N Anderson

Betty progress

When I look at a painting in progress, I will often plan in parts. “OK, I just need to 1) work the darker blues and black into the face, 2) blend the side reds, and 3) add the highlights,” and it seems simple enough. Then I start working and find myself redoing aspects that I thoughtContinue reading “Betty progress”

Betty (redirect)

No, this doesn’t look anything like the sketch in the previous post. Betty has very soulful eyes, and although the previous image carries with it a touching story, it failed to capture the essence that her eyes normally possess. Betty is the wise older woman to Addie’s imp. Betty is the regal queen to Addie’s courtContinue reading “Betty (redirect)”

Betty Begun

I suppose this looks more like a Rorschach test than anything else, but this collection of cryptic lines will, in fact, become a dog. A Greater Swiss Mountain Dog named Betty.Again, my exceptional photography skills are exhibited (sarcasm alert). I tend to sketch very lightly, so capturing it in a manner which would allow itContinue reading “Betty Begun”

Addie

This needs to dry before I add the whiskers, but I am painting her (adoptive) sister while it does…

Addie (Almost Done)

The lighting on this dreary day is not cooperating with my attempts at getting a clear pic, but it’s a quick update. I still have to do the muzzle and white, and all of the highlights (which are everywhere, and cast a soft white outline around her ears and shoulder, too) – especially her eyes.Continue reading “Addie (Almost Done)”

Addie underpainting with red

and highlights appear.

Addie (underpainting)

There is this odd hesitation that I have between the sketch and the underpainting, as though it’s not just the quick, playful application of paint to map out the colors. Ah, well; it’s mapped out now, and I can start to apply the real paint. Background will change to a deep red to help theContinue reading “Addie (underpainting)”

Addie (sketch)

Sometimes I’m impatient and start painting before the sketch is well laid out, and those are the paintings where I waste a lot of time standing back from the easel and looking at proportions and shapes and comparing to the photo and just basically driving myself crazy. This will not be one of those.

my lack of breadth

I have to say that I never did work on that urban landscape that I had planned to do. Or the scientific portrayal of herbalism. Or the abstract representation of nature. But I have enough faces to cover the warm brick walls at iYo Cafe in Davis Square, and that’s representational of my work. AlthoughContinue reading “my lack of breadth”

Here

There were days when I aspired to having a studio. To be in the company of other artists and to have a space that was devoted only to making art. DaVinci once said “An artist’s studio should be a small space because small rooms discipline the mind and large ones distract it.” As someone incrediblyContinue reading “Here”