ShadowsFall

I completely forgot – it’s been a year since I started up with the painting. In fact, it’s been well over a year. I think I’ve done darn well.

Saturday, I conducted a photo shoot with some models and a photographer, so I should have some more subjects to paint. Having original material will lighten my shoulders when it comes to reproducing work. Tom, the photographer who snaps the originals of the derby action I paint, was kind enough to give me permission to use his wok for reference. I appreciate it, but I still feel like I’m not completely original when I do that. Now, I’ll feel like I’m producing original content.

Speaking of – here’s my latest beginning…

I’m looking at putting an ad in the local roller derby team’s program book. And I set up one of them thar Facebook pages for myself as an “Artist.” I’m not sure how much promotion I’ll really do, but I’ll have a go at it. And if it’s like anything I’ve sort of just thrown myself into, it’ll be successful enough to be happy with it.

This past week-end I gave painting outside a shot. I’d never done this before, at all. What’s more is that I was attempting to paint some landscape elements and some structures. I’ve never done this before either. All the while there was shifting light, high heat and constant distractions.

I don’t know how those impressionists did it.

Well, I imagine that they weren’t using acrylics. Nor were they doing it in 90° heat. My paints were drying before I could really mix them and get them onto the canvas. If I added water, I just got transparent mush. If I kept the paint thick, it wouldn’t cover. The light went from an overcast day to bright and sunny in a blink of an eye.

I saved myself some heat stroke and quit after an hour.

If you hadn’t been able to tell, I’ve been fiddling with online sales and posting my artwork. Instead of bashing my head against a wall of wanting my own all-in-one solution, I decided to take the easy way out.

A few artists I respect use Big Cartel, so I signed up over there. I also wanted a pure portfolio site, which this is not. And since my hosting company allows about a bajillion sub-domains, I set up a new one.

So I give to you… http://www.stmykal.com

It’s white. It’s simple. It has a big signature for a logo like an artists website generally does.

I touched this one up and called it done tonight. I’m now successfully half-way through my resolution to do one painting a month for a year.

Sizing Up 2. 14"x18". Oil on Canvas Board. June, 2011.