Cornelis Van Der Geest - wip06

Here is an update. I did the hair. The bulk of the 1st painting is done. There is still some color issues on the ears, left cheek in the shadow side and the ruffles which is too white or too light in value. The next stage after the 1st painting is the 2nd painting. I will repaint the 2nd time around but with greater attention the color values making sure they are the same or very close to the original painting.

Sistine Chapel VR

This is really cool. Sistine chapel in VR!
http://www.vatican.va/various/cappelle/sistina_vr/index.html

life drawing Feb 2011

My first time this year...I had shake off the rust and the poses from the model was not very inspiring so it was a rough night. I shouldnt blame that for the bad drawings...I always question the lighting of the place and find the model is lit from very angle. It tends to flatten the model and all you can draw is mostly contours... So here are the work from that night. They range from 2-20 minutes.

Tex Lecor

I recently visited my friend Tex Lecor at his studio. I always enjoyed my visits talking with him about anything from the arts, a bit of politics to his past colorful stories. He is a wonderful artist and person. I could say that he is one of my mentors and inspiration. His studio is filled with paintings, drawings and lots of them! It kind of reminded me one of my art teacher's studio. I always love seeing old drawings and paintings in progress.

He was working on a small oil painting of a man or 'bonhomme' holding a bottle.

 I am always greeted pleasantly by his golden retriever.

Tex and me.

Cornelis Van Der Geest - wip05

Here is an update. I completed the mouth/chin area and started on the frills. I tell you the frills are tough and time consuming. I just have to be a bit patient. :) I will complete the hair next.

Cornelis Van Der Geest - wip04 Color Correct

I noticed the color of the photo I took seems to be off. So I check it and YES it is off!

 Color corrected (above)- notice the skin color is more reddish than uncorrected one which is much more pale.

uncorrected

Cornelis Van der Geest - wip03

Continuing through the forehead...just slowly filling the empty spaces.

Cornelis Van der Geest - wip02

I painted in the dark background and started the 1st painting. I started with the left eye and went across to the right then the nose. Paint I use is very lean using only the oil in the paint and sometimes added to make the paint flow from the brush better. The colors I am using are Titanium white, yellow ochre, terra rosa, raw umber, burnt umber, ultramarine blue and lamp black. I try to stay with the earth colors since these were the colors available at that time. Cadmiums were not used or discovered yet.

Cornelis Van der Geest - wip01

I just transferred the drawing and dry brush the basic tone of the painting. I am using raw umber but I realise that Van Dyck might be using Burnt umber. Its because see some of the burnt umber showing through in the background. The support I am using is a gessoed (acrylic) wood panel.

Van Dyck's Portrait of Cornelis Van der Geest

This is a portrait of Cornelis Van der Geest by Anthony Van Dyck. Its one of my favorite portraits. I will attempt to copy this portrait since it will be the subject of a class I plan to teach. (Classical painting techniques on Portraits.) The course will cover the technique used by Van Dyck, the background and start to finish process. The size of the copy will be as close as the original painting about 13in x 15in.

Some demo drawings and a painting sketch

Here are some demo drawings from my drawing class on Tuesdays. Usually I dont finish them as you can see. ;) I have several request for a portrait painting class so maybe in the new year I will start one with the Festival or on the side. (depending on my schedule too)

Drawing from a skull cast.

This exercise was using subtraction. You start off with a mid tone using vine charcoal and then you erase or subtract the areas where it is lighter in value. It is a great exercise to let you see in 2 or 3 values.

 One of the Bargue exercises.

 I recently met and visited Tex Lecor at his Studio. He is one of the great artists from Quebec. Not only he paints, he is a famous folk singer in the 70's and had some TV shows too. A real renaissance gentleman.

 Another subtraction exercise demo.



Why Beauty Matters

This is a veryinteresting documantary hosted by philospher/ writer Roger Scruton about beauty and why we need it. 6 parts.

Renato 'Boy' Sagario 1942 - 2010 RIP

I just learned yesterday that artist and teacher Renato 'Boy' Sagario in Cebu, Philippines passed away at the age of 68. He was my very first art teacher back in 1980 at Gallery 90. I attended the summer art workshop with Boy Sagario and continued under him for several years before he recommended me to Tony Vidal. His teachings I still remember and I today teach what he taught me. I did my very first portrait with him which was a portrait of my father.(below) He was born to be a teacher and even in his 60's he was teaching. He will surely be missed. God Bless you Boy and may your teaching live in the future generations to come. RIP.

Cuba sketches

I went to Cuba with a good friend of mine last month. Good times...doing nothing, relaxing and sketchin'...

Les Pastellistes - Vernissage

I did a live portrait demo with 3 other artists (Denis Jacques, Margaret Small and Ann Rochefort) at the vernissage of the 15th Les Pastellistes Exhibition. I was very nervous but I think it went ok. The model's name is Isabelle.

 Left: Denis Jacques' work.  right: Ann Rochefort's work

 left: Margaret Small's work . Right: my work

 After about 1 hour of work.

 Picture with the model.

 Left large painting is Danielle Richards'. One of my pastels is to the right of the lights.

Les Pastellistes - 15th annual exhibition

This year I am participating in the annual pastel exhibition by Pastel Society of Eastern Canada. I have a couple of pieces in the show. I am very excited because I will doing a live portrait demo with 2 other artists before the vernissage on Nov. 5th at 4pm. See the complete list of demonstrations on PSEC website http://pastelsec.com/PDFs/Demos-Ogilvy2010.pdf
I hope to see you there...

William Bougueareau Catalog Raisonne

Wow! I am so excited.  I just receive my copy of William Bouguereau Catalog Raisonne. Its is a 2 volume set. I have been waiting for this catalog for a couple of years. I will be sleeping late tonight for sure. If you have a chance to get hold of this book, do so and its a must-have for the contemporary representational artist or student.

Poil de la Bete

I did some concept art for the film Le poil de la Bête which wil be in theatres very soon. (Oct 1, 2010)

 I also did a maquette base on one of the drawings.