vyd zverkhou I as it looked at the end of my painting day today
vyd zverkhou II as it looked at the end of my painting day today
3:56 PM: today i worked on both vyd zverkhou paintings; l & II. I recreated II yesterday, and took it further today, whreas i hadn’t touched I since i first created it.
vyd zverkhou II reborn 24x28”, oil on linen as it looked moments ago, at the end of my painting day
3:59 PM: the original vyd zverkhou II was painted over. i didn’t like what happened and tried to scrub it out, but what remained was to messed up, so i decided this morning to start fresh, using photos of the original as a guide.
i think that was a smart move, because as i’m painting the new one i remember my moves from the original, and am inspired to improve on what i did. thus far, it’s looking more developed as a composition as well as coloristically. it’s interesting that i went much later than usual because i had the juice. it’s complex without being overloaded or busy. this experience makes me want to do something like this with a few other recent paintings.
i’ll pick up where i left off in the morning.
with my Mom in Brooklyn
THANK YOU!!! to all of you who remembered my birthday today. it means a lot, and makes me feel more connected. as some of you may be aware, i was supposed to be born may 12th, but i was facing the wrong way and after a couple of days of maneuvering, the docs decided a C-Section was the only viable solution. and out i came!
so what are we doing for my birthday? what we do every day; mikela is out at the valley high schools, working with the kids & i’m here in my studio painting & posting.
actually, i’m getting kinda tired so i may clean my brushes, walk back to the house & lie down. right now it’s looking like it might rain soon, so if i’m quick i can get home without getting wet.
12:28 PM: so i made my first round of changes earlier this morning, working mostly on the lower 1/3 of the composition.
still life with refugees 42x42” as it looked moments ago with the appearance of two colorful birds.
i resumed work this morning on still life with refugees, which has undergone many transformations. the latest is the appearance of birds. thus far there are two, but more may be flying in…we can’t tell…
a few nights ago about 25 crestonites, all over 60, got together at the home of a dear friend to celebrate some of our may birthdays. we had dinner, caught up on news and then sat down with an excellent guitar & harmonica player and sang. it was beautiful, and brought tears to my eyes. here’s a short video clip.
BELOW: study in oil on board of a fayum portrait i made on site, at the British Museum in London, with generous support from the Director.
study of a fayum portrait i made in the British Museum, London, which now hangs in our house
TARLOW: drummer, oil on linen, 80x35” hanging in our living room
RIGHT: painting of a drummer in oil on linen, hanging in our living room
still life with refugees un-greyed 42x42”
vyd zverkhou un-greyed
6:54 PM: i decided to un-grey both of them. too dark.
VYD ZVERKHOU II after having been greyed over this morning.
12:29 PM: this morning i mixed up grey oils and painted them over about 80% of vyd zverkhou II. and then i painted 7 letters of the ukrainian alphabet, in caps, into the still wet grey. it gave the painting a new identity, and it’s as if the ukrainian letters are announcing it. the figures of the guitar player and the drummer are prominant., and little bits of pink and blue peek through from the pre-greyed composition.
still life with refugees 42x42” oil & collage on linen after being greyed over this morning
as well, i broght the newly stretched sill life with refugees back form the house, where we’d been evaluating it for the past few days. my eye bounced around like a ping pong ball whenever i glanced at it.
the figures of the skateboarding girl and the walking plaid shirted guy now transmit an entirely different energy. and the ukrainian letters have appeared in this one as well. it’s hard to describe what they add to the entire composition, but it works.
VYD ZVERKHOU II " flipped this morning adjested moments ago, at 4:30pm
1:03 PM: when i entered my studio this morning on a cloudy, cold rainy morning and cast my first glance at the two new paintings i’ve been making over the past few days, i was bored. not good.
so, having had an excellent sleep last night and full of contrarian (is this a word?) playfulness, i flipped VYD ZVERKHOU I 360° and began painting into it, using a few of my musician photos as guides, and my paper towels as blotters and subtle mark makers.
BIRTHDAYS a group of about 25 of us who have mid-may birthdays are gathering at af friend’s home for a dinner/celebration this evening, so that should be fun.
vyd zverkhu I as it looked following todays session
vyd zverkhu II following todays work
2:31 pm: today i continued work on both VYD ZVERKHU I & II. it’s always helpful for me to go back & forth, so that discoveries i make on one can migrate to the other. thusfar, that’s especially true, for these two, which now look like brother & sister.
vyd zverkhu ii 24x28” oil on linen, as she looked at the end of my painting day today
2:55 PM: after starting the drawing for VYD ZVERKHU II yesterday, i began introducing color to the drummer this afternoon. it’s too early to get a sense of the composition as a whole, but the drawing, in grey pencil, will give you a hint.
i’m still unsure about vyd zverkhu i and whether to leave her as is or continue working. that’s one of the great advantages of starting a new one; it allows me to continue assesing and perhaps be influenced by discovieries i may make in this new one.
as matisse said, let the painting tell you where it wants to go. (i’m paraphrasing)
my son dimitri sent me this photo of a painting made by my 2 year old grand daughter in the benaki museum, where they provide kids with painting materials, smocks, etc.
1:17 PM: VYD ZVERKHU is ukranian for view from above, which is the title of my new series of 24x28” paintings in oil on linen, which i started today. (VYD is pronounced voéet) so this is VYD ZVERKHOU 1.
