"B" Side Clip: REAL Life Drawing April 29, 2010

Adventuring Around the Thomas Jefferson Memorial

Taking Time to Stop and Smell the Tulips: REAL Life Drawing DC

What an incredible day...  the sun was shining and the air was filled with the promise and hope of a successful morning of sketching.  Before I could set up shop I had to plant my nose in the 

National Tulip Library.  Oooh la la. Smelly...

PERFECT!  How often will there be construction on the Jefferson Memorial.  

SWEET!

 I am gonna get my SKETCH on.

After I completed my first drawing.  I spied a local fisherman named Fred.  Fred lives in the district and gets his fish on everyday.  He has pulled:  Rock Fish, Bass and just yesterday a freaky deaky Snakehead!  He agreed to let me sketch him.  I was psyched.

So who are the people in the district? 

"...they're the people that you meet,

 when you're walkin' down the street,

the people that you meet each day."

-Sesame Street

Blessed Is the Bunny 2.0

Blessed Is the Bunny 2.0

I did NOT have a bad hare day today! Okay that was a cheesy joke, but I couldn't resist.  

Tomorrow I won't be in my studio.  Instead I'll be Real Life Drawing: My Eye on DC.  You'll find me observing life around the Thomas Jefferson Memorial from 10:00am -2:00pm... promoting the Workhouse Arts Center and selling my work for a super price.  I hope you come by and say hello. 

Constructing Avalon: Ten Lovely Layers

INSPIRATION 

   Layer One

 Layer 2

 Layer 3

 Layer 4

Layer 5

 Layer 6

 Layer 7

 Layer 8

 Layer 9

Tada!

Avalon, 36 x 36 Acrylic on Canvas, Mary Gallagher Stout 4/2010

Under Paintings Delivered

 Inch Worm by 3:00pm

Blessed Is the Bunny II by 3:00pm

Your Welcome.

Something Old and Something New

Prep Work for Inch Worm

Notice that I am painting over an old work.  How green I am,  how green I am, nobody knows how green I am.

Prep Work for Blessed Is the Bunny II

I am beginning this piece with a brand new canvas and need to establish some energy. Do you feel the movement?   I'll post an update of these two works by the end of my studio time (3:30 pm) today.

Blessed is the Bunny...

..."Here I am the one that you love"...

Can you hear Air Supply crooning in the background?

Or did I type those lyrics out loud?

Either way I am feeling really good about this piece.

HAPPY FRIDAY

Inside on Earth Day? Gotta Make My Studio Hours

 I bounced back and forth between two pieces.

  Avalon and Blessed Is the Bunny.

Avalon 36 x 36 Acrylic on Canvas In Progress

These little women are developing into quite a work of art.  Oh my...

Notice how saturated the color is becoming.  Mary likey!  I've decided to morph the balloon into another object. It is either going to be a Wonder Woman Shield or a bull's eye target.  I am leaning towards the Wonder Woman Shield.  I am pretty sure I see "Linda Carter's" invisible plane parked on the runway behind them.  Of course you are welcomed to weigh in on this debate.  Let's move on shall we?

Blessed Is the Bunny (24 x 18?) Acrylic on Canvas

Blessed is the Bunny who lulled my sweet girl to sleep for the past 11 years.  Right now Bunny is feeling jealous and sad.  Why you ask?  Her baby girl is growing up way to fast!  Bunny is feeling less and less needed.  I reminded Bunny that her girl is one of the most loving, generous, and loyal girl's any Bunny could ever have.  Bunny should know by NOW that her girl keeps her very close to her heart and that no i-Pod Touch or any other gadget could ever take her place.

DC Digested: Today's Studio Work

Don't Tread On Me, 17.5" x 11" Acrylic, Pastel, Charcoal on the Washington Post

The Wisdom of Charlie Heston, 11" x 18" Acrylic, Pastel, Charcoal on the Washington Post

Seniors for Six Shooters, 17" x 12" Acrylic, Pastel, Charcoal on the Washington Post

Untitled- Work In Progress

I wish I had more time in my studio today.  Can't wait until tomorrow.

Until then my friends

MG Stout In the Studio: Barefoot and Painting

April 19, 2010 REAL Life Drawing: My Eye on Washington DC

I turn my head to the left and this is what I saw.

I turn my head to the right ... 

Twas a Gun rally on The Mall! 

I saw all kinds of posters with eye catching slogans:

"Gun Control Works Ask Any Socialist Country"

"A Gun In Hand Is Better Than A Cop On The Phone"

"The Second Amendment:  America's Original Homeland Security"

Wide shot of the crowd.

I looked to the GW Monument and reflected on what I was hearing.

The Washington Monument Listens to Gunslingers
19.5" x 8" Acrylic, Charcoal and Pastel on the Washington Post
Available for Sale

The Sleeping Giant has Been Awakened
14.5 x12 Acrylic, Charcoal and Pastel on the Washington Post
Available for Sale

Packin' Heat and Fancy Free
11.5 x 19 Acrylic, Charcoal and Pastel on the Washington Post
Available for Sale

Next week I will be setting up my easel by the Jefferson Memorial.  If you are nearby come by and say hello.  All sketches will be available for your viewing pleasure.  Hope to see you then.

Gearing Up For The Start of Something New

Here I am, barefoot and PAINTING.

Yesterday was a busy day.  I needed to prepare the paper (The Washington Post) upon which I intend to create a new exciting series- REAL Life Drawing: My Eye on Washington DC.  My pal Amie actually shot some RAW footage of this process, but I haven't been able to upload it to this blog as yet. 

(Psst... word on the street is that I am technically challenged, but you didn't hear that from me)

 Fear not my friends I will figure out how to post that (adjective of your choice) video soon enough.  Until then... enjoy a sneak peek of a few stills:

Oooooh  

Ahhhhh

Saturday, April 17 Artist's Log

This morning I had to jury NOVAC's  (Northern Virginia Astronomy Club) First-Annual Art Contest.  I must say it is very cool being on the other side of the jurying process!  Then it was back to painting as usual.

Here is how Avalon looked by 2:00.  I added quite a few layers and needed the paint to dry before I could add any more. So I switched gears and moved onto a new work titled Bunny. Do you remember my most famous model? (If not... feel free to check out the blog archives) Anyway, after I sketched in the composition I revisited Avalon.

Avalon @ 5:00

It is time to clean the brushes and head out for the day.

It Truly Is a "Good Friday"

Good Friday, 60"x 108" Acrylic On Wood Panel, Completed Friday, 4.16.10

Notice how the little additions have big impact and really make the work more cohesive.  I invite all my readers to come and see it in person.  It is a really a different viewing experience when you are standing in front of it.  I'll be painting all weekend and always enjoy visitors. 

Hooray! The Triptych Has a Name

Good Friday, 108" x 60",  Acrylic on Wood Panels

I am cryin' so bad as this triptych is on the verge of completion!  What's left you ask?  Me thinks it looks pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty, good.  However, there is something missing. After looking at this piece for quite some time, I decided to continue the red diagonal behind the little girl in the Blue Panel.  That addition will act as the final hinge:  connecting the panels and pulling the narrative together.  Then Good Friday will be a completed work.  Hee Haw!!! 

 Yet, I am still a wee bit unsettled. I keep going back and forth on whether or not to add another icon/element between the father and son on the Yellow Panel.  I really like the empty space between them.  It is an analogy for their distant relationship.  I just don't know.  What do you think?  Add another element or keep the space?  Make a comment, please.

Evolution of the UNTITLED RED PANEL

I am very happy with my progress on this panel.
I corrected the proportions of the woman's arm.
Had a blast building movement under her blouse
and warmed up her skin tone quite a bit.  I was
on a roll, but then I noticed the time and had to
put away my brushes and pop on my Mommy Cap.
Maybe I'll finish this panel tomorrow.  Cross your fingers.

Ancient Elements: Modus Operandi

Ancient Elements, 36 x 36, Mixed Media, 2008

This piece was inspired by the Ancient Greek Esoteric Doctrine of the Elements.  The discovery of the four Elements is generally credited to Empedocles.  It is important to note that for Empedocles,  the Elements are more than just material substances.  He introduces them as Gods:  Zeus is Air, Hera is Earth,  Hades is Fire, Nestis (Persophone) is Water.  The relationship between the Elements is diagramed on what is known as the Elemental Square or the Square of Opposition.  I thought it would be interesting to explore this tenet by layering contemporary man made elements (acrylic paints, synthetic plasters & factory manufactured patterns) atop natural raw materials like cotton and wood.

Fuzzy Logic: Contemporary Painting After a Century of Abstract Art

 Fuzzy Logic Installation Photo                           

After a century of abstract painting, many contemporary painters (yours truly included) infuse overtly conceptual methodology with non-objective painting practices.  Fuzzy Logic examines non-representational art with conceptual, rule-based strategies.  I submitted works from my Lace Series and was honored when esteemed curator and gallery director, Todd Bartel invited me to be a part of this exciting exhibition.