Painting stories

I have been mentally adding stories to my characters as I paint them. They each have an unexpected story that is evolving.

Painting sketches on panel

More about learning to draw subtle facial features

A few weeks ago I posted about my experience, as a Westerner, trying to draw the subtleties of Chinese faces. Here is another example of the apparent same difficulty that the Chinese have. We went to a huge and comprehensive Andy Warhol exhibition in Shanghai. In the children's classroom they were given coloring book style pages on which to color their version of Andy Warhol. I think the coloring book template of ole' Andy looks very Chinese!

Painting sketches evolving

Paper and paint

I really like what is going on here. This sketch is about 10" square. I am picturing this as a painting on a 48" square panel.

My gratitude morning list

Daily paint sketches

Sketchbook/Journal pages

I have been fiddling with a sinus infection since March! So my nose was very much on my mind this week.  Don went to the Doc with me...another new Shanghai experience.

Paper and paint and stitch

Playing with paper and paint today. I like what is happening here...

A good day in the studio

Painting class critique

Quilt in progress

In addition painting, I am working on a quilt made mostly from scraps I was given or bought from the corner sewing ladies. Most every corner, here in Shanghai, has a shop where you can get pants hemmed, sewing repairs made or your favorite clothes copied. The women (although I have seen one man sewer) use traditional food treadle machines - no electricity and no digital! I do not have my machine with me, so I am hand-piecing, which I love.

Paintings in progress

Working on layering and underpainting. Looking at the work of Marlene Dumas and Maja Ruznic. I like the idea of my work looking a little creepy, but also want the viewer to identify with or like the character in the painting. Using color well is always a part of my process. I have a love/hate relationship with color, or maybe it has one with me!

Studio

Culture and Gender

One of the great things about playing in the studio is that ideas are constantly moving around in my head and anything can happen. I have been thinking a lot about the similarities and differences of various cultures: food, attitudes, physical characteristics... lots of things. While I have been painting, I have also wondered what makes a painting of a face seem male or female. Is it the facial characteristics?  Is it the facial expression? I cut up a some paper and placed it as 'hair' on the paintings. How does that change the perception of the face in the painting?