The Hidden Gallery

I've been watching really good tv. I finished all 5 seasons of HBO's The Wire and the miniseries John Adams.

The Wire is epic television. It is a commentary on what is happening in our world and has left me with so many questions and some despair.  What an education I got from watching that show.  Season 4 and 1 are tied for my favorite, then season 3.

John Adams is a really great miniseries 7 episodes long with embellishments on one of the Founding Fathers of the US.  who was also their 2nd President. The show is so steam punk.  Very Cool.  And really interesting. I found the world history during that period fascinating. I wish historical television shows would mention that these dramas are very loosely based on historical events. I am watching The Tudors now which is an embellishment of King Henry the 8th's rein. Also  loosely based on historical events.  I will say that it does make me read more about history to see how accurate shows are and how much they go off track from real history.

I finished reading Hermann Hesse's The Glass Bead Game.  I  enjoyed the book and the fictional account of the Glass Bead Game was something I wondered on. I read somewhere that Hesse imagined his story was set around the 25th century. Whoa. Because I used to play piano, I really appreciated and admired the way Music is described and respected in this book. Anyway, I'm still have to read the last part of the book which consists of poetry and short stories.

Okay, now art pimp:

Click to see whole painting.



Monarch Butterfly Fairy

16 in x 12 in

acrylics on cotton canvas sheet

Hello out there?

... watercolours or acrylics?  oil or acrylics?  drawings or paintings? big or miniature? paper or canvas?  digital or old skool? I just don't know...some stuff...





Well, I guess I finally finished this abandoned painting.  You may remember this from this post. This painting was based on these reference pictures provided by </a></b></a>magical_krystal in fantasy_models  .  That was a long time ago... I found the unfinished painting lying around in a big pile of other unfinished paintings.

Acrylic on Canvas 12 x 16.


This:

is junk.  Done with very little time and consideration (I know, it's obvious) in Photoshop.

I still don't know how to organize my layers best.  And am still unfamiliar with the different brushes... If you got any advice, or links or anything that can help me... bring it on...  Mucho Gracias!

My bad for not sharing my art with you... so here is a WIP for you... I don't know where it's going...



I'm using acrylic paints on stretched canvas.  I cover the canvas with a 'ground' which is just a layer of colour on the canvas.  I think when I work with oil, I don't usually use a ground and will start painting straight on to the canvas.



This is the really 'ugly' stage of my painting.  I'm working really fast and just 'blocking' in the shapes with solid colour.  In this case, I started with just white and burnt umber.  Hopefully, limiting my colour choices will force me to evaluate my values more objectively.



I'm still sticking with only 2 colours.  I've blocked in most of the shapes and have started refining the figure.  I think my head is too big and since I don't have a 'free-transform' when I go old skool, I decide I better fix it now before it gets outta hand.  lol



I arrogantly think that I've established the values accurately and decide to add some colour to refine the shapes.  I add a light green for contrast and add colbalt blue to darken the shadowed areas.  You can see where I've been dripping paint...lol  The next day, when I take a look at my painting, I think to myself, "wtf?  I thought that was green, not yellow!!" and realize once again how important it is to work in consistent light....

More to come!  I'm giving you fair warning!  lol