process

[Kim]

Totally enjoying seeing Gurney's process of developing a series and even just one painting. I love how he pulls from all the sources he can to develop an idea, using models (live and handmade) photos, visiting sites to get more information. Totally reminds me of Twyla Tharp's explanation of her using a box to gather information for creating a dance piece. (See "The Creative Habit") He's pulling from all these sources of information and inspiration to get his final idea, building the structure. I've done a bit of this, taking reference photos, but definitely not so thoroughly. I guess I was thinking I didn't want to kill the idea, but now I see how it's better to look at it from all angles and makes it a clearer, stronger idea. And getting all this research and structure down in the beginning really frees me to just relax and create instead of continually trying to figure out where I am going and correct my mistakes that crop up from poor planning. It's like somebody put me in a sandbox and gave me all these toys and said, "Now you can play." And I don't mind the sand in my shoes at all.

[Kim]

Haven't gone on just yet as I am just going back to this part about process. I have three portraits to do now of the same family and I just want to say that the combination of Gurney's advice and Twyla Tharp's has really given me a new outlook. Whereas before I would just take a couple of photos and work from the the live model and that, now I have a different plan. I'm going to take lots of photos, do several compositional/value studies and some quick color studies before I launch into the project. I really think getting all my information in the beginning is going to let me relax and just paint. So, thanks James Gurney for giving me a new way of seeing how to skin a cat (so to speak).

[Todd]

Awesome!!!! see you are becoming more digital already!! hahah, not really, this is a very good tried and true method, so i'm sure you will have fun with it. :)
good luck and post them when you are finished.

[Kim]

Thanks for your support, Todd! Haha, actually, my photos suck but it is a good reminder to me of how they are. Good thing too as they don't seem to have the time to sit. I think I'll be finishing them in the Fall as I am going on vacation in a week for five weeks. Off to France, where I hope to do some landscape painting and work on my father-in-law's portrait. Sorry I've been so lax here. I have taken some ok portraits with my digital, but these were bad for many reasons, mostly that I couldn't get the people to pose in the right situation. I took them at their home. Next time I'll just get them to come to my studio, where I'm sure the lighting is just right. I have had some extra challenges with these. A) Not especially attractive people, though that would be ok if they were interesting-not-attractive. They aren't so I'm having to make it interesting for me. Also, I've felt this need to make them look good because it is a commission. All this has taught me that I really want to just do portraits that I'm interested in and too hell with making them beautiful as long as I can do an interesting, beautiful by my own standards, painting. I had thought I would like to get into portraiture but this is leaving a bad taste in my mouth. That said, I don't think they are bad paintings (otherwise I wouldn't be wasting my time) and my neighbor is already asking me about doing her whole family... I just don't want to get stuck doing this kind of stuff when I have so much more I want to do... Sorry for the rant. I will post them. Need to get them done and get on to what I really want!