Harriet Tubman: Into the Darkness

Here is the 98%, completed painting of Harriet Tubman: Into the Darkness. This painting took a ton of research and time; from going to Maryland where she was raised, to doing sand studies to see how sand adheres to oil paint. I took sand from both the Richmond Slave Trail and Brodess Farm where she was raised, and ground it into the paint. I'm a huge Maxfield Parrish fan and used his glazing techniques to make the lights brighter, and the darks pushed back. This has been an exhausting journey, but I made some wonderful friends in the process, and learned more than I imagined. I still have some minor additions (more of the rocks, a few branches, and light touches here and there), but I'll most likely finish those up in early 2020. I look forward to seeing the future of this painting.

An Evening with Kate

I got to meet Kate Mulgrew last night. Really nice lady. I got to talk to her for a few minutes and she gave me an autographed copy of her new book. 'To John from Kate Mulgrew' ... I know ... I was excited too.

RVA Coffee Art

Went to Cafe Clang on Sunday and ordered some breakfast and painted what I saw with espresso. Sat next to Richard McCann from WRVA's The Home Show and we chatted for a good hour about art and the direction of the local show. Really nice guy. 

Something I haven't done in about a year, is get out on the water and kayak. I went last year, but the water levels were not only too high, but it was just too cloudy. I bought a kayak about a week ago, and now I'll be out on the river, doing some sketches/paintings like I've been wanting to do for awhile. It's good to be free.

Harriet Tubman - Work In Progress

So I've started pressing the sand into the canvas. I've blurred out the painting until I'm finished with the entire thing. I will add a darker layer of paint over the sand and rocks once it hardens to the canvas.

Harriet Tubman - Work In Progress

Another progress pic that's not really showing the pic in progress lol. I have to make sure the sand from Harriet Tubman's childhood home will stick to the canvas, so I'm doing different studies in linseed oil on a smaller canvas with dirt, to see if it will adhere. Unfortunately, the painting will not be finished by the 15th, but that's okay. I'd rather it be right than to half-ass it.

RVA Coffee Art

Today I went to Shockoe Espresso & Roastery

109 Shockoe Slip, Richmond, VA 23219

Painted my view with espresso

Harriet Tubman - Work In Progress

This will be the last pic I post before completing the painting hopefully before the 15th (it all depends on drying time). I have more colors and details to put in the travelers before adding one more layer of trees, and then applying more sand. 
#johnpriceart #harriettubman #workinprogress #blackhistory#nationalparkservice #harriettubmanundergroundrailroad

Harriet Tubman - Work In Progress

Ok, one more for the day. I have more detailing to do, but way off in the background, the group is being chased by slave owners. They are maybe slightly less than a 1/4 inch.

Harriet Tubman - Work In Progress

Here is the first of maybe 4-6 layers of color that is glazed over Harriet Tubman. Though the man's bag looks purple, it will be a brownish/blue color once it's finished. I may post one more pic in the next day or two and then hold off any more pics until it's done.

Harriet Tubman - Work In Progress

I'm just wrapping up the detailing, and then I will begin putting in the colors. Because it's evening, the colors will be somewhat muted.

Harriet Tubman - Work In Progress

This is the part that people rarely see, when you make a major mistake. Some of the paint was so thick that when it dried, I was unable to add more layers so that it would look natural. You could clearly see the outline of a tree go through one of the bodies of the travelers. So I had to take a razor and scrape that off, sand it down, and apply a brown base layer over it to cover up any indentures. Then, I had to reestablish the dark areas so that I can detail them out. It was a step back, but necessary. The goal is to finish this by June 15. I think I'm ahead of schedule, but we'll see.

RVA Coffee Art

This week I went to Ironclad Coffee Roasters in Richmond, ordered an espresso and painted my view of the inside. Great ambiance and wonderful staff. 

The Mandela Effect

What may seem like such a small thing, I went to Amazon today and typed in 'The Mandela Effect' and on the first page is my book. #johnpriceauthor #themandelaeffect