FIGURE STUDY | OIL

Recently I've run across the concept of "daily painting." It has been defined by one as the following: “Daily painting is the practice wherein an artist produces a piece of art every day, or every weekday, or almost every weekday – or just periodically. As that rambling sentence shows, there are no steadfast rules. Heck, a daily painter does not even have to be a painter, just an artist dedicated to their art.” It is more precisely, attempting to paint one painting every day for a set period of time. 

With upcoming trips, such a feat may be impossible the next week or two, but will not stop me from painting when I can. Today's model came from a magazine clipping, and allowed me to entertain my desire to accurately translate the human figure into the language of paint. I completed this study in a number of hours, no more than four, and am excited to get to it again tomorrow.

Woman in Red

S. Thomson

Oil on 5 x 7 " canvas

June 6, 2015

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"Blessed are they who see beautiful things in humble places where other people see nothing."

- Camille Pissarro

FIGURE PAINTING | THE DANCER

The Dancer

S. Thomson

April, 2015

Oil on Canvas

Last month I painted this dancer to accompany the piece which my younger sister played in her most recent recital. As well as playing her piece (Sonatina, Opus 88, Frederich Kuhlau), the piano instructor requires a painting to go along, in a way to explain the piece, or how it makes the pianist feel. For my younger sister, she imagined a dancer, and asked me to paint this for her. 

As I continue to study art, I am more aggressively attempting to understand the complexities of the human figure, in both drawing and painting. I am also attempting to be more purposeful in adhering to certain rules of painting, such as composition, color harmony, edge variation, and value. There's a lot out there to learn! 

In the coming weeks I will be more actively posting different pieces: complete and incomplete alike. I've learned a lot in the past two months: mainly how much I didn't know, and now am aiming myself to learn and understand more deeply the complexities of the science of painting and drawing.

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"Continuous effort -- not strength or intelligence -- is the key to unlocking our true potential."

- Winston Churchill

HAND-LETTERING | ISAIAH 40:8

Last week I shared a simply drawn quote, and today I'm back with the same. Completing small projects like this in busier weeks is an easy way to do at least some art everyday, while not feeling behind or in an art rut. 

Isaiah 40:8 reads "The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever," and is one verse that stuck out to me while reading last week. So of course I decided to draw it because who am I really but someone who loves handwriting. 

This was drawn on 11 x 14 inch, white paper. My goal in drawing on large white paper is to enable a clear scan that can be blown up or shrunk and printed on any size, style, and color of paper. This drawing differs somewhat from past drawings in the use of a "frame" (the wreath), and is an effect I rather enjoy.

Isaiah 40:8 | Hand-Lettering

S. Thomson

March 2015

Pen & Ink on Paper

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"The worst bankrupt is the person who has lost his enthusiasm."

- A. W. Arnold