Oil Painting

[lyon]

Well, I am officially working as a freelance illustrator/fine artist now. This is the first oil that I have done in a few years and it feels incredible to be painting with a brush again. I have some more in the works. This painting is meant to be a decorative piece. The gold looking stuff is actually gold leaf. Fun/evil stuff to work with.

I have a few kinks to work out with my painting skills over the next 60 years or so, I will keep you posted.

Howard

http://members.cox.net/goblins/oil/Esther_Final_Small.jpg

http://members.cox.net/goblins/oil/Esther_Final_Head_Detail.jpg

[nikia]

Looks great! Know what you mean about gold leaf. It's hard to work with, sticks to you and basically gets all over the place! LOl Good idea though. It sure makes this picture stand out!

[davi]

i love you howard.

[Sedone]

That's beautiful! It has an ancient yet contemporary feel. I'll have to try that gold leaf stuff one day, because it looks neat. Good luck with your freelance endeavors. I'm in the same boat, but I think you can paint better than me :D

[Aven]

Stunning work.

Do I see a little hint of Alyssa Milano in there?

[Jason Manley]

gotta love molding paste....

did garrison show you that technique?

jd parrish and mr g and I spent a lot of time exploring with that stuff. those two are who got me psyched about traditional painting in the first place. they were my guides more so than any other teachers in my career.

the top half of the figure is strong...from the hips down there is some confusion about what is going on with the legs under the dress. from the top of the anterior superior illiac crest down to the feet. i would suggest painting the legs and then putting the drapery over them later. that will clear up any issues with weight as well as form for the clothing.


j

[el coro]

very nice work man! to be totally honest, i like your traditional rendering more than your digital. this is a very strong piece indeed. the face and decorative elements are very well done. its true, there's no feeling equivalent to painting with a brush. all these pure digital guys dont know what they're missing! again great work, and best of luck with the freelance game. cant wait to see more...-c36

[lyon]

nikia - Thanks! I wish there was a better way to exhibit this stuff online. The gold leaf is a cool dynamic element. It changes so much with the light!

davi - lol... Thanks!

Sedone - Thanks for the response. I especially appreciate the comment about the "ancient yet contemporary." I was going to something like that, not wanting to place her in any specific time. Thank you

Aven - Thanks! If there is some Alyssa in there it is by coincidence. I had some cool reference for the piece, but it wasn't her. I could paint Alyssa me thinks!

Jason - The modeling paste is a blast. I actually messed around with it when J.D. and Richard Franklin started with the stuff more than 12 years ago now (I have known J.D. for almost 14 yeas now! I was 16 when I met him. geez that is weird.) Did you know Richard? He died in a plane crash in 96 I think. I was just over at J.D.'s house the other day. I didn't realize that Jim was doing anything with the paste though. That must have been after I was at MCC. I did the under painting in casein and then did the rest in oils. I agree with you about the anatomy. There was something that was getting to me and you nailed it. Fast too! Thank you especially for that.

El Coro - Given that admire your traditional work so much, that means a ton coming from you. Thank you, thank you. I can't wait to give some fantasy work a go in oils. My next piece for Dragon is going to be in oils. I have always hoped that the rendering skills that I have worked on so hard in games would translate to traditional media. I think they will with time. I wish that I could have made it to your and Jason's shows. That is a huge accomplishment to have a one man show. Again, thank you for the response.

[AnarchyAo2]

Wow! Thats real tight! I wish i could paint like that!

Also, I'm doing a oil painting for art class (in high school) and I can't seem to get a smooth transition between colors. Like, I always keep seeing brush strokes. Could you give me some advice?

[Loga4]

Awesome!

[TARGETE]

That face is very well done, I also prefer this from your digital work because the textures and layer of color shows through your painting. I also agree with Elcoro those all digital guys dont know what they are missing.

Please continue working in oils when you can it is time consuming but the results can be very rewarding.

JP

[JoshuaTheJames]

Dear God...

You can actually Draw really nice and crisp! and Paint! I don't think thats allowed...

I don't believe it...

Bravo,

-Joshua

[liquidwerx]

Nicely done amigo.

I've got to agree with the above comments that this is even better than your digital stuff. Not to nock digital art, or your digital art for that matter, I love digital painting and work almost completely digital now a days myself, but this just has so much emotion. Plus, it's always nice to have some originals around to sell.

Ya know, I have a whole ish-load of paints and brushes just sitting around in drawers getting old... An easel, the whole bit... You've inspired me Howard, I think I'll whip the liquitex out tonight and see what happens. :)

Looking forward to seeing some more of these.

Malachi

Ps. And the gold leaf looks dope too, great idea.

[Main Loop]

man thats tight.. where do you use modeling paste? i thought that stuff was only for acrylics...

[Shadowkiller]

congrats ultra, I really injoy looking at your work you seem to always amaze me with your new work keep up the great! work looking forward to see your next peace of work

[Rusty Red Robot]

Oh wow . . . that is beautiful. That is the kind of art I want hanging on my walls.

[tegehel]

C.

[MindCandyMan]

This is great. I want it on my wall.

[Seraph]

Holy f.....g god that is neat!

[balo]

this is extremely nice. I would have liked to see her grounded though. Possibly a stone floor or something, just to make her sit in the space better.

[Duracel]

Incredible!
Love this.


PS: how large is the canvas?

[pvrhye]

Painting definitely feels different. Things are allways moving on you. Drives me absolutely batty. My paintings tend to be pretty impasto as a result.

[-The Swift-]

WOW!!:D

[ChadTHX1138]

Thats Awesome!! I have to say my favorite part of this painting are her feet and toes....:D

[lyon]

AnarchyAo2 - Are you working in oils? It is a little tougher with acrylics. With oils, blend away, but keep the colors and just as important, color temperatures accurate or you will get mud. If you are using acrylics, you will either need to use a retarder to get a little more life out of the paint, mix more gradients and colors, or use more washes (or all three).

Loga4 - Thank you

TARGETE - Thank you very much. I bought your book by the way. Very inspiring and exciting to see your success! There is nothing in life (save family) that is so gratifying as hanging a piece of art on the wall that you have created (not printed out). The smell, the texture, they way it reacts to different light and even ages. Digital is wonderful, but traditional media will never lose it's overwhelming draw for me.

JOSHUATHEJAMES - Ha! Thank you. :)

liquidwerx - Alright, you have to post what you have done. I am certain, from my experience, that the skills you are developing on the computer are going to greatly enhance your natural media work. Can't wait to see what you do and thanks!

Main Loop - The modeling paste is used as the ground to paint on. It helps get the texture. Thanks for the compliment as well!

Shadowkiller - Thank you. Hopefully I will have some more work up here soon!

Rusty Red Robot, tegehel and Seraph - Hopefully some rich art collector will want it on their walls too! One teacher that I had said the key to financial success as a painter is to only sell your work to rich people. :)

balo - I don't disagree with you, but I do like the somewhat ethereal feel it gives her, but it may be too distracting to some.

Duracel - Thank you and the piece is 26x38 inches.

pvrhye - oils can be nasty, but they do so many wonderful things, I don't think I could ever turn away from them. I paint very thin and try to use the transparency of oils to build some depth. I am just getting started though. We'll see how it goes.

-The Swift- - Thank you

ChadTHX1138 - I have very little confidence with the feet, but I stuck it out on these and they didn't turn out too bad. I am glad that it paid off for someone! :)

[Phil_Osirus]

There is only one problem I see and it is the legs. The needs would be too low judging from her position, and if such a position was taken the legs would be shorter since she would be bending somewhat. I think straight legs would have been better. Other than that it is great!

[Duracel]

26x38 inches .. wow, would like to put it on my wall, too - but im not rich at all, sorry ;)