Tuesday, July 28, 2015

A Study in Leyendecker and the trouble with Flake White


Above is roughly an hour-long oil study from Leyendecker's Men Reading; it was a heck-of-a-lesson in pigment application. I am not a particularly patient painter - with that being the case, I have learned ways to expedite the process with mineral spirits and walnut alkyd. These assets usually dry paint within in 24-48 hours. Apparently, Gamblin’s Flake White oil paint did not receive the memo... I went to add a save point, a varnish layer to paint over, and the flake white bled all over the place. Lesson learned! Otherwise, studying Leyendecker’s economical rendering techniques is an absolute joy. I intend to attempt this study and other pieces again soon.

Men Reading, an illustration for Arrow Collar advertisement. J. C. Leyendecker

Here's a bonus study:

Col-Erase and Conté on toned paper


Close-up of Charles Beach(?) "The Man in Long-underwear." by J. C. Leyendecker 

Monday, May 18, 2015

Minotaur vs Theseus


It's been a while since I've posted, but here's a piece I finished a half-hour ago. It's currently 1:25 a.m. I'll write more on this later. For now, I hope you enjoy my take on the minotaur (Asterion?) vs Theseus.