Monet's Red Boats

I've started a new painting - Monet's "Red Boats at Argenteuil".  I am honored to be painting this one as a wedding present.  It makes me happy to think that a newly married couple will enjoy this painting in their home. 

Renoir's Table

After a long period of "artist's block", I've finally returned to work on the Renoir.  I did not know why, but I could not bring myself to work on the still life on the table.  Then I happened to open up an art book on my friend's coffee table and, like magic, I turned right to "The Luncheon of the Boating Party."  All at once it clicked - the reason I could not finish the painting was that I simply could not see what was going on in the picture.  Everything seems so obvious in hindsight.  The print out I had been using was not clear enough.  I could not tell what was a glass or a napkin or a dish or part of the table cloth.

Then I went to my local library and checked out a book on Impressionism that had a very large, very detailed 2-page picture of "The Luncheon of the Boating Party".  Since using this picture I have been able to get back on track.  I have been progressing slowly, but I would rather take my time and get it right than make mistakes. 

Many of my art teachers have told me that art is about seeing, much more so than about painting or drawing or anything else.  This experience taught me that I should always take the time to look before I paint, and that when faced with a block such as this one, I need to step back and take a different perspective.

Strawberry Fest and Moorestown Day

The first weekend of June was jam-packed for me.  On Friday, June 1st my art was displayed at the First Presbyterian Church of Moorestown for it's annual Strawberry Festival.  My art will be up through June.

The completed reproduction of Andrei Rublev's Holy Trinity:

On Saturday, June 2nd I worked my first ever outdoor show for Moorestown Day.

From top left going counterclockwise, my Matisse girl, Leonardo women, and "Strawberries" sold:

It pretty stressful setting up and taking down my tent and table, but it was a really fun day and I got to meet and talk to a lot of neat people.  I got some good tips and made some connections, and the pieces I sold almost paid off my tent hehe!

Strawberries (For Fun)

Last night after I finished working on Andrei Rublev's Trinity for the day, I decided to paint something I had wanted to paint just for fun - a bowl of strawberries.  The inspiration was this antique painting of strawberries that has been passed down in my family:

I started out really simply in acrylic:

 

Here is what I had finished as of last night:

The painting is still all in acrylic.  I plan on going over it later in oil.  I had such a good time working on this little (I mean little - 5 x 7") painting.  It reminded me that even though I have high hopes for my art, I can't forget to enjoy myself a long the way.

Starting Andrei Rublev's Holy Trinity

A local church asked me if I would display some of my work at a summer festival they will be having.  I was more than happy to, and I also wanted to paint something new for the occasion.  The paintings didn't have to be religious, but I wanted at least this one to be.  Now I love religious art, but I'm always afraid to approach it - I feel like I'm not good enough of a painter.  Still, I started this painting of the Parable of the Sower, one of my favorite parables from the Bible:

However, once I started this painting I thought there was too much negative space in the background.  I decided to jump ship and start a different painting - my interpretation of Andrei Rublev's Three Angels or Holy Trinity.  This is what I have so far:

Update on the Renoir

Update on the Renoir

 

I am really enjoying working on this painting.  Truth be told, I never used to be a fan of Renoir.  I used to only like paintings that had some deep meaning to them.  However, now that I'm older and realize how hard life can be, I can appreciate a painting that bring happiness, and what could be more cheerful than a group of friends enjoying a beautiful day and a delicious meal together? 

My M.O. so far has been to add in all the people one by one. They are still only underpainting and far from perfect, but it is much easier to correct what is already there than to make the first mark.  I am just trying to get the basic shapes and colors in and will go back and correct each person once I've painted over the entire canvas.  An artist should work on the entire painting at once, not letting any one part become much more developed than the rest.  That way, the whole painting grows together. 

A Good Day's Work on the Boating Party

My work so far on Renoir's "Luncheon of the Boating Party" as of last night:

Prepping for Renoir's "Luncheon of the Boating Party"

Last week, I started my next commission, a reproduction of Renoir's "Luncheon of the Boating Party."  As with all my commissions, I built the frame from the best quality wood and cotton, making it much better quality than you could find pre-made in stores.  However, the challenge in making this canvas was its size, 31" x 42".  Whenever a canvas is larger than 36" in one direction, you need to reinforce the frame with cross bars to prevent warping.  I had never made a canvas this big before, and I had never used cross bars either.

Back of canvas with cross bars

When I ordered the cross bars from Dick Blick, the picture showed the bars fitting together at a notch.  What I didn't realize was that I had to make the notch myself.  Thursday I went to my local hardware store to get the notch made, but they couldn't do it.  They recommended a cabinet maker next door, but I couldn't find the entrance to the building.  Instead, I just wandered around an empty parking lot next to a falling down warehouse with two pieces of wood in my hand like I was in some horror film or French surrealist movie.  After giving up on the cabinet maker, I went to Lowe's.  They told me they couldn't make the cut, but they could sell me a jigsaw.  I bought the saw and made the notches.  Then I screwed the cross bars into the frame.

Oh yeah, that's my notch!

Attaching the cross bars to the frame

After I built the support for the canvas and stretched the cotton over the frame, I covered the canvas with gesso, a fabric sealant.  What gesso does is it prevents moisture in the atmosphere from getting into the canvas and rotting the fabric.  Most canvases you buy in stores are only gessoed on the front, which will not prevent moisture from getting in the back, but I build my canvases to last, so I always gesso the front, back, and sides...twice.  Is it time consuming?  Oh yes.  But is in worth it?  You bet!

Gessoing the back of the canvas

Gessoing the front of the canvas

The finished front

The finished back

Tools of the trade, including my new jigsaw

Once all the prep work was done, I could finally get started on the actual painting part.  Today I worked on the underpainting, and I am so pleased with the way it came out!  It already looks like the Renoir's painting.  I can tell I am going to have fun with this one.

Matisse Ladies Finished

I will be selling them on either ebay or etsy, but if you would like to purchase them before I post them, please contact me at jlcross19@gmail.com.

Edward is Finished!

Finally!  I never thought this moment would come.

Photo Submission

Today I submitted two pieces for a photography show at Perkins Center for the Arts.  Normally I do not think of myself as a photographer, but I do really enjoy taking pictures of my family and close friends when I catch them doing something interesting.  Below are pictures of my mother and sister on a boat and my mother walking into our pool before we closed it for the winter.  However, these are not portraits of my mother and sister per se.  Instead, I think of my mother and sister as actors.  I caught them unknowingly playing a role, creating an image that was outside of themselves.  Both photographs were taken using a digital camera.

The Boat Ride

The Last Swim