Pulling a duck's teeth...

Above are the first two quackers, Day Lighthouse, Night Lighthouse, 6.5" x 4.5" watercolors...versions 1.0

I hadn't painted in over six months. I've drawn, written, started working on a new drawing site, and had my computer out for a whole month as I stubbornly fought conflicting software installations and seasonal viruses. We have passive aggressively become renters vs owners through decisive lifestyle changes such as going for content in your lives instead of cash.

Although these two demo paintings seemed to turn out (one better than the other) it was a struggle to get them out. And it took so little time. Most of my artistic struggle happens in my head as I search for whatever it is I'm searching for. Simplicity, minimum stress, and time are the parameters on all fronts. Lining up your ducks is a totally different matter.

I recorded the paintings step-by-step and they'll show up on the website when I finish tweaking the photos and writing the lessons. The photographs needed rotation, gamma correction, saturation and contrast work and sharpening and sizing. (I'm readjusting my equipment and lighting) I prefer using Paint Shop Pro for image processing. I've been using a Canon Powershot A50 and a Toshiba Satellite 2715XDVD running Windows 98 and various tripod setups to shoot photos for watercolorpainting.com since it's inception. The equipment is getting real cranky these days. They may be due for retirement this year if the lifestyle choices pay off.

Lighthouses are traditional subject matter here in the Great Lakes region. I had several reference photos for each lighthouse and I drew and cut building templates out of drugstore poster board. I intend to re-use images in several compositions until I'm comfortable with the subject matter and wanted to save drawing time between paintings.

—Greg

Only skin deep.

Here's the result of our birthday trip to 252 tattoo. I don't know why they like them but I've hosted this first tattoo ritual for all four of my sons now. Maybe it's a lesson in the consequences of personal decision. Maybe it's just cool and we're all gonna die anyways, so... I welcome my youngest son aged 16 to the realms of the brotherhood. Hi Mike. I had fun working on this with you.

Here's some studio notes from the past few days. (I'm in training again)

May 4: I started some small step by step lighthouse paintings, shooting pics as I went. The paper is some old Whatman #200 CP that had some damage done to it's sizing by some invisible bug or spore from lying around unprotected. The paint will not stay on the surface. The paper sops it up like a blotter. The liquid frisket I used lifted the top fibers when I removed it from the paper. I burnished the areas smooth for later painting. They look rather bad but are learning experiences none-the-less. I learned I don't care or know enough for pulling off convincing marine paintings. These two may be lessons in saving a painting from the clutches of bad materials.

May 5: I realize I'm not painting what I like. That's why it is going so hard. I think I have to change my style or approach. Where is it? I have to think about this one.

May 6: I decide to plod ahead in spite of having a lack of experience in the subject matter...and update the blog.

I'll post the results later.

Department of Redundancy Department


I had decided to delete this blog by the time I woke up this morning.
Now I'm tweaking it and writing again. Huh.

Well anyways, after signing the house over to the mortgage company and moving to a new abode everyone is more relaxed as a layer of extended debt was lifted off the family. I've got my studio situated in the attic. I had to simplify a bit before the move so the size is about right but I don't look forward to the summer up here. The last time I spent anytime in attics was in high school when cross ventilation was important. I've come full circle.

I think I'll start with a little background artistic background, then I'll hit you with a little more personal info that you may or may not like related to you.

But that will be for other posts... Tomorrow's my youngest son's sixteenth birthday and I have to take him for the now traditional tattoo.