New paintings!

Okay, so haven't added to this in a while. But since I can't figure out how to update my website at the moment, I am going to post some new work! Let me know what you think. So, from the top-down, the dimensions are 22" x 23", 41" x 40", and 48" x 72". The latter 2 will be shown at the Michigan Fine Arts Competition, opening on April 2nd!!

So I guess this blog should change titles. . . I am not in Europe anymore, so therefore am not painting in the EU. Nope, I moved to Washington DC 9 weeks ago to start graduate school at American University. It will be a two year program, and so far, so good.

This is the first piece I have finished. It is 4' x 6' oil. I had a lot of fun painting this one, it was enjoyable composing it with the strong horizontals and her legs disrupting the entire flow.

Last Painting from France

So last painting of the three.  This one is of a festa that I saw in Panzano, Italy.

France Paintings

Okay so here is what I have got so far.  Hopefully I will get the third done in the next couple days.  With only a week left, I am getting nervous about the drying time.  The first two are details of the third, and then I posted the finished version of the one I previously posted.  These two focus on a series of fetes that take place in the area I am staying.  Festivals that highlight the man's control over horse/bull is the overall theme of these fetes, and they have been taking place for generations.  I also was fascinated with shapes of different frescos of this area as well as what I had seen in Italy.  The whole idea of extreme preservation of the frescos led me to connect that with the extreme care and preservation of the traditional fetes.  Therefore, the images I chose, I placed within the shapes of the local frescos.  Just an idea I am playing with at the moment.  Let me know what you think!

France photos

Couple of photos from France. The first was taken in a village close to where I am staying. I obviously didn't get the memo about the blue tank tops and matched an entire tour group from Germany. They kept looking at me and wondering when I showed up. I was just missing the black baseball cap.
The second is one of the other artists here (from Ireland) and I in front of one of the cabins. Yes, we live in cabins. I have found that even though I love the outdoors, I could really do without spiders in my bed.

The last is of the amphitheatre in Arles. Not quite as impressive as the colosseum in Rome, but nonetheless monumentous.

Better photo

Sorry for the horrendous photo of the last painting.  I didn't know it was that crappy.  Here it is thus far, hopefully a better shot.  

Sketches and New Painting

Here are a few sketches I did here in France, and the start of the new painting.