Knot Nude...........

"Just sit there with your hands folded and wait patiently". 

 I have been told this on more than one occasion in my life 

(by my mother).  

So, as you will see here this is exactly what I did. 

Procrastination 

Some call it being lazy or unmindful planning.

I have another name for it.  

Knowing when the time is right.  

Fifteen years in the making this one is, and let me explain why:

I did a photo session with an adorable little gal that I had discovered  in my hairdresser's shop working the reception counter.  As per usual there were several rolls of film that I shot (yes, I did say rolls.....remember them?).   

Turned out, very few images were  particularly inspiring - 

owing to my lack of photography skills I am sure. But, I have painted many pieces with her in them since, and always enjoy bringing up the subtle colors I see in her beautiful skin.

Among my favorites was the photo that inspired this piece Knot Nude.  I could never settle however, on what kind of background I wanted to place her into.  My painting style at the time though adequately skilled, had not quite matured (or morphed) into what I was envisioning in my mind.  Always on a quest to "loosen" up my style, I never seemed to get the message from my mind's eye down to my brush when I painted.....until recently.

I decided to take a more direct approach with the background, using a palette knife I very directly globbed it on and rubbed it around very much like when I frost a cake - how fun!  Then the exciting part began - skin.  

I now love the challenges that come with this, 

(something I did not enjoy much 

way back when I first began painting).

If I may be allowed to be a bit corny here; I didn't want to paint this piece until I knew I was going to be putting my best foot forward (pun intended).  

Not until this last year have I finally started to see the lost edges and ambiguity coming forth in my work that I had always knew I could produce.  It is funny how styles emerge.  When first beginning to paint, I started out rendering very tight realism.  The longer I plug away at it, the braver I get with loosening things up......now that I am getting there, I wonder why I was so cautious about it and didn't start doing this earlier....it's very freeing and fun to not be so careful!

Countless times my reference photo must have gotten pulled from my box of pictures since I took it, never wanting to tackle this piece until I had achieved the style I somehow knew was brewing within;  I think it must be like that old advertisement:

  (if you are from the west coast you may remember)

it was the one put out by Robert Mondavi back in the 1980's or 90's whose slogan was:   

"We shall sell no wine before it's time".  

Well here is my slogan:

"I shall paint no painting until I am darn good and ready!"

During a recent dinner gathering at our home, I was giving my mandatory studio tour to the fam-damily and my dear Mother commented that she found this piece offensive (for lack of a better word she said).  She did not care for the position of the model as it suggested her nudity and Mom being the conservative type would rather have the girl in a more lady-like pose.  (She never holds anything back when critiquing my work - love that about Mom!)  But, I told her that this then, was for me proof that the piece is a success....it made the viewer "think" about it a bit rather than just move on to the next piece! 

I had always intended to call the piece Not Nude, from the time I took the photo......and it was suggested after my mother's reaction by my wonderfully witty husband that I consider calling it

Knot Nude

 instead.....emphasizing the peculiarity of the model's pose.

Knot Nude

18" x 24"

Acrylic on cradle board

My model was actually donning a skimpy tank top and short shorts in the photo, but strategically positioned as you can see, it leaves one wondering - I hope anyway - as that was my intention.

I am sure in the future my style will evolve even further 

and years from now I will look back on this piece 

and think of it much in the same way as I do of the earlier work  that I look back on today......

"my how my style has changed"

(and hopefully be pleased with the direction it took)!

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Captive Angst........

I am fortunate to live in an area of the country where eagles abound, both the bald and the golden eagles. From my home perched high upon a ridge overlooking the canal, daily I witness their amazing grace.  I've watched them lock talons and plummet towards the earth in what would appear a suicidal wish, only to part and return to a safer altitude seconds before a fatality occurs. It's true in the animal kingdom too - what you won't do you will do for love - it's all a part of the mating ritual for them.....eek!

Even with a wingspan of up to 7.5 feet,

it's almost comical the way they can

be intimidated by the very territorial

pair of crows which guard our ridge here.

The crows are relentless in pestering these

majestic birds to the point of (I am certain) 

ad nauseam.

In a previous blog* I had referred to a Birds of Prey sanctuary which had me taking tons of photographs and walking away very inspired.  And depressed.  While it was a wonderful place for these birds to recover (and/or live out their days if necessary due to injury), the empathy I felt for these great creatures was immense.
*see previous blog entitled; Housekeeping as Inspiration  under the month of MAY- cuz I am just sure you were wondering so you can zoom over there just as soon as you finish this blog....go ahead - I know you want to, the blog list is just to the right .

Later, in conversation with my nephew,  he shared a photo he had shot of this golden eagle at a rehab center near him.  I just knew when I saw the photo I would HAVE to paint this one!  This great creature's look/stance just screamed to me the frustration and boredom that he must have been feeling towards all things "humanoid", as though he was completely aware of the fact that if not for the stupidity of some human activity he wouldn't have been required to be here!  Most of the paintings I have seen of these magnificent birds are done in a more regal pose, and I was immediately drawn to the peculiarity of this one.

 I did change the background from what was in the photo......he was originally up against a chain linked fence at a different angle and perched on a well worn beam.  I chose a rock for a more natural perch and moved the fence for a more balanced composition .....hey - artistic license, what can I say? 

 Did I succeed I wonder?

Though this is a very monochromatic piece, I am always surprised when  I use a limited palette.   So many colors actually appear in the finished painting.  For this piece I only used variations of four colors......

and a little dab of yellow just for his eyes.

 I truly hadn't a clue about how I was planning on building up the area on the back side of the fence so I blindly proceeded (how professional).   Using different brushes, a sponge, and eventually a palette knife which I used to scrape down and move pigment.  This experimentation netted a look I was pleased with.  I then set out to render the posts and the chain link......all the while reminding myself to stop short of finishing it all the way - "we wanted just a suggestion of a fence, leaving something for the viewer to imagine". 

 I'm glad I stopped where I did, happy with this innuendo of a fence.  Now on to our bird with the attitude.....

Did you know; the golden eagle is 
North America's largest bird of prey? 

#1

 #1)  Beginning with his head, I exaggerated the blue on his beak (just because I liked it) and then proceeded with the eye. The eye is the one place that can either make or break your piece.

#2

#3

#4

#2) #3) and #4)  
What began as an attempt to loosen up my style, quickly became a challenge to accurately mix the colors for each feather of our star of the show, 

(and in doing so, clearly lost sight of my goal to loosen it up).  

For the most part I was able to match colors to the photo and discovered after the paint dried that the accuracy was improved  further by going back over many of them with a glaze or two of a slightly altered shade of the same hue.  I found myself almost hypnotized with the feathers as I painted them. 
( I know....weird )

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Interesting fact: the golden eagle has over 2,000 feathers, from small downy ones for keeping the bird warm when it's riding the often freezing thermals to large broad flight feathers.

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Here's something cool: on my way-to-fancy-for-me-smartphone-camera under the editing feature there is an option (among many others) which will change the picture to its negative.  I just thought this was nifty looking and who knows, maybe someday it will inspire me to actually do a negative piece?

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Bet you didn't know this: extremely swift, golden eagles can dive upon their quarry at speeds of almost 200 miles per hour!

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.....and finally #5 
after fiddling with a few minor details 
and adding my signature:

Captive Angst

     18" x 24"    

Acrylic on rag paper mounted to cradled wood panel

(in case anybody really wanted to know)..... 

and I see here #5 is a little washed out, color-wise, compared to the previous two.  A truer color match to the original painting is #3 or #4 (and thanks blogspot for screwing with my metadata....cuz it couldn't be myyyyyy fault!).

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 Thanks Kyle, for allowing me 

the honor of using your beautiful photo 

as inspiration for this piece.

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