The Pear Tree

The Pear Tree is finished! If I didn’t start this painting over it would have taken 13 sessions less. But I learned a ton!

The shirt is moving fast I expect to finish this painting tomorrow. I haven’t had this many sessions on one painting in a long while.

Yes! I’m not sure what this technique is called but I like leaving the strokes bare, separate, no smoothing.

The more I try to smooth out the skin the less I like it. I’m going to keep it like it is.

One hour of painting this morning and and bringing the face up to where I want it.

I’m spending more time on web development for my site right now so this painting will go a bit slower.

I’m done with the background! Yay! I may change it a bit but for now back to the portrait.

Back to The Pear Tree and I’m still working on all the leaves for the tree.

Another session down. Still working on the leaves of the pear tree and still having fun.

I hope to finish the background on the next session. Then I’ll move on to the next painting for a few days.

At this point I thought I would be getting tired of all the leaves but I’m actually enjoying it.

Dealing with a few distractions this morning so my progress was as great at yesterday.

The right side of the background is done. Two more good sessions and I can finish it.

More time on the background and I’m changing my mind on painting landscapes… maybe…

I’ve got a good method going for the background now it’s time to repeat.

First layer of the skin is done and I’m moving to the block-in of the background.

Now it’s time to put this painting down and let the background and shirt dry.

This painting is coming together quickly.

I’m moving to the background now and the contrast is amazing!

Moving out from the face into all the hair this guy has.

Instead of a block-in I’m going straight for what I want and I’m loving it.

I refined the drawing today and barely got started painting when time was up.

I started over on The Pear Tree and used it for an easy session today and recovery.

Small changes to this painting. A layer of glazed white over the face.

Not much time spent today but I wanted to feel a brush in my hand again.

I’m waiting for the face to dry so I’m working the background up.

I’m still working like crazy on web stuff but I tried to get some painting in today.

I’m not spending a lot of time daily on painting so the progress on this painting is slow.

Working on the details of the face now and trying as hard as I can to understand the complex colors I see.

The super simple block-in for the whole painting is done. Tomorrow I’ll get back to details.

The best way to figure out a color is to also figure out the colors next to it.

I worked a bit more on the skin color trying to get a base to work from.

First layer on the face is close to finished and I’m moving outward into the background and down the body.

I’ve started painting and I’ve started with detail right away.

For this post and the next few posts I’m going to keep the text very short.

After some serious deliberation on my second morning walk I’ve come to a conclusion.