WIP - “Emma”

BKW

A work in progress I’m painting for my 4 year old daughter, Emma.  She’s loves bugs and animals, and is our butterfly.  For the composition, I was inspired by others’ use of common household objects, condiment jars, and toys.  The objects here have personal meaning to me.  I’ll post pics after I transfer the drawing and along the way.  This is 8x8 board. 

tassieguy

I love your composition - the way the insects are positioned in relation to the stacks of blocks. I look forward to seeing it progress. 

ArtGal

the drawing looks great , looking forward to see the painting

SecondSarah

This is so charming. I just love it! One small observation, offered humbly,  if I may... before you begin painting, you may want to check the angle of the “C” plane on the bottom block on the left. Otherwise, it’s a winner in the making! 😊 

BKW

I have to fix the E, add the butterfly, and the big shadow on the left, and touch ups.  The yellow color on the block is off.   Got tired and need to take a break.  

KingstonFineArt

@BKW
I get a feeling you are rushing this. Slooow down. As for the shadow on the left ... leave it out for a while. I think it looks stronger without it. Take it slow. 

Looks good. What's the story?

BKW

All - thank you, that's all great feedback - I appreciate it!   We adopted Emma (4) and Luke (5, and his will be next) from state social services a few years ago, and they are our light.  This painting and future ones are both a place for me to have an output/purpose/hobby/focus/distraction, as well as utility -- we built a new home and need to decorate it.  This painting and composition is a first for me - the first purposely composed still life, created by attempting to deliberately follow a method or instruction.  Almost 19 years ago I worked in the Berkshires and did a few awful plein-air scratches with my box, read a few art books, and it was a nice way to do something other than work.  Last touched a brush in 2003, I think.  

Emma is fearless and already a force; I'm a proud girl dad.  She loves bugs, slime, gross stuff, animals, unicorns, stunts and climbing on things that give other parents pause.  I love it when I see out of the corner of my eye they look at me like "you're gonna let her do that?"  

So I'm working through it, learning how to translate what I see, the techniques for transferring the sketch (the paper shifted on me during the process - lesson learned.)  Spheres are hard, try cubes "oh hey I have cubes!"  

Naturally I have competing priorities - balancing a demanding job and family, so I can only paint at night and sometimes on Sunday.  I don't see that happening during the summer, sigh.  So I probably am rushing this painting, but I love learning on the way.  My brushes are too big, that color doesn't really match, color mixing, etc.  I'm a life long learner so I'm enjoying the process, and love to look at the work of pop surrealists, and modern classical still life artists.  

- Brian 

Richard_P

It's looking great. You are doing it from love, which is the best reason.