I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving! I have completed a few projects as of late.
I will varnish them early next year. I’ll also be listing originals in Etsy. Right now I am just excited to execute on new ideas. I’ll also be churning out more video content on YouTube.
I have recently been working on a drawing depicting the scene in which the Biblical prophet Isaiah enters the throne room of God, sees His majesty and declares himself and his people unworthy. In this vision, a seraphim anoints Isaiah as a prophet with a hot coal from the alter of God.
Just reading these verses (Isaiah 6) was inspiring and has major graphic possibilities. At this point, I’m rendering the drawing chunks at a time to give it the care and attention it deserves.
My latest drawing titled “Diligence” ironically requires that very virtue to excecute. I went with a more challenging angle to add more I test that a boring ole profile. The fabric in this will take center stage so painting this one will be interesting.
I recently finished my drawing “Charity”. Working with perspective like this is a challenge but I learn every time I put forth this much effort. It’s also easier every time. Now I just need to buy some spray fixative so it won’t smudge all over the place.
Hi all, I’d like to report what I’m working on currently. I am working on a new series titled “Seven Heavenly Virtues” in which I conceptualize the virtues of chastity, temperance, charity, diligence, patience, kindness, humility. Instead of going with characters just kind of floating in space I’m placing them in actual situations so each resulting painting can look like it’s part of a story. I’m having so much fun making these drawings and I’m excited to turn them all into paintings.
I have finished the first drawing Chastity. Not only do I show most of the drawing process on YouTube but I have prints and merchandise for sale on Society6 and Etsy.
Here are some concept sketches for the latest piece “Charity.”
Happy New Year everyone!!
I am adding content to my Etsy store, one of which is my painting “Requiem”.
The price reflects the fact that it is custom framed. Before sending it off, I had it hanging in my house and my goodness do I love this painting! My husband loves it so much he asked if I’m sure I want to sell it ROTFL (yes…yes I absolutely want to sell it. I’m a capitalist!). I’m adding more content to the store soon so head over and have a look.
If you want to share my art in general, share this post!
The above is a progression shot of a pumpkin study. Because it is best to narrow ones focus when engaging in work of this nature, this still life painting serves a few functions:
1 – I wanted to reinforce value composition as that has been an afterthought on many of my paintings.
2 – I want to work with muted colors. Relying on a bunch of bright colors all the time is not always the most effective way to work.
3 – I do want to continue painting in layers however, I want to have a streamlined system for doing this so I don’t always wonder how to go about getting from beginning to end.
One thing I have been discovering as a painter is that I need to become more diligent in arranging my values during the drawing process. I have spent some time working on these types of value studies so when I do work on my paintings I don’t have to put so much effort into correcting things in oil, making the whole thing take longer than necessary. It is best to do this type of work from life or good photo reference.
In light of Inktober, working on “mother and child” as well as a few other oil paintings I haven’t had as much time to study as I’d like. But the few times I have had to work on these types of drawings I have been studying nuances of drapery and clothing folds. It is important to me that various clothing look like the correct material as well as look as if it has weight. Its going to be on when I get my powdered graphite from my parents house! In addition to the learning experience it is great to get the instant gratification of a pretty drawing. Rendering drapery on the level that I like in oils is not a fast process.
I have just finished my latest painting ” Escape From Babylon”. The concept is based upon this mysterious pair of sojourners who are aware of the carnage happening in the distance.
I wanted to use this painting as an opportunity to pull viewers into the universe that I’ve introduced. That being said, my current and future works do have an interwoven narrative. This narrative will feature standard fantasy tropes and Judeo-Christian themes that I hold dear. Seeing this painting is basically like watching a novelist write a book by the paragraph; or by the sentence as it’s being written. As I build my body of work viewers get a chance to piece everything together and explore the world as it’s being constructed….almost like a scavenger hunt!
If you want to look under the hood, this video shows me working on a portion of this painting. In addition to following this blog, subscribe to the YouTube channel. We are already working on more content so there will be some pretty awesome things happening there including more footage of paintings being created.
Thanks for stopping by!
Tyra Oliver Art 