New Painting of My Son Ryan



This is where I ended up today.  See more images below to see how I got this far.



Aloha everyone and thank you for visiting my blog!

I am working on several new paintings currently, but I have chosen this one to blog about. It has nothing to do with the South Pacific or Hawaii. It is not a place, but it is a special person in my life. It is a portrait of my son Ryan who is now 17 years old, however, I took this picture of him when he was about 3 years old. I love this picture of him.

I am currently teaching people portraits in one of my art classes and I thought I really need to do this painting of my son. This image has been pulling me for awhile.

I also miss my son who is away living at a US military camp attending a 5 month long high school program. What a great experience for him. I am proud of how focused he is and his great attitude. He is motivated to do something good with his life. As a mother we all wish for our children to grow up and contribute to society in a positive way.  He does make me proud.  He is a wonderful young man. Okay enough personal stories, but this is another reason I felt it is time to paint him, plus I am sharing the progress of this painting with him via snail mail.  I like to kill 2 birds with one stone whenever possible.

I started with a white canvas measuring 11”x14.” It is gallery wrap canvas so I will paint the edges. With a gallery wrap canvas there is no need to purchase a frame, it is optional. By the way, I try and use canvases that are the same size as standard frames. Meaning you can buy frames already made to fit your canvas.  It cost a lot less money versus having a custom frame made. I also paint a lot so it is good to be able to switch my same size paintings in and out of frames that I already own.

(You can click on the images to see the image enlarged)

Step one; I paint the canvas with grey gesso. This dries quickly. I then scan in the image of my original photograph. I do not want to mark up my original photo. Plus it makes my life easier to do grid method if I crop and size a new version of this photo to better fit the 11”x14” canvas. If you divide 11” by 2 you get 5.5” and if you divide 14” by 2 you get 7”. I crop and size my scanned image to fit this dimension exactly. So the printed picture measures 5.5”x7.” I draw lines using my T-square on the canvas and make 2” squares horizontal and vertical. On my photocopy I make similar lines or squares in 1” marks. This is half the size of the canvas. The canvas and photocopy now have the same number of boxes. I number the boxes on the canvas and on the photo. I then draw my image with a number 2 pencil (lightly) to match what I see on my photocopy (do not use charcoal pencil it smears in your paint).  I find this to be a very quick and accurate way to get my image on the canvas. It also helps improves ones drawing skill.

 I have done portraits with straight color but I do prefer starting in gray tones. I find it easier to correct my drawing as I go along and it helps me see the values of light, medium and dark. This is a good exercise to strengthen ones artistic eye to see values. I also think it is cool to see your painting come alive like a black and white photograph. Flesh tones are a little more challenging so starting in black and white lays down a foundation to place the color on top of later.

I see some errors in my initial drawing and my gray scale painting. I fix the angle of his ear and the front of his face needs adjusting. I shrink the chin and lips. I do this with more gray/white paint but I also shrink the features of the face with yellow paint that I am thinking will be my sky color, however, I will probably tone it down or make it another color entirely.


I often times use my paint brush or ruler as a sighting tool to compare angles from my photograph to the painting itself. You can catch mistakes this way.

In all I took about 2.5 hours.

I will blog once a week until this painting is complete.

Kathy McCartney

Artist and Art Teacher

www.mccartneyfineart.com

www.mauivision.com

My trip to Kauai Jan 2011 and Painting "Little R&R Hawaiian Style"

February 9, 2011

I recently stayed in beautiful Kauai, Hawaii January 2011.  My fiancé and I stayed 4 days in Princeville and 4 days in Kekaha.   How I love this island!  We missed a big storm that hit Kauai earlier.  The run off from the mountains causes the red soil to mix with the ocean and makes it murky.  Only on some of the beaches and it is temporary.  The waves were also slamming the first two days of our trip.  We saw whales beyond the mist and crash of waves in the distance.  The temperature averaged 78 degrees most of the time with a quick sprinkle here and there but it remained mostly dry.  Paradise!  When the ocean calmed down we were able to see so many whales with the naked eye!  They were having fun.  My last day I spent walking on Kekaha Beach and I saw a whale breach (jump out of the water) 18 times.  I couldn't believe it.  Just like the whale I painted in my recent painting (pictured below last image).  

The people in Kauai are very nice.  Everyone takes the time to talk story with you.  And I love to ask some of the transplants where did you come from originally and why did you move here (like duh).  I love their stories.  At least three different people told me they were on vacation here and decided never to return to the mainland.  They left everything behind and didn’t get back on the plane.  I admit I’m not that ballsy!  These people did admit to not having kids at the time to care for.  So that made the choice easier.  I have felt that same calling sensation or ache in my heart to stay.  And some day I will go there and stay however, with a little bit of a plan and a mixture of trust in the Aloha Spirit to guide me. 

I met a talented artist in historic Koloa town named Christian Riso he owns an art gallery and frame shop.  I enjoyed his story about the roosters.  He paints many things including this bird.  They are all over the island looking plump, healthy and colorful.  I think they are too beautiful to eat.  They are free spirits and are not afraid to fly up and try to take a sandwich out of your hand if they can!  This artist said that he will build a shrine in their honor because they have been his money making bird.  That was funny!  But people like to buy the rooster prints and paintings because it reminds them of Kauai.

Attached are a few pictures from my Kauai, Hawaii trip.  I didn't take pictures of the whales they move to fast for my slow camera to capture!

Tunnel Beach, Kauai, Hawaii

Polihale Beach Park, Kauai, Hawaii

Monk Seal resting and yes alive!

Monk Seal resting ALL day!

Poipu Beach, Kauai, Hawaii

Tunnel's Beach, Kauai, Hawaii

Waimea Canyon, Kauai, Hawaii

Tunnel Beach BIG waves

Nene Goose Hawaiian State Bird in Kauai, Hawaii

The chickens and rooster who lived freely in the back yard of our Kekaha Beach home

Little R & R Hawaiian Style Painting

Now back to my big painting “Little R&R Hawaiian Style.”  Oh I feel like I a fibber for posting I was done with this particular painting.  I should know better!  This was a live blog challenge for me.  Whenever I do a painting, and any artist for that matter, it is important to let the painting sit for a week or more before you call it done.  I did feel like this painting was complete for the blog challenge, but every day I looked at the painting and felt there was something missing.  I was too busy to return to the painting until just now.  The painting felt flat.  It lacked intensity in color and contrast.  When the bright colors dry they sometimes get flat or darker.  I felt her flesh highlights needed more warmth.  The skirt and head lei needed more intensity as well.  I wanted a bright cheery painting with a lot of complimentary colors.  I brightened the red on her waist band and top.  The contrast of light and dark are important to get that pop and three dimensional feel.  I darkened the wet sand to make the water stand out and to not compete with the color of the skirt.  I could add something in the sand next to her.  But I don't feel like it.  So it is done.  Besides this painting can be cropped later for prints etc.

Kathy McCartney, artist at Secret Beach, Kauai, Hawaii

Oh and I visited the town Hanapepe, a small quaint historic town where they love to talk story.  This town Hanapepe, Kauai, Hawaii is home to the characters Lilo and Stitch.  Friday night is art night and this town attracts the artist and many visitors.  This town is Kauai's big art community.

I LOVE this movie "Lilo and Stitch" it is a classic in my book.  I don't care how old I am it is one of my favorite movies still today!  I must say, it was cool to visit the town that help inspire the movie.

Aloha!

Kathy McCartney

My trip to Kauai Jan 2011 and Painting "Little R&R Hawaiian Style"

February 9, 2011

I recently stayed in beautiful Kauai, Hawaii January 2011.  My fiancé and I stayed 4 days in Princeville and 4 days in Kekaha.   How I love this island!  We missed a big storm that hit Kauai earlier.  The run off from the mountains causes the red soil to mix with the ocean and makes it murky.  Only on some of the beaches and it is temporary.  The waves were also slamming the first two days of our trip.  We saw whales beyond the mist and crash of waves in the distance.  The temperature averaged 78 degrees most of the time with a quick sprinkle here and there but it remained mostly dry.  Paradise!  When the ocean calmed down we were able to see so many whales with the naked eye!  They were having fun.  My last day I spent walking on Kekaha Beach and I saw a whale breach (jump out of the water) 18 times.  I couldn't believe it.  Just like the whale I painted in my recent painting (pictured below last image).  

The people in Kauai are very nice.  Everyone takes the time to talk story with you.  And I love to ask some of the transplants where did you come from originally and why did you move here (like duh).  I love their stories.  At least three different people told me they were on vacation here and decided never to return to the mainland.  They left everything behind and didn’t get back on the plane.  I admit I’m not that ballsy!  These people did admit to not having kids at the time to care for.  So that made the choice easier.  I have felt that same calling sensation or ache in my heart to stay.  And some day I will go there and stay however, with a little bit of a plan and a mixture of trust in the Aloha Spirit to guide me. 

I met a talented artist in historic Koloa town named Christian Riso he owns an art gallery and frame shop.  I enjoyed his story about the roosters.  He paints many things including this bird.  They are all over the island looking plump, healthy and colorful.  I think they are too beautiful to eat.  They are free spirits and are not afraid to fly up and try to take a sandwich out of your hand if they can!  This artist said that he will build a shrine in their honor because they have been his money making bird.  That was funny!  But people like to buy the rooster prints and paintings because it reminds them of Kauai.

Attached are a few pictures from my Kauai, Hawaii trip.  I didn't take pictures of the whales they move to fast for my slow camera to capture!

Tunnel Beach, Kauai, Hawaii

Polihale Beach Park, Kauai, Hawaii

Monk Seal resting and yes alive!

Monk Seal resting ALL day!

Me at Secret Beach, Kauai, Hawaii

Poipu Beach, Kauai, Hawaii

Tunnel's Beach, Kauai, Hawaii

Waimea Canyon, Kauai, Hawaii

Tunnel Beach BIG waves

Chickens and rooster who lived freely in the backyard of our rented home in Kekaha

Nene Goose Hawaii State Bird

Little R & R Hawaiian Style Painting

Now back to my big painting “Little R&R Hawaiian Style.”  Oh I feel like I a fibber for posting I was done with this particular painting.  I should know better!  This was a live blog challenge for me.  Whenever I do a painting, and any artist for that matter, it is important to let the painting sit for a week or more before you call it done.  I did feel like this painting was complete for the blog challenge, but every day I looked at the painting and felt there was something missing.  I was too busy to return to the painting until just now.  The painting felt flat.  It lacked intensity in color and contrast.  When the bright colors dry they sometimes get flat or darker.  I felt her flesh highlights needed more warmth.  The skirt and head lei needed more intensity as well.  I wanted a bright cheery painting with a lot of complimentary colors.  I brightened the red on her waist band and top.  The contrast of light and dark are important to get that pop and three dimensional feel.  I darkened the wet sand to make the water stand out and to not compete with the color of the skirt.  I could add something in the sand next to her.  But I don't feel like it.  So it is done.  Besides this painting can be cropped later for prints etc.

Oh and I visited the town Hanapepe, a small quaint historic town where they love to talk story.  This town Hanapepe, Kauai, Hawaii is home to the characters Lilo and Stitch.  Friday night is art night and this town attracts the artist and many visitors.  This town is Kauai's big art community.

I LOVE this movie "Lilo and Stitch" it is a classic in my book.  I don't care how old I am it is one of my favorite movies still today!  I must say, it was cool to visit the town that help inspire the movie.

Little R & R Hawaiian Style

I thought I was done with this painting.  It was a blog challenge to do this live and quick. I let this painting sit for over two weeks and went back to it I knew that I needed more detail work.  This is often the case with painting.  I have signed this image but to the left of her I am thinking I might place a flower lei. 

I did spend another 30 minutes putting in wet sand and adding highlights to her skin, hair, head lei, and brightening up the hula skirt.  I worked on the whales spouting adding more highlight to the mist.  This picture was taken indoors under bright lights and no flash.

Painting is Finished - "Little R and R Hawaiian Style"

Day 12 and 13 – Finished! I worked on this painting two different days a total of 4 hours or close to that. When you first start a painting it feels easy, but when you get down to the final stages of editing and detailing the process of painting slows down. I feel good about this painting and so I will stop fussing over it. I want to keep it simple and whimsical. I want to bring the viewer to a place and time of relaxation and feeling good. Imagine sitting on soft warm sand in Hawaii during winter. Here is a beautiful place where it is still mild and warm with many sunny tropical days to linger. It is also a treat to see the whales vacationing and playing off the Pacific coast so close to the beach that there is no need for binoculars to view them.

The painting is still wet in some spots. In California it has been raining a lot but this morning no rain, so I took it outdoors to photograph without the flash and the glare is not noticeable on the wet parts of the painting. I will have it professionally photographed and color corrected to match the actual painting closer. The mid section of the water should be greener the photo I took does not reflect it well.

I spent 20 to 21 hours on this painting from day 1 to 13.

The painting is large 48”x48” you feel as if you could walk into the canvas. There is no need for a frame as the edge is 1.5” thick and I will paint the edge one solid color like blue or…Not sure yet. I will wire the back of the canvas so it is ready to hang. After the holidays, I will display and mark this painting for sale at Art on the Lane - 178 East Prospect Avenue - Danville, CA. The cost of this painting is $2,400 US dollars.

When this art is completely dry, I will have it photographed one more time and upload to my personal art website as well as these sites:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/TropicalExpression (buy my original oil painting art on sale)

http://www.imagekind.com/MemberProfile.aspx?MID=62082af4-a7da-4340-94fb-faa7c9d33241 (buy giclee canvas or paper prints and have the art work framed and shipped to your house)

http://www.greetingcarduniverse.com/TropicalExpressions?ref=cb_art (Order Greeting Cards 5"x7")

http://www.facebook.com/pages/McCartney-Fine-Art/106690719394749?v=app_4949752878&ref=sgm

Please visit and like my page as it does something for me in magical Face Book Land I'm still unclear as to what though if you know please enlighten me :)

Thank you for your support!

Kathy

Day 11 – I feel like I’m almost done. I still need to work on the flower head lei, the hair and the whales (I just started the outlines of their bodies). If you look in the distant waters you can see the whales spouting. I will have 3 whales in all. I’ve always wanted a painting with more sea critters and I do like whales and dolphins. It is whale watching season along the California coast and as far south as Mexico and Hawaii. And after spending time in Laguna Beach this past November I feel inspired to paint the whales.


Today I spent over 2 hours working on the girls face, hands, flower head lei, skirt, hair and the beginning of the whales. I also darkened the distant ocean and created more motion in the water. I fussed over details today.


At this point I need to take a step back from the painting and get some holiday things done. It is also good to wait a few days so I can come back to the painting with fresh new eyes. I need to evaluate it and complete the last details.


I will not be posting for a short spell while, but I will return and I should have this whimsical painting done before the holidays!

Day 8, 9 and Day 10 Painting - Time for R and R

Progress end day 8

Progress end day 10

Day 8, 9, and 10


Aloha! I just merged the three days together because I wanted to show more progress.

Day 8 - I worked the water, the hula skirt and top. I also glazed the skin with a mixture of burnt umber and burnt sienna. I work about 1.5 hours.

Day 9 - I work on the flesh tone bringing out more lights and dark with a mixture of white, burnt sierra, alizarin crimson and yellow ochre. For the dark shadows I add to the mentioned mixture burnt umber and a touch of whatever blue and green is on my palette. After I place the lights and darks on the body I lightly blend the edges together gently and this creates my middle values and further defines the shapes. I spent about 2 hours

Day 10 - After the skin is dry I glaze one thin layer of burnt sienna all over the body to bring the skin color in balance. I work on the flower head lei and add the long hair. I still have more work to do on the hair and lei. I also added the shadow under the hula skirt I will soften the shadow later plus work on the hands and face.  I worked another hour today.

It is hard to get a good picture when the canvas is wet. And I am using a flash so it creates a glare on the canvas. I normally would take the canvas outdoors to photograph to prevent the glare and avoid the flash. However, the canvas is large 48”x48” so I leave it indoors to photograph. When this painting is done and dry, I will have it professionally photographed and that will be the last photo I upload.

I am thinking I should have this young woman looking at something in the distance. I could add to this painting a familiar landmark a distant island perhaps and maybe some whales. I spent time in Laguna Beach during the Thanksgiving holidays recently. My fiancé and our grown kids stayed at the Hotel Laguna. It is next door to Wyland’s Art Gallery and home. How lucky he is to live right on the beach! Wyland is also an artist I have long admired since high school. While I was sitting on the beach I noticed whales swimming in the distant waters and it seems they were swimming right in front of Wyland’s gallery (two different days). Some of you may have heard of Wyland, he has made a name for himself in the art world by painting the “Whaling Walls.” He has a goal to complete 100 murals by year 2011. I’m not clear if he has met his goal or how close he is to meeting this number. Year 1995 he had completed 50 murals worldwide.

I visited the gallery and purchased his book “Whale Tales - Tales from America’s Leading Marine Life Artist” copyright date is 1995. This book was an excellent read. I feel like I now know the man behind the art. It is an easy read, interesting, adventurous, and explains the struggles and politics to get his 50 Whaling Walls painted. He also writes his story with humor. Wyland collaborated with freelance writer Mark Doyle in the writing of this book:  Whale Tales: Tales from America's Leading Marine Life Artist

I learned that this artist has a lot of energy to accomplish his dreams! He started his art at a young age and stayed focused. He was raised by a single mother in Detroit Michigan. He was a struggling young artist and came from humble beginnings. I love the start of the book when he describes his first blue collar jobs which he failed at miserably. I felt sorry for him and yet also found the stories funny.

When I was in high school, I first heard about this artist Wyland, and I had a small crush on him because he is handsome and talented etc. then when I got older I would sometimes wonder if Wyland was gay or straight. This is only because I never saw him pictured with a woman and I never head about him being in a relationship with anyone actually. After reading this book I discovered he is straight. He is just too busy to have any long steady relationship. This man is a hardworking, ambitious artist on a mission to bring attention to the world the need to save the whales, ocean and other sea life. I agree. We need to preserve the beauty of this planet and protect our precious forests and wilderness. We are all connected.

I also purchased his video “Wyland Artist of the Sea – hosted by Lloyd Bridges” I could not find it for sale on Amazon. However, I’m sure any of his DVDs are good and educational. I highly recommend the two items I purchased in the art gallery.  They are both excellent!

Whale Tales: Tales from America's Leading Marine Life Artist