Challenging myself to not use black or brown and to allow some of the pencil marks to show through.

As a painter of realism and a lover of human faces it is a challenge to paint without my traditional palette. No browns, no blacks, no blues, and no skin tones.

And no photo or real model. Simply an image developed via the pencil and my imagination. Does she have a basis in reality? Am I sketching my muse or perhaps even bits of me?

I look each time I create one of these faces based on a quick sketch with my pencil to try to determine where it comes from. As if I can not just allow my imagination to have been the creator. Always feeling there is an answer there, for me, if only I could peer closer.

And so I sketch another, and paint her, and another and so on. It is as much about me as it is about the creative act.

Someone on twitter asked me what inspires me to paint. This is a part of that. The challenge to capture the essence; or a bit of it anyway; when painting a realistic portrait. And the challenge to understand, read, learn about myself when I paint something from my imagination.

Yes, there is challenge in attempting technique, or using a new medium. And there is challenge in improving my drawing skills and my sketching. But the big deal is about the human condition. My condition, and that of everyone else I encounter!

To purchase any of these original faces visit my studio!

My second cold wax portrait is complete and I could not be more satisfied! I have painted this subject before, and where in the first portrait she looked a little lost and very much sad, I think the layers and texture and depth of the wax gives her more of a questioning/ wonder filled impression.

I really can’t say enough about how amazing cold wax is to work with. There is so much satisfaction in being able to create transparent layer over transparent layer.

Being able to combine the blending of the oils with the textures and layers of texture is entirely fulfilling. It is that moment when you contemplate a slice of pie after Thanksgiving dinner.

You know you are going to love it, but you are already so satisfied you know you don’t have to have it!

“Baby Blues” is available for purchase here for $115.00 and will be ready to ship on 9/25/2010.

This is another wax painting in progress. This process really does require a great deal of patience from the artist. More than any medium I have worked with yet.

The worst part of this is that there are so many additional layers I want to add. More color to be introduced, hair needs to be more than just a fuzzy yellow light around her head.

And yet, as each layer dries and the depth of the painting grows, as more texture is added and removed and built upon I know it is worth the gradual steps.

Just over the left edge of her lips and the tip of her nose you see the wet wax layer that was just added. It will dry clear after only one day but will require a good two days before I can work on it again without digging into it with my brush. Or lifting wax away with a slightly heavy stroke.

Before I add each layer of wax I work as much of the surface with the paints as I can. Then very carefully add wax to any areas I need without smearing the paint. On her hat (top right of the photo) here I have used an alphabet stencil over wet oils to rub off parts of the hat.

The other issue I have is wanting to keep experimenting instead of finishing the painting. For instance, over the alpha letters in the hat I want to add a color wash. But if I do then that will be another layer to wait on. And who knows, it might be the thing that pushes it all over the top too far!

I think the term that comes to mind each time I look over at this and the other wax paintings is ‘mad scientist’. Nothing in my studio now is safe from being considered as a tool to use in the wax. I wonder, what will alcohol inks do to the wax? What about alcohol based stamp pads? And how about foil? Can I embed it into the wax? Can I adhere it to the surface of hardened wax? The possibilities are simply and beautifully endless!

Have a great weekend everyone! Oh, and I forgot I changed the blog design, what do you all think? I am satisfied with it!

The first of the cold wax paintings is now complete.I thoroughly enjoyed learning to combine the wax and the oils. In this photo everything is very much wet so I am very interested to see how it looks when it is fully dry. My guess is that will take about 2 weeks. Then I will varnish it by adding a thin layer of wax over the entire surface. And once dry buff it just slightly to get that satiny waxy surface.

I have two more panels with wax to complete and they are both at different stages of progress. For anyone who likes to work with wax, textured surface, or are looking for a variety from your current hot wax process I highly recommend giving cold wax a try.

I have found a new medium to work play in. Cold wax mixed with oils and lots of additional media. Specifically I am using Dorland’s wax medium and my Van Gogh H2O oils together on wooden panel. And as any respectful mixed-media artist I am adding in as much additional media I can get away with

It has become a bit of an obsession now and I am filled with ideas and potential works that I can barely contain myself long enough to stop and create a daily painting in acrylics.

I’ve almost added acrylics to the pieces several times now. Getting confused between one paint type over another is just a hazard of too many loves in my studio. I remember when I first discovered the H2O oils I contemplated tossing or giving away all of my acrylics. At some point though I realized that I could keep both and live with another duality in my artistic adventures.

I am head over heels though for this cold wax. The only bit I get frustrated with is time. I have to let layers dry or cure and that is where the acrylics save me. I can set the wax painting aside and paint a couple of acrylic works while the wax sets up. And I am learning that there is a period of time to wait to add texture which differs from the time needed to add a new layer. Which is different again from when I should add straight oils. The learning and the process are as much if not more rewarding than the completed works.

Once complete I just want to move on to the next one. I have only a very few works that I am tied to. Most I am happy to release into the world. Nothing more fulfilling than to send them off to someone / somewhere that they will be loved and appreciated. And to know I am free of them and can begin anew! Art is my addiction. Painting my preferred drug!