This is going to be a very busy month. I’m going to start on one of my largest canvas paintings while trying to put together some holiday paintings as well. Oh and my students will also be putting together some interesting Holiday designs as well. I got notification of a special celebration at RGVAS that will be taking place on October 30th and some interesting and fun ideas started going through my head. I’m hoping the application and presentation will be fun for all.
My main project is going to be a painting of some green “valley” parrots. These birds aren’t native to the valley but they are distinct and to me they are part of Harlingen. I grew up hearing and seeing them all over the neighborhood. I’ve prepared the canvas with some gesso, it was previously used. So this week I hope to sketch out the full drawing and complete the background layer. Like I said earlier, it will be my biggest project to date (hopefully not the last one that size). It should be as colorful as my past 2 paintings, and not just because they are parrots. I also picked up a new book about acrylics and I’m excited to try out some of the techniques inside. I’ll try to take photos along the way if anything interesting happens.
I’m also working with the students to create some interesting designs on some 3D skulls I picked up at Michaels earlier this week. There is going to be a Halloween thing going on at the studio towards the end of this month and I wanted my kids to show off some of their creative talents. I was able to pick up 2 different kinds of skulls, full 3D version and a mask like version as well. The students have creative freedom and hopefully, after a quick demonstration, they will have some awesome pieces to display outside the class. After the skulls are primed with some white, the kids will be able to add color using their choice of paints, or markers depending on the desired look. (I think I’ll make a Cowboys one! =D)
At the bottom of that list, I’m also working on some Halloween themed paintings myself (12×12 canvas board). I got the ideas while working with a student on a variation of Edvard Munch’s “The Scream“. So far I have a series of 4 canvas planned and sketched out. The first is a Picasso style portrait of Frankenstein, since they are for younger people to enjoy and learn from, I also tried to incorporate a little cartoon feel into the compositions. My second painting will be a vampire with a likeness to Da Vinci’s “The Mona Lisa”. The third is going to be of a portrait of a witch which will have similarities to works done by Frida Khalo. The final piece, which will probably take the longest, is going to be a recreation of Grant Wood’s “American Gothic” featuring Frankenstein and his Bride.
These are my plans and hopefully we can get them done!
Below are the sketches for the Halloween paintings.
My favorite is the American Gothic piece you’re working on. Can’t wait to see the finished products.