Painted Sketches

1-3-11

For the residency, I agreed to paint four large paintings during the year. It's coming along just fine, I have one more to go, but for the last few weeks I've started a new series of work. I knew that there were more folks that wanted to get involved and sit for some work but they didn't have the time to commit to a large piece, so I started doing those sketches shown below.  Now, I've got the same people sitting for just a few more hours and I'm painting these mini portraits. They are coming along great, they're lively, fresh and surprisingly true to the sitter. The down side is that I almost like them better than the longer, more drawn out work. uh oh. So, what now? I've started going back into the larger paintings with a new eye and energy. I want to breath new life into them so they have the same sense of vigor.  It's a lot of pressure for the last leg of the residency, start a new branch of work and reinvent what I've already started.  I can never do things the easy way.

Pfister Project / Hour Long Sketches

Well, now that I've been painting at the hotel for eight months, I've got more employees wanting to take their turn at sitting for me - which is great, but my time is running out and I can't paint every one. So, I've started doing these hour long sketches, they're quick and kind of intense, although it's my job to make it seem casual an easy.  The pressure is on when I'm making one, I have to look over the person, say to myself, "what is most important here?" and go for it.  The lines are deliberate, sure and straight to  the point, no time for small talk. And the sessions are like interviews, I ask all the questions, "where did you grow up? What was that like?" It feels like this is a more challenging way to work and I feel more gratified when I can push through it.

Come On Joe

 

10-14-10

Joe started sitting for this portrait when in was nice and warm and sunny outside. Now that we both realize that winter is coming, we've been out there trying to get this painting done nearly every day. No time for problems to arise in the painting, strictly business.  You can find us out there from 11-1pm on Wisconsin Ave just outside the Pfister.  We see all sorts of people going by and commenting on the painting.  We also regularly see the Jesus-Mobile go by around lunchtime.  That guy in the station wagon (we all know who I am talking about) has a pretty regular schedule. Strictly business for him too.

You can always read more about what I'm doing at the Pfister by following THE PFISTER PROJECT BLOG.

Gallery Night this Friday

Come on by to the hotel this Friday, 5-10pm - my studio is open and I'll be there.  9-11:30 - the Rouge Ballroom is open for the Gallery Night After Party featuring the work of Eriks Johnson and Chris Miller. 

Sketches

10-1-10

 Sometimes, I sneak into the Cafe for breakfast with my sketchbook and take advantage of the fact that people are innocently sitting down to eat and hold relatively still.  The first sketch is of a table of people from a few weeks ago when the American Legion was in town. The second one is from the luncheon when Rocco Landeson from the NEA visiting Milwaukee.

The Pearl Street Project - Carol

9-28-10

Carol, continued.

So, this painting has gone through a lot.  I haven't posted it for a while and if you scroll down to the last image of it, you'll see the difference. Not only did the painting itself progress, but the canvas size was altered. I felt that there was too much empty space surrounding the figure and that it seemed like filler, so I lopped off a few inches on the right and left sides, a good choice in my opinion.  The painting isn't quite done yet. I had this project put on display at the Museum of WI Art for a while and it caused me to pause the project for that time.

And what a thing it is: to physically be restrained from finishing a painting for months and then go back to it.  I feel like I'm a different person since when I last painted on this, so now what? I want to breathe a different sense of life into it, but do you do that when it is already so far along?  I will. I feel braver and I can see how the changes might happen. Thank God Carol is patient.

The Pfister Project

Joe

Vernita

Clem

These are the three paintings I have going at the hotel. Essentially, the idea is that I am painting the employees that agree to sit for me.  So far, these three have.  You'd think more people would volunteer, but it's not true.  I've got more people interested now, but it took some work.  It is a time commitment because it takes about 20 hours of sitting in all, so I understand.  You can see more progress by clicking the link to the Pfister blog.

The Pearl Street Project

4-18-10

Here it is, the beginning of the next painting if the next neighbor, Carol.   It's coming along pretty smoothly, which always makes me weary.  I know it will go downhill at some point and I'll have to rescue it.  She's sitting in her parlor with the sun steaming in behind her which bleaches out everything and it makes me think that I'll stay kind of minimal with the heavy painting in order to keep the light feel.  I joke that she is seated on her throne and she says that she never thinks of herself in that way.  Carol loves to talk and give advice but not in a bossy way, she's gentle, honest and direct.  Her husband Keith hangs about and watches sometimes.  We'll see if he ever sits for a piece himself.  I have my doubts but I like having him around because he seems to know more about the Mississippi river and all the animals that live within it than anyone else I know.  I have so much to learn from him.