Ostrich Skull, oil on panel, 12" x 12"
Here is a fun painting that I finished this week. I wanted to choose a background and fabric pattern that had similar tones that I could see with in the ostrich skull itself, which would force me to use a narrower range of color and value. Choosing a pattern that supports the "character" of the main subject of a still life painting has been a favorite past time of mine since I first started painting dead birds (has it really been about a dozen years?). In 2009 Larry Groff did a wonderful interview of me on Painting Perceptions which about halfway down has a nice description of the dead bird series. Then again a few years ago, I used this pattern idea in my Beautiful Vessel series. I am enjoying incorporating this personal tradition into my current paintings of natural forms.
Here are a few progress shots of this painting:
finished detail version.
And again the final painting.
Ostrich Skull, oil on panel, 12" x 12"
Here are a few progress shots of this painting:
humble beginnings...
Sometimes an in progress glarey photo actually helps you internetlopers see the built up texture of the paint.
Ostrich Skull, oil on panel, 12" x 12"
At the end of this post I can't help but think of John Baldassari's painting (yes, this is a huge acrylic painting in the Broad Collection) titled Tips for Artists Who Want to Sell. Notice the items in parenthesis of the second bullet... I am doomed.
