New painting-another Santa

Here is a new piece just sent out to my gallery. I had done a very similar piece a couple of years back. My gallery saw it on this blog and requested I paint one for them. This piece is a bit larger at 9x12, and is a bit more colorful. I don't generally jump at a chance to repaint an older piece, but this is a pretty fun portrait opportunity.

New Paintings

 Here are a couple of new pieces I just finished. The above painting is "Next to Dance." It is an 11x14 oil on linen panel. I took this shot just before the sun went down. The original background was a hazy dusky gray shade, and my husband suggested going with a fiery shade instead. She looked rather nervous about going out to dance, and I can't blame her. I am embarrassed to dance by myself!

This is a very small piece titled "Mother's Weaving." It is a 6x12 oil on linen panel She is Navajo, and that weaving she is holding is a pattern that her family uses.

New painting-Pendleton blankets"

 Here is a new piece, it is titled "Pendleton blankets." The donation and showing of blankets between tribe members is meant to place the importance on giving in the community. Pendleton blankets are highly esteemed and have been traded and given for many many decades. As a matter of fact, one blanket design is named after Chief Joseph.

This painting is oil on linen canvas measuring 24x30

New painting- "Three years old"

Here is the last new piece I took out to Tucson. This is a very small painting titled "Three years old." It is a 12"x6" oil on linen panel. I am amazed how young dancers begin training in the Native American culture.

This shot had really nice lighting, the fingers had a glow as well as her face.

This dress is wool tradecloth-the bands of color at the lower edge as well as sleeves are part of the weave. Early trading as well as the reservation years saw a lot of this wool, and it is still produced today.

New painting-"The new fan"

This piece is titled "The new fan." The character on the left is showing her new feather fan to the other girls. I wanted to paint each girl with a different reaction to the fan.

All of the characters in the original reference were wearing very plain dresses. Beadwork designs were added to them to establish a rhythm and color variation to an otherwise gold palette. The three girls grouped together were further grouped with their beadwork patterns continuing  into each other.

Originally I tried to paint this character with a Shirley Temple-esqe reaction. It proved to look too cutesy and distracting. Her body stance as if she was not going to be impressed with any new fan went better with a more subdued expression. 

 

This girl had her own fan-lets say an older plain model. I wanted her to look as if she wished she had the newer fan and felt a little embarrassed about her old plain fan.

While this girl was shy to show her reaction, her hand is starting to clutch her dress in excitement. Her feet are leaning towards the fan to get a better look at it.

New Painting-Rides with eagles"

 This is another new piece. It is titled "Rides with eagles."  It is a 40x50 oil on linen canvas. The large size makes it difficult to photograph in details, but I have included some shots anyway.

The horse is a paint horse, which is a difficult coat pattern I have only painted a few times. Howard Terpning says that he "never saw a paint horse that didn't need repainting."

 

I am trying to better learn how to interpret the reference in front of me. The original model was younger and looked to be more of Italian descent than my idea of Native American. 

His head piece being smaller in nature allowed for too much dead space, so it was changed to a larger war bonnet. 

I gave him more of an aged appearance, hoping it would lend an air of wisdom that tends to accompany one who has earned the right to wear a war bonnet.

 

Saturday demo day-portrait and still life at Watts Atelier

These are my demos from yesterdays classes. The first is from the still life class. I apologize for the photo glare and quality, these were taken on the easel as the demos progressed.

The second demo of the day was for the portrait lighting class. This is cool light for the main light source and warm light for the rim accent.