Evolution of a Painting

First Wash Canvas 

Second Wash & Charcoal Rough

3rd Wash Painted Loose Sketch

Round 4: Decided I like the reds & oranges better

Oversized Sketch - hating the blue

Covered with the Daily News- much better

Warmed up the background & sketched with white

TRIUMPH

Philadelphia City Hall if it were dressed as a Mummer!

I dig making reds recede & pushing cool colors forward.  When it works it brings me great joy.

Gearing Up

I'm listening to Don't Stop 'Till You Get Enough, by Michael Jackson, chair dancing & singing along.  Trying to get pumped for painting while feeling empty on the inside.  I think everyone has those less than successful days. Yesterday was one of those days.   Mind you it was productive in the sense that paintings were made, but I was very disappointed with what was staring back at me from my easel. 
Today is a new day and I am ready to begin again.
God be with me.

Sorta Mission Statement

Personal ambition: To visit each major city in the United States and render that imagery onto each city’s newspaper.

Why use newspaper? 

a)  to preserve and safeguard a historically significant document

b)  the material is conversant with the images being depicted 

Newspapers have been the connective tissue keeping communities linked in and informed for ages.  Enter the World Wide Web. It is rapidly shifting how we get our information and changing the physical landscape as well. We are becoming more and more paperless.  Virtual communication is rapidly replacing newspapers and face time with twenty-four hour ticker lines and texts.  YIKES!

These works are a celebration of community and the newspapers that unite them.   

With pastel and charcoal I depict everyday moments, from families touring local monuments to dilapidated buildings.  I have successfully captured moments in our nation’s capitol  with expressive lines and vibrant colors.  The response to this series has been overwhelming.  Of the original 74 pieces included in my book, 36 have been sold and a few are now in the Securities Exchange Commission art collection.   

When  people visit my studio I am always surprised when they ask, “so when are you coming to Chicago… New York…Miami?” Soon, is my response because my gaze is fixed on Philly.  

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.

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

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.

Belated Thursday Post: Artists' of Minnieland Occoquan

The sun was shining and the scent of fresh cut grass filled the air as we made our way onto the Quad.  We stretched our arms and moved our bodies as if we were fully loaded paint brushes.  Then we familiarized ourselves with the brushes we would be painting with by drawing a variety of lines with water on the blacktop.

Their creative juices were FLOWING!   We headed back to the KIDS ZONE CLASSROOM and the young artists' were asked to choose a limited palette (three colors plus white) that represented how they were feeling that day.  They created expressive personal works that are surely going to be a treasure for years to come.

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