Works in Progress

“We work in the dark…”

| ssemchuk

November 23, 2014

“We work in the dark – we do what we can – we give what we have. Our doubt is our passion and our passion is our task. The rest is the madness of art.” – Henry James

Bellis II WIP
Bellis II WIP, Nov 22, 2014, Oil on Canvas, 28″ X 28″

 

In September I was away from home working at our annual convention. On the first morning with my room service breakfast, I was brought a small little daisy in a tiny glass vase. Sitting there with the morning sunlight coming through the window I loved how peaceful it looked. So I photographed it. I continued to take photos as the poor little thing slowly died. This is the second of what I intend to be a series of six images. I don’t think they’ll read exactly like a progression – that’s not what I’m working towards and the treatment I intend for each of them varies. I’m somewhat daunted by what I will be attempting with a couple of them, but I figure that regardless of how they turn out, I am committed to finish all six and if nothing else, it will be a learning experience. I’m also starting to play around with a few new oil paint mediums. I enjoy working with Gamblin’s Cold Wax Medium, and with the beginning of this piece I’ve tried out Gamblin’s Galkyd. Not sure I like it, but I will play some more and suspend my decision for awhile yet.

“Everything isn’t a joke, but it’s all pretty funny.”

| ssemchuk

November 9, 2014

Quote courtesy of Alex Cornell in Break Through – as quoted by Dan Cassaro

Stark Lemons WIP
Stark Lemons, Nov 9, 2014, Oil on Canvas, 36″ X 24″

Still not finished with this one, but still working on it. I paint late at night at least once a week when I can arrange my schedule with an opportunity to sleep in the next morning. I love being in my own little corner of the universe, painting away content on focusing on my own thing and knowing that my family is all asleep upstairs. I usually begin about 10pm and try to wrap up by about 2am knowing that it will be another hour before I’m in bed after the clean up of my brushes and just settling in and maybe reading a book for a few minutes. Last night I started about quarter to 10 – a little early. I recall looking at the clock at 2 and thinking I should finish up and then I looked up again and it was almost 4am. I’m not sure where that time went, but it was already gone. So it was a very late night and a short day today as a result. But Tuesday is a holiday and I have fun things planned for tomorrow night. It’s all good.

“This might end up in crying….”

| ssemchuk

November 2, 2014

“This might end up in crying. If you’re not prepared to cry about it, I’m not sure you’re making art. And if you’re not prepared to dance in anticipation, you’re definitely not making art.”
– Seth Godin in The Icarus Deception

I did not have a lot of time this weekend to give to this painting, but I did play around with the one lemon some. Next weekend should be better…

Stark Lemons
Stark Lemons, Nov 1, 2014, Oil on Canvas, 24″ X 36″

 

“Art is propaganda for what really matters.”

| ssemchuk 
October 26, 2014

Started something new last night. It may take a while to finish as I am working hard to prep some paintings for a local art show that I’m participating in next month. This is from a photo that I took specifically in reference to a painting of oranges that I was sure was either Gauguin or Cezanne, but of course I can’t find it now. By the time I am finished this painting, I will find and link my inspiration… In the meantime I hope you enjoy this post and the YouTube video from which I pulled my blog post title this week.

Stark Lemons
Stark Lemons, Oct 25, 2014, Oil on Canvas, 24″ X 36″