COPY | WASSILY KANDINSKY

The thing with commissions is that they always challenge me to try new avenues. And it is the same with my most recent painting: a copy of Wassily Kandinsky's "Black Circle." 

A lifelong friend requested a copy of a Kandinsky painting after she discovered he is part of her bloodline. So I researched and spent many hours drawing and measuring. This is also the biggest canvas I have yet attempted to paint (3 feet by 3 feet!), making it that much more of a challenge.

Black Circle | Kandinsky Copy

S. Thomson

February 2015

Oil on 36 x 36 inch Canvas

This painting did not require much technical work, but mostly measuring and color mixing. These are not areas I usually practice (though I should focus more on color mixing: it is something I'm working on), so I enjoyed working in them.

The original differs in some areas, mostly caused by the circles not being placed exactly the same as the original, causing the lines not to e exactly correct, but the differences are so minute I probably shouldn't even have mentioned it.

Though this type of abstract art is not an area I will most likely pursue, testing the waters with this project was both a good learning experience and enjoyable exercise.

For once I was focused enough to take "in progress" photos, and will be sharing those here as well. First you will see the original pencil sketch, which took several hours to lay out.

---

"Art lives upon discussion, upon experiment, upon curiosity, upon variety of attempt, upon exchange of views, and the comparison of viewpoints."

-Henry James

PEN TO PAINT | THE BARN

In 2012 I drew this simple pen & ink sketch of a barn from my imagination. 

Quick Study | Barn Sketch

S. Thomson

2012

Pen on Paper

That same year I decided I liked it enough to try and paint it. I began, completed the sky and barn, and was stumped as to how to paint the other half of the picture: the grass. It then sat for three years, patiently waiting completion. I pulled it out a couple weeks ago and have been slowly painting it in between other projects. Today I finished it up and signed it. 

This project was unique in that it had no real life counterpart, as in no photo to follow. It therefore had no "rules." So I painted what I imagined: and quite like the result.

Quick Study | Barn Sketch | Oil Painting

S. Thomson

2015

Oil on 11 x 14 inch Canvas

---

"When your work speaks for itself, don't interrupt it."

- Henry J. Kaiser

KID'S ART | POSTERS

The little boys down the street have accumulated quite a collection of paintings and drawings in their rooms over the past couple years, and today I will be sharing them. Since 2012 I have given either a drawing or a painting to them, usually in sync with their recent interests.

Today I will be posting the past three years of presents that one of the boys has received, beginning in 2012. At 5 he adored Angry Birds...

Angry Birds

S. Thomson

2012

Acrylic on Canvas

16 x 20 inches

...at six it was all things Mario, especially Yoshi...

MarioKart

S. Thomson

2013

Pencil and Colored Pencil on Paper

8 x 11 inches

...and at the very advanced age of seven years old, Minecraft is the hottest thing going.

Minecraft

S. Thomson

2014

Acrylic on Canvas

16 x 20 inches

Painting for the two cuties is always different, always challenging (what if he changes his interest before I get the painting done?), and always rewarding. It's a chance to step outside of my normal style and try something new. Here's to many more birthday paintings and drawings!

---

"Every picture shows a spot in which the artist has fallen in love."

-Sisley

---

Know a little boy or girl who likes similar games as these? If you're interested check out my contact information here.

SKETCHES | MIXING STYLES

When I feel stumped for ideas I usually hop on some handy site and research artists with styles I am attracted to and recreate my favorites of their work.

Andrew Loomis (1892-1959) was one of those artists. I specifically enjoyed his portraits and sketches, and copied his drawing of this woman...

Andrew Loomis Copy

S. Thomson

2013

Pencil on Paper

When I copy, I usually am not trying to copy the original artist's drawing exactly. I take it and change it somewhat. The reason for this is either a) I don't like how they did it originally, or b) I cannot seem to make it look exact. For this sketch, it was the former. I simply did not care for the (realistic) face structure and decided to go more whimsical.

Orignal Drawing by Andrew Loomis

Come back next week for more paintings and commissions! Most of my time has been spent on a bigger engagement that has taken precedent over all pleasure painting and drawing. However, I will be sharing more details on both that project and photos from upcoming paintings and commissions in the coming weeks.

---

"Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication."

-Leonardo da Vinci

OLD AND NEW | A COMPARISON

I recently found some old gems (that I desperately wish I had dated), and will be sharing them here today as a comparison to show how far I've come in a few years, thanks to much practice and time spent (after all, there is no talent, only perseverance).

Let's begin....

THEN...

Est. 2007 | Marker on Paper

Est. 2009 | Acrylic on Canvas

2011 | Acrylic on Canvas Board

NOW...

Chickadee

S. Thomson

2014

Oil on 5 x 7 Canvas Board

It appears I've been obsessed with birds from a very young age and only recently have I taken it to an extreme level.

---

THEN...

Est. 2007 | Marker on Paper

NOW...

Claude Monet's "Poppy Field"

S. Thomson

2011

Oil on Canvas

Seems I had a thing for women in hats walking in fields. Even my copy of Monet's painting, done four years ago now, could be improved upon greatly. However, the contrast is evident.

---

For this next drawing I have no comparison, because I see no need for improvement. I had no recollection of this drawing until I discovered it late last week. It's a scene showing us playing House on the swing set, accurate right down to the dress up clothes (Left to Right: Stephanie, Caroline (above), Rachel (below), Maggie).

Est. 2007 | Marker on Paper

---

It's interesting to see the difference between (estimated) nine year old me and seventeen year old me. If that much improvement can happen in roughly ten years, I'm excited to see what can happen in the next ten. I can see a difference in just a few years, looking back at old paintings I was once so proud of but now can see so many flaws. After all...

"Art is longing. You never arrive, but you keep going in the hope that you will."

-Anselm Kiefer