Finishing Up...Until

Have been trying to finish up some of my figure work, well that is until I decide to fiddle some more. Been experimenting more with using my wax/oil crayons from Caran d'Ache, neocolor I. Like some of the effects with rubbing wax, or turps.

On the Stool by the Window

Gessoed paper Acrylic Background

Crayons and Charcoal

13.75 x 19 "

Tried some wallpaper effect, see top left, but the greens didn't seem to work. Previous version!

All Artists Did/Do This

We all have paintings that are sort of OK but not really worth keeping. Each painting teaches us something, but it's time to move on.  In 2012 I did a group of three quite large canvases, for me at least. Guess I never blogged them. They were of some childhood memories of a summer spent at a beach town in Rhode Island. I remembered walking through tall cornfields. Well, one is on its way for another memory, this one of my daughters, a recent trip to the Arava.

Dancing in the Fields

47 x 23.5 "

Oils on stretched canvas

Before Sanding

After sanding

Out in the garden on a warm winter's morning, the canvas is ready for a new memory!

First lawyers oils with cold wax medium!

Love the play of the shadows!

Neighbors

Concept creating can be very challenging. One word, neighbors can be interpreted in many ways.  That was our challenge for December. I was really blown away by some of the entries,

Birds of a Feather

10 x 12.75 "

Acrylic + photo transfer on Paper

Experimenting with printing blotches of acrylic paint added a photo transfer.  Reuven wants to see more of these.

Waiting by the Doors

13.75 x 10 "

Watercolor + collage on Paper

Love Sitting at the Doorstep Watching the World Go By

13.75 x 10 "

Watercolor + collage on Paper

 These started out as just plain watercolor studies. Browsing through some of my magazines I found these interesting images to make them fit my "neighbors" concept. Reuven liked these especially making a study into a work.

Watch Out You Never Know Who's Out There!

11.5 x 16.5 "

Acrylic on Paper

 A little abstract which I really had fun with. Reuven wasn't so keen. Not really my style of work but may try more in this direction. Neighboring colors and shapes and the envious eye of the neighbors!

Sharing some of my fellow artists work.

Chana made expressionistic portraits of her neighbors which can be anyone's neighbors!

18 x 13 "

Lea made an interesting tree of her neighbors using a section of a palm branch.

Each neighbor is represented with an empty box of pills.

For example, the neighbor's son plays the trumpet too loud and I need headache pills.

50 x 40 cm

Malka made this photo of the parking lot in the Barkan Industrial center.

This industrial center has Israelis and Palestinian workers side by side. 

Note the four cars' license plates in the foreground.

Far right and far left Palestinian plates!

Sadly recently there were two murders at this center!

16.5 x 11.5 "

Neomi's work describes the isolation of neighbors. Each in its own world of social media!

27.5 x 13.75 "

Pnina's work showing peace armchairs with not so peaceful neighbors!

Shoshi's abstract connecting neighbors and gates with neighboring colors!

100 x 70 cm

Tal made us a lovely 3 dimensional game with styrofoam balls with neighbor icons on a styrofoam board.

Peg Solitaire

Traudi's two young girls speak for itself.

Two hounds were made from rubbings excess paint from face above!

Vardina's parody on the children's book Flat for Rent

Our mentor Reuven!

Riva Eyes

Collage

I am so fortunate to be part of this wonderful group of artists! An also thankful for Reuven's challenges that make us get out of our BOXES!

Seated on the Stool WIP

Well since I am at the computer I will try to catch up on some of the work I have been doing. Actually, last week and this week more than half the workshop was devoted to critiquing on our home project. Each time half the class. The project was "neighbors" and I was amazed at the level of work produced. I will be posting mine in another post. along with some of my fellow artists work.

Another pose from Croquis Cafe. 

Seated Figure WIP

Gessoed paper Acrylic Background

Crayons and Charcoal

13.75 x 19 "

This is the second stage with more color and added mirror/window. Have already tried to break this up with more color to get it out of the "study stage", but at 8:00 PM it's too dark to photograph!

Reclining Figure

Has it really been a month since my last post! Time seems to go fast and although I have been busy with holidays and such have also been doing some painting as well, seems like photographing, editing, and posting have been put to the back burner.  Hope to catch up!

Still working on figures on painted backgrounds. Pose from Croquis Cafe. 

Reclining Figure WIP  I

Gessoed paper Acrylic Background

13.75 x 19 "

Charcoal and Wax Crayons

Reclining Figure WIP  II

Gessoed paper Acrylic Background

13.75 x 19 "

Charcoal and Wax Crayons

The main critique with these is that they are too much like posed studies. Nothing wrong with studies but I did want them more than that. The added window effect did help some but I have to go further. Not to fear the ruining of a fairly good study!