I kept studio journals from the outset of my career. At first, I tracked my sales in the journal. Then I started tracking my supplies–the number and size of stretched canvases I had on hand, and other such things. Eventually, I started to use the journals as a daily record of the paintings on which…
I finished this large study for a painting I plan. Studies like this help me clarify my thoughts. When making a study, I almost always filter out elements–hardly ever add new ones. That’s what happened this time too. You probably can’t tell from this photo but I’ve removed several background figures as I worked on…
Normally I don’t write about new drawings; we make drawings all the time. This drawing is unusually large for a pencil drawing, 30″ x 40″. It’s also notable for being on hot-pressed watercolor paper. I wrote recently about how happy I am with my roll of Arches watercolor paper. Girl with a Bunny Purse is…
A few sunny days last week tricked me into thinking Spring was coming to NE Ohio. Today’s snow proves that hope was false. My son’s golf outing yesterday was cut short by a snow squall and high winds. There is more snow in the forecast. Yes, this is a color photo of the lake from…
Arches make good paper. My roll of hot-pressed watercolor paper is very good for large-format drawing too. My roll of 356gsm is 51 inches wide by 10 yards long. My 30″ x 40″ drawing like the one in the photo barely puts a dent in my paper roll. For smaller drawings, I stick to the…
It’s sunny and mild on the shores of Lake Erie. Our weather is unusual for February. I am catching spring fever despite myself. The view out my studio window propels me outside. Just a week or so back I used that snow shovel to clear the driveway. If I put it away, it will surely…
No, I haven’t lifted my boycott against Old Holland. But a comment on this related post sent me looking at my dwindling stock of Old Holland supplies–things I bought pre-boycott. This photo shows my bottle of Old Holland Oil Painting medium. The ingredients are nowhere found on the label. Based on smell it contains linseed…
I always want a supply of large canvases available to me. I’ve learned that the only canvases that satisfy my perfectionist side are the canvases I make myself. I’ve tried many commercial canvases and none have ever satisfied me. So I make my own. The six canvases are all in the 40″ x 54″ range,…