On my Easel

Two Ladies of the Ukraine by Jeffrey R Watts

 

This is a painting I just finished for Oil Painters of Americas National show.   It is a bit of a departure from my usual textural approach.  I wanted to work a bit more on the edge manipulation, especially around the head.  Good to exercise your rendering chops every once and awhile.  Overall I like the feel.  Hope you enjoy. 

What's on the Easel

This is my most recent studio painting.  It is a 40”X30” Oil painting titled “Old Timer” and took about two weeks to paint.   Originally I had intended for this piece to go to the Portrait Society of America Show but decided last minute to send it as my second piece for this year’s Prix de West Show in Oklahoma.  I originally shot the reference photo for this painting at the Del Mar Race Track.  I received permission from a friend to go behind the scenes early one morning where the jockeys and trainers were preparing the horses for the day’s races.  I happened upon this old gent sitting and having his morning coffee.  He looked at me rather puzzled and slightly annoyed when I asked if I could take a photo of him.  The nice thing is he simply sat there without posing at all.  Usually the person will sport a huge smile but not this guy.  I guess it’s not his first rodeo.  I am sure this old cowboy has seen a lot.  I have included some preliminary sketches, the gouache study and the tighter drawing.  This is indicative of how I often work. Generally you cannot stage these spontaneous shoots perfectly.  It does require many years of training to convincingly superimpose numerous reference shots into one painting and still make it look natural and realistic.  That is why we train so hard at the Atelier.  Hope you enjoy.

What's on the Easel

The painting I am presently working on is titled “Pepper Falls” 24X30 oil on lead primed canvas.  This painting is being done from a piece of reference I took on a recent trip to Teton National Park in the Bridger Wilderness.  We were hiking up to an overlook called “Crow’s Nest” at an elevation of 10,000 feet.  On the way up I was scampering around looking for photo opportunities when after shooting I noticed I had lost a nice pair of sun glasses.  Later that afternoon after hiking all day I decided to look around at the location where I last remembered having them on the outside chance I would find them.  I did not have much hope.  However, our guide, who also happens to be a Sheriff in Jackson Hole, had his drug sniffing dog on the trip with us.  Her name is “Pepper” and as I pulled off the trail to give it one more look before heading into camp I asked Pepper to come help find the glasses.  Sure enough she led me right to them.  That is where I got the title for this piece.