REAL Life Drawing: My Eye On Washington DC

REAL Life Drawing: My Eye On Washington DC
Photo- Gessoed Hand of MG Stout holding her favorite paint while prepping paper

Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Untitled Red Panel Update

I finally figured out what needed to go on the table.  FISH!!!  I washed her face with a magenta glaze and added more paint to her shirt.  I need to re-work her arms and blouse.  Tomorrow I am teaching a workshop in the Kids Zone from 10:00-12:30.  I will ask to take photos of the class.  Hopefully it will be okay so I can share my day with pictures.   Then I am off to FL.

Since I won't be in my studio next week I will be starting my "Real Life Drawing" in the sunshine state.  I think it will be interesting to see how different life looks from state to state.   I do hope I see a chubby dude sporting a banana hammock and a farmer's tan on the beach.  Inspiration is all around us.  We just need to take a moment to drink it in.

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Initial Layers of Untitled Red & Yellow Panels

I thought you might like to see how far these paintings have come.  The next post includes detail photos depicting how these works look today.

It's All In The Details

My camera is officially busted!  Thankfully my computer can take pictures.     Today I photographed myself with the pieces I worked on.  Here I am posing with Untitled Red Panel off in the distance. In the other shot I am eyeballing the details of her face.  I still have to add one more layer of red glaze to tone down the highlights.  Next up, Untitled Yellow Panel


The man's face is complete.  Notice the heavy brush work underneath, the isolation layer of faint yellow, and the delicate details to bring intensity to his gaze.  The boy still needs work.  He is too blended so I am going to have to add weighty strokes to turn up/on his passion.

Sunday, March 28, 2010

Instructional Videos with Mary

Monkey See, Monkey Do with Mary Gallagher Stout

Click on the above link and visit my monkeysee.com channel to enjoy free instructional painting and crafting videos.
Let me know if you want to see other demos.  Just fill out the comment form and I will forward your instructional requests to my producer.

Happy Sunday

Thursday, March 25, 2010

The Legend of The Rent

This just in:


I was full of poo-poo yesterday.  I failed to mention that in between writing proposals and art statements I was also sending out resumes for full time work.  People aren't buying and bills are stacking up.  That is the reality.  My work is about honesty.  It is about expression, recording history and personal narratives.  So...
I am taking my work outside of the studio.  Yep, one day a week I am going into DC to start my series called, Real Life Drawing.  I am going to bring my paint, some paintings and set up shop.  Today is a new day.  I am beginning my series in Reagan Airport.  I am flying out to IL and upon my return (Saturday) I am going to record what I see.  Standby.  ( BONUS:  this project...the gallery doesn't get to take it's usual 40 to 50% cut so I will be able to offer great prices for the pieces) SWEET.

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

An Amazing Moment


I didn't make much head-way on my paintings.  Sigh.  The bulk of my day was spent writing exhibition proposals and looking for representation.  Blah, Blah, Blah onto the exciting part.  As I was departing for the afternoon a lovely dear named Shelly stopped by the studio and brought in a cake for the artists' to enjoy.  A delicious treat that my ass really doesn't need right before Spring Break in FL.  Anyhow I took a slice for my daughter and hopped into my ride.

So here I am, crawling home on the freeway.  I'm singing Foundation, with Kate Nash and photographing this delightful scene just for you guys.  My tummy starts to growl and I look at the foul temptress sitting to my right.  Fear not fans, my resolve is firm. (unlike my buns & thighs).  See how yummy it looks below. (impressive will power huh?) 
Now for the exciting part.  My daughter had a field trip to the District.   
And what to my wondering eyes should appear?  Exiting the HOV she was oh so near.   I turned my head to check out the merging traffic and THERE SHE WAS! 



HOW ABOUT THAT!!!!!  PRETTY AMAZING

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Chaos: A State of things in which chance is supreme

I returned to my studio this morning only to find it in the exact same disorganized state of which I left it yesterday.  MAN ALIVE!  Where are those gremlins when you need them?  I had to spend all day returning it to it's usual quasi-organized grandeur.  See for yourself.


  Then I had to do paperwork.  UGH...

Do you see all my paint brushes and unfinished paintings mocking me?
The Blue & Yellow panels were giving my the hairy eyeball all day.

Monday, March 22, 2010

Spring Cleaning/Painting













Today I had to paint my gallery wall and let me tell you, it looks terrific.  I re-hung and photographed it from two vantage points just for you.  It is great to have my working hanging on crisp white walls.



Now let us move our tour inside my studio.  What a shit-hole!  I've got a lot of work to do in here.  I loath this sort of studio work.  It is such a daunting, dull, drag of a task.  I wish with all my heart that the people in my paintings would become animated and leap off the canvas after I go home and tidy things up.  Keep your fingers crossed.  Hey stranger things have happened.                              


Spring Painting/Cleaning













Today I had to paint my gallery wall.  It looks terrific.  I re-hung and photographed it just for you.  Two vantage points:  left to right & right to left? (I often confuse my left and right) Please forgive me.  Now I have to clean up the studio proper which is a very dull and daunting task.  See for yourself...
There really isn't enough time in the day.  I am looking forward to working on Avalon tomorrow.  I wish the people in my paintings would become animated, jump off the canvas and clean this shit hole up.  They are the cause of the mess as far a I am concerned.

Friday, March 19, 2010

Today's Work

The Bathing Beauties are looking MIGHT-TEE-FINE
My cousin and I will soon be in FL for spring break.  We are going to recreate this swimsuit spread with our adult figures.  I think I have a better shot of fitting into my suit then she does. If you notice in the picture her breasts were fighting to be free of that tiny tangled spandex fabric. Today her boobs are enormous so I giggle at the thought of her spilling all over the place!

Peeping Puppy is Completed

Peeping Puppy 
18" x 24" 
Acrylic on Canvas


Thursday, March 18, 2010

Meet my newest model

I have a very special bond with the model I am about to introduce you to.  She has been a very important part of my family for the last 11 years.  I can't imagine a day of not seeing her face.

Drum roll please...
  Meet Bunny Stout.  If you are very quiet you can actually hear angels singing in the background.  Bunny belongs to my sweet daughter Erin and has been her constant companion since birth (1998).
You might be scratching your head wondering why on earth would I be sharing with the public such an intimate relationship?  Well Erin has requested that I paint our BFF and therefore she will become a part of my studio life.  I did say I was going to share with all of you what goes on in this place.  I am excited about painting this fuzzy, spineless, fur missing subject.

The Beach Babes Are Coming

 
The blond bombshells are taking on a little more life.  This is day three of painting Avalon.  I was unable to work on this painting as much as I would have liked.  I did finish Peeping Paws, but my camera is being a huge pain in the as...k me a few questions or even comment on what you are seeing in this work.  Any suggestions? I bet you thought I was going to say something else.

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Progress Report for Avalon

Here is the most recent version of Avalon.  I've started to articulate their oh so sexy figures.

Happy St. Patty's Day


Today was a very busy day at the Workhouse.  We had quite a few groups touring the site.   I had a very special guest visit my studio, Jaclyn Pearson.  Jackie is an avid art lover and creator herself.  I can always recognize a fellow artist as most of us usually are sporting splotches of paint somewhere on either our clothing or ourselves.  While Miss Pearson was dressed in a lovely emerald velvet number, she had some paint on her hands from earlier in the day.  Miss Pearson, of course travels with an entourage (mother Erin & grandparents, Jack & Rita Dyer, very nice people I might add).  The best part of the day was hearing Jackie announce that my studio was her favorite.  Yipee!!!   Her Poppop (Jack Dyer) took a few photos to mark the occasion and kindly forwarded them along for you all to enjoy.  Thank you so much for stopping by Studio 411.  It was my pleasure to have met such a loving family.

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Old Paintings Get Painted Over In This Economy

My dog Scottie Pippin is old as dirt.  I want to honor my aging dog with his loose skin and over-active bladder.  Check out his mug in earlier days...



Now I'm on a budget and I have a ton of sketches that need to be articulated on a brand new canvas and this painting is a total impulse project.  MEANING... WOMAN YOU'VE SPENT YOUR CANVAS BUDGET SO YOU'RE SHIT OUT O LUCK!  So I had to rummage through all of my least favorite paintings and recycle.



This is only the second layer of paint.  As you can see I still have a many more layers of glaze to my Peeping Puppy  
Isn't recycling SWELL?

My Commitment To This Blog

I vow to post the progress of my work Monday through Friday until my studio contract is up on September something of 2011.  Today I worked on a few paintings.  I am an impatient painter and the paint just doesn't dry fast enough!  I just don't have time to sit around and wait as I have mom duty later in the afternoon.  That is one of the reasons I work mainly with acrylics.  The picture you see above is the basis for my first piece.  The first pic has only  one layer of paint.
The second shot has two layers and you'll notice the wind swept figures sketched into their places.  Avalon is the title.  I am recreating the memory... my cousin and I were very excited to go to the beach, but our Aunt Eileen insisted that we be photographed next to the lovely plant.  EGAD is the expression on our little faces.