This is the first of two paintings, for a friend's cottage. They're from photographs I took years ago. His dad made the chairs. I've spent three days painting this one, and have only done a small area. I think it's going to take a while...
Paint clings to wood by a simple osmosis,
red is the colour of choice,
I heard you say 'flame' as the smoke rose above us,
in a clear and melodious voice.
'a bone in the garden of total eclipses', #542 verse:7
This is the original photograph.
Slowly working on the leaves in the background. I haven't decided if I'm going to add any text to this or not. I need to find a verse I like to go with them, or write one, if I can't find one that exists already. This is layer one of at least three. (I ended up writing a poem to go with the painting, 'a bone in the garden of total eclipses'. I normally write the poem first, and then figure out what image would go with it. Sometimes I have a great object or photograph, but no text to go with it, so I do it the other way around.
I managed to get a bit more done.
Managed to get layer one on the entire chair. So far, so good.
Slowly working my way up through the leaf layer.
This painting has the word 'red' for the text, to go with the verse from the poem 'a bone in the garden of total eclipses'. The next painting of a red chair will have the word 'green'. Still a long way to go.
A bit more done. Eventually I'll finish the first layer of leaves, then I can repaint the whole thing two more times. I have done a little bit more work on the bottom right hand side.
Up 'til 2:30. Progress is slow, but I'll get there in the end.
Finally. Now I can start layer two.
A bit more done. Lots of late nights. Not finished yet. I am enjoying it.
Still working on the sky.
Finally finished. Well, it's signed, so it must be. Did some clouds for the sky. I've also started the red chair painting.
A better photo maybe. Finished.
Moss covers bone like a green velvet blanket,
there's nothing but entropy here,
wolves took the heart and the bones they could carry,
leaving us nothing but fear.
'a bone in the garden of total eclipses', #542 verse:4
Did the drawing, and painted the border blue.
This is the original photograph. This chair is in worse shape than the green one. I kind of like it like this.
Some of the leaves done. I like the way they look more than the ones on the green chair painting. They look more like leaves, and less like abstract shapes. Fun fun fun.
Stayed up late to finish the leaves. Layer one of three.
I really love the trees.
This is the top part of the painting. One layer of paint on everything so far, so it looks streaky from the brushstrokes. Layer two and three will smooth those out. I like it so far.
Everything with a base coat, except the lettering.
Turning up the volume on the colour.
More work on the background.
Finished. I want to do another one.