I worked on “The Call” these past two days. It’s getting there-it’s beginning to make my eyes happy when I look at it. The parts finished are the ground, pediment, water bottle, crumpled jacket, and left-hand tree. I might change the title to simply “Calling.” I oiled this workhorse easel on Saturday; the wheels were…
After a long and (for me) painful absence for conservation, Andrea del Sarto’s The Sacrifice of Isaac is once again on display at the Cleveland Museum of Art. del Sarto’s unfinished masterpiece from 1527 is on a massive wooden panel. The painting’s unfinished state opens a window into the artist’s studio, and shows us his working method. The…
“You mock, dude!” Bertrand Russell (1872-1970) was a lively philosopher and prodigious writer known for his biting wit. Russell was deeply involved with the social issues of his day and spent time in prison for his efforts–for his pacifists views during World War I, and again for his anti-nuke protests in his 80’s(!). He was stripped…
The French language film Inspector Bellamy (2009) brings together two greats of French cinema: Gérard Depardieu, and Claude Chabrol. Inspector Bellamy was the 50th and final film directed by Chabrol. Inspector Bellamy is a stately-paced whodunit. The renowned inspector Bellamy (Depardieu) and his wife (played by the wonderful, Mary Steenburgen look alike Marie Bunel) are vacationing…
The large (42″ x 68″), unfinished painting is titled Conversation. The smaller (36″ x 48″) painting, Whispers, was finished yesterday. Two paintings of people talking while outdoors? A coincidence (I think), although I have been surprised in the past on discovering groups of paintings that share the same unplanned theme. A few years ago I was surprised…
Here is recent work. The lower painting is from something I saw earlier this winter during my last trip to New York. In the upper painting, “Whispers,” I am using zinc white. Lead white is my preferred white but it is getting scarce and expensive. A 225ml tube of Old Holland cremitz white is $200–on…
I’ve updated the Oil Paint Brand listing with new ratings and comments.
Here’s some recent work. This unfinished painting–‘Man and Woman in a Room’-has already undergone several changes. Originally you could see the open door on the left. Then I took out the door. Then I put it back, as you can see here (I think). Initially the wall behind the girl was blank. Then I added…