Eleksyon Series IV

"Gibo"
Oil on canvas
7.5x10

This project is proving to be valuable to me in two ways.
One, I get to practice a lot on doing portraits in oil.
Two, I get to know these presidential candidates more through research.
This way, I'll be able to choose a little more wiser when the time comes.

Eleksyon Series III

Gordon
oil on canvas , 7.5x10

Slightly different technique.
The canvas was stained by raw umber prior to painting.

outside my box

The Trap, 2009
oil on plywood
8x6.5 inches

Analog

Exposed, 2009
oil on canvas
2.5X3.75 inches

onions and garlics

Sauté partners, 2009

oil on canvas.
2.5X3.75 inches

The last one, 2009

oil on canvas.
2.5X3.75 inches

I used to be scared by still life painting before, because I didn't trust my eyes and instincts back then. But I'm getting used to it now. It's liberating. I'm beginning to like doing still life setups. it allows me to control the scene. look at it at different angles, experiment with lightings, change elements or backgrounds and generally get the feel of the objects' characteristics that i can't get from photographs.

Van Gogh and Rembrandt

Two new MiniMasters
Van Gogh and Rembrandt
Both self portraits

Van Gogh 1889 copy
oil on canvas
1.8X2.5 inches

View original

Rembrandt 1629 copy
oil on canvas
1.8X2.5 inches

View original

Shadows in the Playground

Shadows in the Playground, 2009
oil on canvas
8X5 inches
2009
click image to view large

My Flemish technique study is now in limbo. I've lost the enthusiasm and patience I needed to be able to continue with it.

Im going back to basics again. Ala prima style. This is one of the series of small paintings I'm planning to do in the next few months. I'm going small. This way, I'll be able to finish a painting in one sitting. Thus eliminating the possibility of laziness. Because I've discovered that every time I leave an unfinished painting, my energy and obsession on it decreases . Up to the point where I wouldn't wanna touch it anymore. I have about 4-5 unfinished paintings at home. Floating in limbo. I'll finish them someday.

Work in Progress

My tiny "studio" under the stairs.
This is where i get in the zone.
It's a small space where a TV used to be.
The TV died.
We took it out to get repaired.
Then it never got to come back.
Maybe it wasn't important enough.
So i converted its area to my studio.


This is a work in progress of a still life study.
I'm trying to learn textures by using a cupcake.
It has a nice organic roughness.
Soft at the same time.

Yes, I'm guilty of using cheap oil paints.
A lot of books and online articles strongly advice against it.
Honestly, I don't know why.
Maybe because I haven't tried using expensive quality paints.
I have not experienced how it feels.
For me, this cheap stuff works fine.
Marie's and Nouvell oil paints.
I've been using these brands since forever.
All the other brands are too expensive for my budget.