At Redcliffe Imaging checking Proofs

Today I've spent a few hours with my friends at Redcliffe Imaging checking the first stage proofs for "Baby Luscious" and "The Posse."

Its a major job looking at colour correction and options across a large painting like "The Posse" and "Baby Luscious."

As always it's an art form in itself getting an authentic reproduction across all light mediums; so that I can say "yeah" that's an accurate reproduction that will be printed on museum grade canvas and papers. So those of who've been waiting to buy prints of The Posse and Baby Luscious all I can say is the wait is nearly over :)

Another session next week, once some tweaks have been made, but in the meantime I thought you might like to see what the proofing assessment table looks like.

The image strips are all slightly different and on paper and canvas so that we can check the reproduction on both mediums.

And to give you some idea of scale, that little picture in the middle is approximately the size of an A4 / Letter paper from a home printer.

More Sneak Peeks

The face of The Posse.

Hi, well it's been a demanding, sometimes challenging and often funny week; where my art work has taken a back seat to planned and unplanned events. That's life! If you can't fit the good bits around the less than good bits, you're not doing it right, anyway enough preamble these peeks are more "good bits" I've completed on "The Posse."

The out rider sketch is worked up in paint.

Close up of the horse in creation.

The outrider Captain base colours and form completed.

I see the outrider as more of the Captain of the Posse rather than the seeker. This is him in my minds eye form, the literal translation of whatis in my imagination, later I decide to put him in a "duster" coat

The back rider is chasing in with some paperwork, possibly a n

ew wanted poster?

 

 

The Posse is Coming!

Well despite a few challenges (including a very intense new movement programme from my physiotherapist - which I could write pages about . . .  ), I have made progress on "The Posse".

They are definitely on the hunt for The Fugitive (more on this later) and I thought it's time to show you some sneak peaks on my progress. The painting you see is completed in spurts, often with big gaps in activity and sometimes it really is like someone else is doing the work, while I watch the brush and colours flow onto the canvas.

The picture is clear in my mind and there are other figures and riders to add along with detail to add to the foreground.

It's quite a big piece (44" x 56") stretched canvas on frame bars and I really think its going to be my best so far :)

Mountains and trees in (a misty conifer forest fronted by decidous trees). The leader is roughly sketched in with charcoal on a base of scrubland.

Skin tones based in and hat brim added.

Highlights on face added and bodywork based.

Close up of the face before final detail added.

I will add more previews as work progresses, so watch this space.

Thank you for visiting my Blog. I hope you like these previews and it has enticed you to follow my work as I progress towards my first exhibition. If you do please share my Blog with your network or follow me on twitter @Michae11O 

Creating My Piece (The Posse)

Today I'm preparing the canvases; the main piece is Winsor and Newton 44 x 56 inch (1118 x 1422 mm) cotton medium weight and it's already primed and stretched.

I always wash the back and front of the canvas with clean cold tap water (not soak it) to get any dust and small hairs off (yes there are dogs with me - Border Terriers) and this also slightly tightens the canvas even more on the frames. This stage is important in spotting any minor dimples that can be "ironed" out ready for paint.

Next I apply a base colour wash coat that helps me bring out the depth colours in the background, in this case it's a soft pale blue / green. The background is rolling wild grass hills with Montana's mountains in the distant background.

In my head I see this one very clearly! So clear in fact that I'm not going to sketch in figures and horses until the background and near foreground are completed.

The composition? Well you'll have to wait and see but what I can say is that there are two connected pieces that I see together in the same room. As the colour scheme for the "Fugitive" is the same I'm prepping that canvas today as well; again it's Winsor & Newton as above, but 30 x 20 inches (762 x 508 mm).

It's worth saying that a normal (meaning a fully fit and healthy person) could do this stage in under an hour. For me it takes about four hours and then I'm worn out and unable to do anymore.

I know I always say this; but I think this will be my best work to date.

More news will follow along with some glimpses of my progress.