All we need is a title, the last detail

 PROGRESSION NOTES

I like where this one is headed. Unlike the  last one it won't get a "Free-range Pass", because this one will be under strict  supervised play time.  If it cooperates, a nice wall will be waiting with open arms!

Canvas 1255 (1,440 sq. in.)

The most important detail of this 1,440 sq. inch work will revolve around the hands......not many square inches compared to the whole. But, if it fails, my canvas will fail too. Capturing the essence of this moment is completely dependent on it. 

The hair expansion and dorsal connection is another tricky detail. Part of her back light could be sacrificed. Not if I can help it!

Painting  a small detail loosely, closeup, is challenge enough.... getting it to read at 30 feet is almost beyond my ability. The male's arm is not working for me.  Looks like a full day of problem solving ahead!

Yesterday was a good day, all red lines were resolved! Some favorite details and new red lines below

One final red-line to project this offshoot forward..... the background needs further darkening..... more noticeable at a distance. Since this is a new day with fresh eyes, more things could find improvement!

Well... fresh eyes do cause  heartaches if you let them, another red-line!! On the surface not a big deal, passable perhaps. I know the camera is doing some of this but the area needs to be darker.... could be a few connection marks or a repaint..... we'll see!

ALL WE NEED IS A TITLE...The last detail

"Untitled" 40x36 oil on linen (5-28-18 canvas 1255)

Can you cram anymore in it!

My last summer project canvas failed by wife, Brenda's only comment "Can you cram anymore in it" :=) After that I couldn't even find a favorite detail worth sharing! I even turned it around not to look at it! Laughably a lousy painting....... perhaps my all time worst canvas, on and on!!!

"Couples" 48x44 oil on linen (5-22-18 canvas 1254)

That was yesterday, got it out of my system by writing a (deleted) temper tantrum, perhaps a bit too harsh today. My thought today, if I couldn't warmup to the whole, decluttering and refocusing with selective cropping could salvage it.   

SIMPLIFICATION

 ONE

"Outing" 48x22 oil on linen (canvas 1254a cut 5-22-18)

TWO

"Encounter" 12x24 oil on linen (canvas 1254-b cut 5-22-18)

Well, maybe, maybe not. In the larger plan an important goal was accomplish..... it solidified an important design element, how my Mer creature backs will look by merging hair to dorsal fins. It's also clear the project narrative will avoid  traditional folklore  associated with mermaids and humans but be without humans.

Back to my summer project

JUST BEFORE SIP went on Summer schedule there was something that had my interest... a subject about folklore which inspired a batch of 16x20 preparatory studies.... not my norm. So, this was how my summer project, Imagination & folklore started.

16x20 PREPARATORY STUDIES

ONE OF MANY THINGS about this particular subject... there's really not much useful information out there. It obviously always required some imagination, since Mer's (mermaids and mermen) were and are a figment of our imagination, steeped in folklore. To me it meant developing my own version from "almost scratch". How will this actually work on canvas?

"FOLKLORE"

 "Mer's, Sirens of the Sea" 40x36 oil on linen (5-18-18 canvas 1252)

Peony slapdown and hail stones

Our white peony's were just starting to bloom and we get slammed with a fast moving hail storm! I even bought some green Granny Smith Apples to augment the white on white painting plan.

NEXT DAY the peony's survived hail but a lovely tree across the street didn't fair so well. We will miss it.......  Of course I'm being judgemental, because the white peony's will be cut as well.

 MORNING ~ AFTERNOON 

SWIMMING-IN-PAINT is on summer schedule which means we paint more on our own for awhile. What I try to get across with each post is how simple something like a basic photo or a few simple bits and pieces can be reformulated into art....... IT CAN ALSO BE A MESSY PROCESS!

AFTERNOON CUTTINGS

CLUTTERED SURROUNDINGS, visually not all that inviting until a surprise filler of purple & white Iris was added. The vase is even less appealing, so that needs to change. All this will happen on canvas.

DETAILS tell a different story

A DECORATIVE VASE COULD BE A FUN BIT! Never joined the Koi theme and Peony's into one expression..... like everything else its probably been done before but not by me:=)

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 BETTER SHAPE FOR ME

OPTIONS, granny greens, plain or decorated vase, piles of escape photos, enough bits and pieces to start work in the morning!!

 LETS SEE HOW IT WORKED OUT

END OF SESSION my flowers are on target, shaped with some background noise set up by my palette scrapes. 

MY NEXT SESSION PROJECT ~ paint leaves.

THE PROBLEMS STARTED the minute I moved to a lighter background, which meant the flowers would have less contrast. That meant adjusting light and shadow (punctuation).

NOT QUITE FEELING IT, ultimately the peony's on left side were scrapped off. A fresh start with some replacement flowers didn't do much better. There you have it...... a potential "RED X" in the making! With that in mind, I went ahead with Koi vase idea....nothing to loose. Plus, now my favorite part of the painting.

END OF SESSION RED LINES will be my starting point in the morning. 

HERE WE GO AGAIN!

WENT SOUTH AGAIN! Same area too! Not sure about the blue line either - perhaps time to move on...... MORE RED-LINES!

LATE LUNCH SOLUTION, more leaves to establish depth and a cleaner composition... however brighter blue line is really not working for me!

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FINAL, I'M NOT MESSING WITH IT ANYMORE!

"Untitled" 32x32 oil on linen (5-14-18 canvas 1251)

DETAILS

ALTHOUGH a messy process, I'm happy a certain "RED X" was avoided. Most of the problems were resolved quickly and most important ..... TOMORROW IS ANOTHER DAY!

In Bloom!

No longer buds but peony blooms to paint! I do this every Spring without fail, perhaps in honor of mother-in-law because these were her pride and joy.

My new drying shelf holds a wet peony warmup study. One of the things I like about warmup's, there is no expectation except pushing paint mindlessly.

I didn't have quite enough time or peony's to fill the vase so I have a few iris peeking through.

1st DAY SETUP

2nd DAY MORE PEONY'S

CANVAS 1250-1 (32x32)
(Setup under warm spot)

 1250-1 Canvas 32x32 oil on linen

RED-LINE

Not sure about the Iris flowers or at least how they were rendered. This is where my day starts off.

DE-CLUTTERED

TO MY SURPRISE

 1250-2 Canvas 32x32 oil on linen (5-8-18)

Need to sleep on this - I know the leaves need some work - pot bothers me a bit too - but there's something else I have an itch to do......

A YELLOW LINE

 Vera's Pink 32x32 oil on linen (5-9-18 canvas 1250)

Great to be a decorator when it comes to some of this stuff! What was needed here was a balance or transition piece (a good old decorator pillow) between the flowers and a much more suggestive rendered white/yellow base.

PERHAPS SOME DRAMA NEXT

The next to bloom will be the white peony's. This could be a nice opportunity to play with white on white.