn't use the light grey raw cotton/linen for this one (I ran out!)... so the underpainting with charcoal was far from perfect. As a result, I'm back to regular painting with a monochromatic color scheme. We'll see how this one evolves...

Note: I'm very tempted to consider using chimney soot from an old duct as a painting medium for my future black and grey underpaintings as opposed to charcoal!

Moonlighting - step I... Back at clashing black and grey with colors...

Last year I did a prototype painting that left me on my appetite. I decided to proceed with a second painting using the "Muse" as my model...

 ... with the intent of leveraging a black and white underpainting as the foundation for a more colorful rendition... somewhat akin to a Chinese black ink approach. This is a 30 X 48 canvas.

Note: The "Muse" looked lethal, in the reference photo I'm using for this painting... something I want to capitalize on!

Note to self: "I want to get off the beaten path!"

Flock III final.... Lost some birds along the way!

Unsatisfied with the balance between tones, I finally opted for a drastic change in that area...

 The sunset became the focal point rather than the birds. Textures remained fairly subdued...

These types of exercises are useful for me since they emphasize color balance and color application rather than subject... I'm leaving it at that.

Note to self: "There's no two ways about it... my strongest paintings come about when I have a strong sense of direction right from the outset... or when I am very passionate about the subject matter, which was not the case here!".

Flock III - step IV... Getting there through persistent hesitancy!

My painting time being somewhat restricted these days (too many chores around the house), I zipped through this one counting on spontaneity to deliver the goods. However, this was not meant to be. Today, I tried to modulate colors and tones a little more before going for maximum contrast with my final pass tomorrow...

 The last pass needs to be ultra spontaneous, to recapture any lost freshness resulting from too much "pussyfooting around"...

Note to self: "This may not be the ultimate painting for me, on the other hand, it's only when I get off my beaten path that I learn something!"

Flock III - step III... Still in the thin of it!

A quick third pass this morning has allowed me to work a little more on the image rather than the painting...

The next few passes will be crucial... I still need to carve these birds to my satisfaction!

Flock III - step II... Still trying to find some viable design...

Proceeding with this second pass, I felt compelled to add some kind of imaginary landscape to create a sense of space...

Although I'm using thicker paint, I'm still smudging it as if operating in underpainting mode. I will try to consolidate everything with the third pass...

Note: The smaller format (24 X 30) is a somewhat of a challenge with my crude tools...

Flock III - step I... Taking an abstract painting break!

I decided to let simmer in my mind a few potential subjects for my "smoke and mirrors" series... an opportunity to revisit my "flock" series with a new outlook and new methods...

 I basically used left over liquid paint from the previous painting to get an approximation of where I want to go. It will be interesting to see if I can manage this one from such a chaotic start!