Process

A while ago a great artist and friend of mine, Ray Bonilla asked me to post my process.  It's taken me a seriously long time to sit down and do that.  Here are some step by step pics of a couple of pieces that I actually chronicled.

My process first begins with photographing my subject matter.  Most of the time that subject is horses.  I use a Canon T3i with a 70-300 zoom lens for most action shots. I used to use a Canon Xsi. I paint on wood panels, mostly birch that I buy at Lowes and cradle with 1x2's.  I do use some pre-made wood painting panels as well.  My smaller pieces are usually the edupanels from blick.


Blessing of the Hunt
My photographic reference: I crop and grid it in photoshop, sometime adjusting the contrast as well.

I start drawing using a grid with thin paint on a recently toned board, this time in paynes gray, which is what I use for a cooler image, I use burnt sienna for a warmer piece

Then I start to build the values still using a thin layer of paynes gray and erasing some of the tone with a brush dipped in mineral spirits

I start to work in the color.  I don't always do this in the same order but typically I start in the focal point. I use a muted palette so that my focal point can have the punch of color.  I also tend to have a little of the background color in every color I mix.

 

Another piece, Out in Front 
Once again started with a photograph.  I take thousands of pictures when I'm shooting and once and a while a photo composition works, often tho I have to remove or add elements to make it work right.  The horses in this piece just worked.  I did remove the tower on the left because it was distracting. 

I didn't feel the white was working with the other whites in the painting.  So I changed the color of the lead riders clothes

This weekend I participated in Maui Open Studios, it was a great event and I met loads of art people and future friends.  I had at least 30+ visitors up on our hill per day.  Here are some photos of the event, I'm due to post some new work photos, I just haven't taken them yet.  Promise I'll get them up.

Opening Night at the Tropical Plantation

With some of my work at the opening

My little studio

not a bad back yard

Waiting for folks to come in.

My little studio :) with a rainbow of course

the day had it's share of wind and sprinkles... and beautiful rainbows

2 great ladies that found their way up the mountain. 

Has it really been that long

It's been a very busy year, and I am sorry that it's been so long since my last post.  I will be posting several pictures over the next few weeks of new work, my work process as requested, and pics of my studio.  This weekend I am having an open studio... I am participating in an island wide open studio's event and will have my studio open from 11-6 both Saturday and Sunday (February 23-24).

More to come very soon.