Make like a tree... WIP

As per Brandt's request, I am posting this latest one I'm working on, part of the show I will have out here in Albany next Spring.

I'm usually self-depreciating when it comes to my work, but not so with this one.  Everything seems to be clicking, and I'm really figuring out what is working best for me.  I'm questioning one thing, but I'd like to see what you guys say about it.

It's not a great pic.  I usually shoot outside for best results, but the weather here hasn't been optimal.  I just rigged up a stage for still life photoing in my room, and purchased a few 5,000 kelvin, 900 lumen bulbs.  I'm still trying to figure it out, as you can see (glare, fish eye), but at least the temp seems to be working.

Yes, the last leaf is yet to be done.

Finished

Does anyone else ever have completely bipolar relationships with their paintings? While working on this one, I would look at it one day and hate it and then love it another day. Anyway, I am finally okay with it. There are still things that bug me but I'm calling it done.

Worth it?

I have struggled with this painting ever since the drawing stage, and as you can tell, I am still struggling with drawing issues, so I am wondering if it is even worth pursuing at this point. I'll tell you my ideas for what it is supposed to be when it is finished. I planned to paint the hair realistically, then the black part will have stars (the night sky) and the colored squares will continue behind the circle in the top right hand corner and the sky circle would have some type of border. The part I can't stand about it right now is her arm and hand. Is it fixable? It is difficult to fix things at this point in my process since the sky background is collage, so if any of the edges have to change, I have to paint in the sky.

composition

i'm working on an environment concept piece that i really want to test my illustration chops on. the idea is somekind of decades old abandoned supertanker stranded in the desert that some nomads take up base inside. there's just this section that's exposed, with the bulk of it buried in the sand dunes, creating a dark underground space inside. this would be the exterior establishing shot. 

i came up with these composition mock-ups and would like to hear people's thoughts on which and why is most engaging. 

*also, who's in charge of the monster image in the blog header? can it be shrunk down to a quarter size or something so that we don't have scroll past it?

Sentinels

A few 8 x 10.  A few of you have already seen them.  Sticking with the burnt sienna, ultra blue, and yellow ochre.  I need a few embellishments to make them pop - texture etc.  Geoff, I'd love to see a paint over.

photo reference

Robh Ruppel had a great post about considering design when using photo ref: HERE

Robin Eggs

The latest...

Reincarnate

New Turkey carcass.  This one is 24" x 30".  The red glare at the bottom is from the "no-parking" curb I set it on to take the pic.

Lemon and a Bundaberg 6x8 in Oil on Canvasboard
At Tylers suggestion I am trying some quick small pieces.

The late great Tucker.

16X20 oil on canvas board

Family History

My parents have this stein that apparently has been in the family for some time. The contents of the paper is the stein's history

Reassembly

And I forgot the turkey carcass

I Think this Shot is Better

What do you guys think?

Idaho show

Here are the images I'm submitting to the Idaho Falls show. I had a grad student help me shoot them in the studio, and he was very helpful, but the colors/light seem too harsh to me, even after dumbing it down in post. Anyhoo, these are it.

I know you've seen this before, but here it is set. I think I'm going to paint out the stripes. The idea was to put s vein or marbling or something in the stone, but it doesn't look natural.