Love and Romance: Calliope returns

I've been wanting to do this blog's featured painting for a while now, but with the colored pencil show and the pointillism painting, my summer just blew past me like the leaves outside my window this evening.

A series of paintings or artwork around a central theme has been something I've felt the urge to do for most of this year. And the theme's been staring me in the face all the while. I needed to sit back and think about the paintings I wanted to put in the series. I hinted at it a few blogs back when I featured the painting entitled Romance. It's a painting that gets a lot of reaction. It's a theme that strikes a chord with everyone -- love and romance.

I've sketched out between 10-to-12 ideas, including the first one, Romance. I'm not sure I will do all of them. And, this past week, I came up with an idea for another one. So the final total will constantly be in flux. I hope that all eventually tell a story. One that touches everyone in their own way. (I will address that in more detail in a moment.)


In any case, I've actually been working on this painting -- Opening Night -- for about three weeks now. The first two weeks' work, however, has been more than a normal artist's sketch. I actually drew this painting to size (22 x 28) on Bristol board because I needed to get my composition correct. 

When I took it to my Monday evening class, however, I realized that if this was to be my "reference photo," then I better have an idea of what colors I wanted to use as well. Hence I spent the first two weeks of class painting my reference photo.

Opening Night - Reference

I can't say I plan to do all my paintings like this in the future, but it really helped in several ways. First, I had to establish my light source and how it affects my main characters. Second, it helped me to realize I had to adjust my proportions. The cars were entirely too small and I didn't like the tiered look from left to right. Also, the lines between the cars in the parking lot were too straight. Those needed to be angled more to enhance the perspective.

Third, the horizon line is too abrupt. A softer transition, I think, is better. Fourth, I lowered the curb line where the three dogs are. (Calliope is the dog in the middle, by the way). 

I also needed to do some color tweaking. The foreground pavement, I think, needs to be lighter than the background pavement. 

All paintings -- regardless of the medium -- are a matter of pushing and shoving and making adjustments. I can guarantee there will be changes made as I go along developing this painting. Last Monday, I transitioned the drawing from board to canvas and started the actual painting. What you see next is part of what I worked on in class (I started with a blank canvas) and what I have been working on this past week.

Opening Night - Phase 1

I'm still not sure if the cars are big enough, though I am certain the SUV on the left is. Also, I know that the VW in the middle and the red Ford on the right should be the roughly the same height. 

The three little white spots in the center are out-of-focus cars in the background. They may move. More will be added. I think a truck or a bus may go in the background along with some trees, too. 

The main image, however will not change and that's the man and the woman kissing each other in the parking lot as the three dogs look on. Well, two of them are watching. The third, on the far right, is part of my whimsy.

As an artist, you really want to get your viewer to relate to your artwork on a personal level. And the value of working on a piece in a class with other artists can't be overestimated. This painting touches everyone who has seen it so far.

It reinforced to me that I have touched upon a subject that everyone can truly relate to in some way. The reactions have been interesting to hear, especially when most of the artists in the class are women.

One said she liked the painting, but didn't like what it said. I asked why. "I have daughters that age." My response was, "Why does the couple have to be young?" She paused a moment and looked at the painting again and said, "You have a point." The artist comes to any painting with his or her point of view. The viewer, however, sees the image in their own personal way. Interpretation.

My favorite reaction was when one of the ladies looked at the piece for quite a while, then sighed and said, "Oh, to be in love again ..." 

The painting is not done. There's much execution yet to be done. A lot of pushing and shoving to go. But the "job" of an artist -- my purpose -- has already been accomplished. Touching my viewer in their own personal way. How do you relate to this painting? What does it mean to you? In what way does the story touch you?

By the way ... Calliope, whose owner is the male character, isn't quite sure what to make of this development.