Candle 1, beginning of Candle 2

Added another layer to Candle 1. Lots of scumbling and a little bit of adjusting angles. Picking up a pair of red stilettos on Wednesday to photograph. Planning to add one teetering on the edge of the step, and one lying on its side in the aisle.


Here's the raw start of Candle 2, affectionate working title Twirly. You can see it's related to the other, but the perspective and color palette make it very different. The candle holder tilts slightly left. I'm going for a slightly off-kilter, the world could slide out from underneath you at any moment feel. In my experience that's when grace happens.

Genus Loci underway

Here's the source photo and the top of the drawing I worked on this week. It's a basilica in Trasteverre in Rome. That's mosaics on the walls behind the columns and candles. Intricate as all get out and my idea of bliss.


And this is the beginning of the first candle painting (working title: candle 1). The burnt sienna I used to tone the canvas about blinded me. I'm using burnt umber to tone the rest.

Once I decide whether I'm adding a banjo, keyboard, or pair of high heeled shoes, it will get a more specific title.

I toned three more canvases, placed the white background on a new tomato painting and worked on the candles above. hotographed bells, a keyboard, banjo and a harmonium in various positions and angles out in the garage, using a white wall and open door to stand in for the stone church steps. I started another tomato painting with heirloom tomatoes by filling in the white marble background. I sanded down a failed painting on a nice 30x40 canvas. I'm going to re-gesso it and use it for one of this candle series.

I've got four paintings in the drying box. All's right with the world.