Pirate Self Portrait 2

As promised, my second pirate self portrait. I used the same method and palette as the previous painting. I never really had a system before but this seems to be working for me for now. I am planning one more pirate self portrait so stay tuned.

Pirate Self Portrait

I wasn't very satisfied with the last self portrait. I didn't like the colors and the pose was pretty boring so I thought I'd give it another shot. This time I put down four or five layers of gesso and sanded them pretty well and used raw umber to tone the ground. I kept my palette a little more limited than I usually do. (usually=every five months or so that I can get a chance to to oil paint) Raw Umber, burnt sienna, alizarin crimson, cadmium red, yellow ochre, titanium white, and ivory black. I also tried out a new color that I have never used before: prussian blue. I am really liking it and I think I will keep it a regular. Notable colors missing from my usual palette are cadmium yellow, viridian, ultramarine, and cobalt blue. the prussian blue seems to be a pretty flexible color, I was able to get several really nice greens when I mixed it with the ochre, umber and black and white. Excuse my blurry work in progress shots.

It didn't turn out very piratey, I know. I did another one yesterday that I really went for the "arrr" in me. I'll post it soon with wips as well.

Penny Arcade

OK. This post will be hard proof that I am a huge nerd. Oh well. I follow a blog/comic called Penny Arcade. They are basically what inspired me to do the Everglades Comic. They are basically geek cartoonists. Their subject matter is everything from MTG, D&D, to console and computer gaming. Half the time I don't even really know what they are talking about but their comics are usually really funny. They are pretty interesting guys. Great example of people making their living from something they love (from all acounts way way more than just "getting by"). Anywho, I wanted to bring this Wednesday's cartoon up because I thought it was particularly good.

Edit: The link above is for the current comic. For the one that inspired the post go here.

Store

I have just created a CafePress Store. Check it out. Right now I just have two of my bonus Everglades Comic characters there and just a random assortment of things to get them on. I will be adding more stuff but I really want some feedback on what you think you would like to see there. Its not hard for me t0 add things. Enjoy!

bonus comics

I put up another bonus comic on the main page, go here to check it out. There will probably end up being 4 in total (there are 2 there now). No promises on when they get done though.

self portrait continued

This is the nearly completed self portrait. In retrospect the pink ground was a mistake. When I went to put in the warm colors in the skin the background kept showing through and throwing me off. I should have worked from a blue or brown and built up the warmer skin. Also the green of the coat didn't really fit in with the colors I had going. I was successful in keeping my drawing intact and the values are fairly sold but the color and composition are really not exciting. I have been getting more and more interested in what kind of palettes artists are using and trying to limit my own. This painting's palette was out of control too wide I think. I've done some more paintings since this one with limited palettes. I'll scan those in when they dry and I'll get a better pic of this painting for the main page when I feel I am totally finished with it.

self portrait

It has been about 6 months since I worked in oil so I thought I'd give it another stab. I am hoping that working in oil will improve my sense of color in my work across the board. We'll see... These are progress shots of a self portrait thats still a work in progress.