Later October

I am gradually taking the background down to a strict black using alternating layers of violets, blues, and crimsons. I am at the same time increasing the saturation and varying the tone of my foreground.

Early October 2009

I am pleased to say that things seem to be coming together. I find that after some initial doubt that I am finally committing to this series. I think that the yellows will be very challenging. We will see.

September 2009

Willem de Kooning once said that one must change to stay the same. I'm doing something new. I could explain my thinking, but sometimes I think that painters talk too much about their work. Let's hope the series turns out to be something. Thanks for your support, John

Post Final Critique

Well the Spring semester is complete. It has been for me, an unprecedented period of achievement in which my objective was to build upon the new direction of my work begun last semester along with establishing what seems to me to be a somewhat individual style and technique. I believe the cornerstone has been established for constructing a real artist statement grounded in ancient symbology representing spiritual wholeness. Much on this has been written by Carl Jung. I hope that you enjoy my paintings. Here is a improvised studio picture under natural light which is much too harsh. These paintings were created to live in a world of candlelight, at the very least a room with a dimmer control.

Friday Night

Evaluating the semester's work and determining just how much work still needs to be done before the final critique.

Early May

It is Wednesday the week before our final critique. While I am not completely satisfied with calling my three paintings complete, I can say that they are so very close to completion that I must be wary of overpainting. Today was the last day we had Elizabeth as our model. I regret not painting her, but this current series took my complete attention. I spoke to her after class about painting her over the summer, she is interested so maybe if some other students are also interested we can pool our funds and do more figure painting over the summer.

Later April

Things are going well. My second painting is past midpoint and tomorrow I will begin my third work.