Rev. Frank Gooch - In Progress

Close up of the face thus far.

Just A Bit Of Fun

For the last few days that I've gone into my art studio to paint, shortly thereafter, my youngest daughter says, "can I watch you paint?" She's already light years ahead of me at her age, and what a thrill it brings me with her questions as she watches intently. "Why are you using that brush? How did you mix that color? Why did you paint that that color?" She sits and watches me - not staring off into space - and sometimes offers her own little suggestions. What a little blessing!

It's oil paint - it's not cheap, and I let her mix up her own compositions. A young child who understands the color wheel, primary colors, complimentary colors ... I wouldn't change that moment with her mixing up the colors for anything. I'm in the middle of painting, and she comes over to see if it's okay if she mixes up pink. She pulls from the Alizarin Crimson, and then grabs some Titanium White, and mixes it to her liking of pink. There she was on my easel, in front of the Rev. Gooch painting, just mixing away. 

Rev. Frank Gooch - In Progress

Do All That You Can

Today, I did all that I could to further my career. Seriously. It's not often that I can say that, but I must admit something. Realizing that I have 30 days until this portfolio is due puts an immense amount of pressure on me. But this is a good thing. I sometimes wish that I could always have this kind of drive - to push myself to the limit until there's nothing else to do.

For the longest time, I would paint and wait for something to be auctioned off, sold, or contracted out. I'd go advertise, but there was no real drive to push myself because I didn't see everything paying off. But when I wake now, there's an insane amount of drive that wakes me up and compels me to go into my studio, turn on the light, and stare at the image forming on the canvas. Even if the canvas is blank, in my mind, it already exists. It's just a matter of moving and turning the paint to form a reality of what's already within. It's my duty to create, and if I fail to do so, I fail my family, myself, and my future generations. It's my duty to do all that I can to make something happen every day, every minute, every second ... it all counts. I have a finite amount of time on this earth, and if I don't do all that I can to create the next greatest painting, then I haven't done justice to my career. I know that each painting isn't guaranteed to be a masterpiece, but I try with each painting. 

Today, I worked on the canvases (yes, there was more than one) until I could do nothing else. The intense aroma of "odorless" paint thinner not only permeated the room, it also saturated my hands and clothing. It was a good day. And so I ask you the same question I ask myself every day, "did you do all that you could today?" Did you put everything into bettering yourself? Your career? Your family? If not, why not? Was Facebook all that important? What about youtube? Message boards, etc.? What stood in your way, and why? Are those things so important that your career can wait another day? How you start your day is how you live your day, and how you live your day is how you live your life. One day turns into two, and two into four, and four into eight, and so on and so forth. It's okay to put things off today, and then put them off tomorrow, and then the day after that, and when you're in your 50s and 60s, I wonder if those things will really mean as much then as they do now.

Rev. Frank Gooch - In Progress

Rev Frank Gooch - In Progress

I've now added the base flesh tone to Rev. Gooch's hands & face, plus put more emphasis on the shadows of the flag, and matching up of the color of his suit.

My Journey - Day 15

So last night I was painting on my Richeson Dulce Easel, and the bar that holds the canvases up, broke. Really? This late in the game? Oh cruel fate! To that I say, 'well, moving on.'