It's probably about time...

It's probably about time that I posted some photos of this Lehi project that has consumed much of my art life for the last few years, especially the last summer. I said that it was finished, but I have since changed my mind. I will be taking some weeks of "vacation" over next summer to make some necessary changes to the painting before it will really be finished, before I will really be satisfied with it. BUT...here are some photos of it as it hung at the art show. It is so big that I had to piece a number of photos together, so forgive the skewed parts, the foggy parts, and the spotty parts. It's so hard to represent it in miniature!Here's the official disclaimer:
"Lehi’s Exodus/Into the Wilderness 48”x96”, oil/canvas
"And it came to pass that he departed into the wilderness. And he left his house, and the land of his inheritance, and his gold, and his silver, and his precious things, and took nothing with him, save it were his family, and provisions, and tents, and departed into the wilderness. 1 NEPHI 2:4
"And I will also be your light in the wilderness; and I will prepare the way before you, if it so be that ye shall keep my commandments; wherefore, inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments ye shall be led towards the promised land; and ye shall know that it is by me that ye are led. 1 NEPHI 17:13

"Lehi’s Exodus/Into the Wilderness depicts the departure of Lehi and his family as they journey out from Jerusalem and into the wilderness. Intended to be a personal piece rather than a realistic depiction of the actual event, the story is told in the faces. Shown from left to right are: Sam, a daughter, Lehi, Sariah, a daughter, Nephi, a daughter, Laman, and Lemuel. As Nephi is the one from whom the story derives, he is the only one looking directly at the viewer.
Care was taken to research the clothing, implements, and livestock of the era and area of Jerusalem in Lehi’s day. Designs from actual ancient textiles are incorporated into the costumes.
The purpose and meaning of the piece revolves around the idea that Lehi’s exodus, just as the Israelites’ and others’, is a type of each of our own journeys in the wilderness. Lehi’s wilderness, like ours, is a place of tribulation. But it is also a place of becoming, where, if we choose, we can draw closer to God."

Here are some shots closer in...
Lehi, Sariah, and child:
Nephi (flanked by Sariah and baby sister, and another sister):

On the easel

Along with the Bawden portraits, I'm also working on a large piece mimicking the A Field to Grow Boys In piece for my brother-in-law Sam's office. We went out into some fields and shot a bunch of pictures. This is just one of them. I've pieced the figures together and made a composite, but no peeking until it's done! (Maybe)

Bawden Portraits

Here are the beginnings of some more portraits that I'm working on. Again, these are the drawings that I will paint on top of. They aren't meant to be finished pieces in and of themselves, just a good base to start painting from.

Fun with Kiddos

Here's a fun modern art project we did with my sister's kids a few months ago. BIG canvas, some pre-mixed colors, plastic cups, foam brushes, and a backyard. You never know what kids will do. We just let 'em loose!

We turned it upside down to this effect. Now they will draw their cute robots, helicopters, monsters and notes all over this with colored permanent markers. Can't wait to see the finished product!

Portrait Process

Alright, here's a step-by-step of the three Gillespie portraits, from start to finish...

First, I get the drawing wet on the back by dipping a brush into a bowl of water...
Then paste the thing, front and back, with matte medium (this is sort of like mod-podge), using an old credit card or something to smooth it out...
Make sure the front gets a good coat.
Once it dries, set it up and begin!
The setup: reference photo on the laptop, palette (I've tried probably a dozen different commercial palettes, but I've settled on disposables as my favorite), easel, turp, etc.
Closeup of the palette...

A closeup of the palette...
Lay in the darks and a general background (this can be painted over later; it's just best not to have white to compare the skin tones with).








And the finished products.