Loose

There are a lot of things I need to do, but being the main employee of your business - if something isn't done? You really do only have yourself to blame!

This week, my goal is to get the prints nailed down and ready to offer for immediate sale. In addition to that, I am working on two paintings at the moment. The first, as I had mentioned, was my Alice painting that I am finally getting back to. However, I hit a stopping point as one often does with oils, and needed a filler while I was waiting.

I had long thought about a painting with two castles, one light and one dark. So, this seemed the perfect time to give it a shot, considering I have the extra long canvas on hand! Even better? I'm shooting a time-lapse of this painting from white canvas to finished product!

What makes this painting different for me is that this one is very off the cuff. As you'll see from below, I have a light idea of what I'd like to see. But to be honest, the real concept is one that's developing as I paint it. It's not mapped out, and there is a lot of wiggle room. For example, I'm contemplating a little bit of lightning... we'll see.

Here are a couple snapshots from the time-lapse I'm shooting:

Sketched out... sorta

putting in the basic background, working from day to night.

Working on the moon (sun is on the other side, smaller)

Laying in the distant landscape outline

Putting in the distant mountains, and highlights.

I've never painted lightning before, but I'm contemplating how it might work with this painting... we'll see!

Moving Fast Forward!

It's been a productive day for me!  I've been working on my haunted house painting for what feels like forever. Just this week, I got hung up with a migraine on Tuesday, and then had what turned out to be a totally unproductive day on Wednesday for no particular reason. The house did get cleaned though, so there's that. However, I was determined to finish this painting!

Not only did I finish my painting today, I also figured out how to work the interval programming in my camera for an extended time-lapse session. Then I figured out how to make it into a video, and then I figured out how to post it!

So, without further ado my new YouTube channel for Kyra Wilson Studio can be found here: http://www.youtube.com/user/KyraWilsonStudios

I fully intend on posting many painting videos. I have the test below, it's only 40 seconds long, but I was able to see how it all worked (and once you get to the part when I'm working on the cat it gets more interesting.) It really let me see how it was all going to work, and I cannot wait to work on a painting from start to finish with it and see how it looks. The next video will actually be of the first painting in my Alice series which has been sitting on the back burner for quiet awhile. Unfortunately, I have started some painting on it, however there is a long way to go just yet, so it still should make for an interesting video. We'll have to see how long these videos end up being, and where I'll need to cut them down. I'm sure YouTube has a time-limit, I just haven't looked it up yet.

Here is the test video I made today:

 And here is the finished painting:

"Haunted Evening"

9 x 12 x 0.75", Gallery wrapped stretched canvas, sides painted.

I'll post it for sale once it's dry, but because it's oil, it's going to be awhile. However, I am very happy with how it turned out, and I'm extremely excited to move onto my Alice series and some of my others, as well as documenting a few with the time-lapse!

Switching Venues

I've taken a nice little clip of time off during the holidays, but I'm back to painting now.  It's a little odd how some time off can actually throw you off. I'd love to be one of those people who come back with more energy than ever, ready to go, but after an extended period I'm really one of those people who needs a push.

Well, I gave myself that push, but also evaluated why I needed it. Frankly? Even without any snow (which, by the way, is completely bizarre for Vermont) my studio is COLD! So, I made an executive decision... I snuck out of my studio and set up shop in my family room.

My unfinished family room, but the flooring is in, the walls are painted. Really, all that's missing is the trim and chair rails, and the art that belongs back up on the wall. This might turn out to be trickier when I work on some of my bigger paintings I have slated in the line-up (I have a huge, much harder to move easel, and a tendency to not be a clean painter.) I'll probably have to slink back up to my studio for those. But, until then... I have taken over!

I also sent my husband this picture with a "Guess where I am?  What football games? Who needs that when we can watch sappy romance movies and dramas while I paint!" He wasn't a fan, but he's got a lovely level of patience and tolerance for me.

As you can see behind me in the photo, I'm back to work on the Halloween painting with the haunted house on the hill. I'm about to start in on the figures this afternoon actually.

As I have been taking pictures over the past months of paintings in progress, it has occurred to me that a time-lapse might be a fun project for me to put together on one of my future paintings. After chatting with a few people, I was told to look for a device that works with my camera for interval timing. What I discovered after googling my own camera is a special timer that is actually built into the camera! (I know, I know, but the longest time lapse I ever needed wasn't more than 10 minutes, so I never really dug in before this.)  So, that being said, I do believe that I am going to try to create a time-lapse video of one of my paintings over the next month.  I have one that might be fun, it's a long landscape with two castles in it. Another, same orientation, but with all four seasons.

Hmm.... Maybe both?  We shall see!

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