Skip to main content

The Dark Knight (yes, it's Batman!!)


"The Dark Knight," 6" x 18", Golden acrylics on a Raymar panel. This portrait of the original Caped Crusader (not to be confused with my son The Caped Crusader) is inspired by an action figure I snagged at a flea market this summer. You can tuck this masked man somewhere special in your home and never even have to reach for the batphone. The painting is $329, including s&h inside the US. Batphone, Robin, Alfred and the Commissioner not included. Inquiries may come to me.

Oy. Yesterday Was Difficult.

The proof is here. I tried to finish The Princess's dance portrait. And then I tried again. And again. But it just wasn't happening. I struggled with my drawing, her anatomy, and then the value of the background. Nothing was working (and yes, I have these days too!).

I thought I'd tackle her today, but when I stood in front of my easel this morning, honestly, the painting was a hot mess. And I got a little intimidated (and yes, I have that same inner critic you do!).

The painting can be worked out. But I wasn't feeling the love today.

So I reached for something a little more inside my comfort zone than the human figure all twisty and foreshortened and graceful and in movement and stuff (what the <> was I thinking????). I grabbed a toy.

Don't judge me. He's still a human figure, albeit a plastic one.  I added a little torso twist. Got that fan going, too, to billow his cape properly and add a suggestion of movement to the painting.

He's a couple steps down the difficulty scale from my dancer, but he was totally doable. And my painting mojo doesn't feel as bruised today.


Thanks, as always, for following along with my artwork!
Happy New Year!
Warmly, Kim

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Dear Copyright Thieves

Dear Copyright Thieves,   Just because it's on the internet doesn't mean it's free for the taking. So let's just stop pretending the internet is a free-for-all.   Don't play the card that you didn't know - that's insulting. And don't also tell me that you meant to follow up and get permission but never got a chance to. That's insulting too. And by the way, don't you have a copyright protection notice on your own site?   And don't even try and point the finger at a third party who commissioned you to make a copy of my painting - again, an insult - you and I both know the difference between a reference photo and a painting.   And don't tell me that I asked for it because I share my artwork on the internet. I share my paintings and ideas and the stories behind them so as to encourage others to pursue  their own passions . I do not share so that those lacking integrity and morals can copy and market the images as their own...

Fisher Price Little People Puppy, Toy #10

"Little People Puppy (Toy #10)," 6" x 6," acrylics on masonite, starring a spunky little spaniel with jointed legs made by Fisher Price This painting is $75, with free shipping inside the US. Purchasing is as simple as  asking . I didn't play with this particular version of Little People toys, but I find them very sentimental never the less. They are well designed and charming. I tried to figure out what year Fisher Price made these particular jointed toys which I own (via ebay - I have circus characters too!), but got distracted learning about the history of Little People in general. They have seemingly been around for 50+ years! The Little People barn was a HUGE part of my childhood. The barn doors opened with a "mooooo," but in my head I heard welcoming nickers. Those horses and chickens were real. The brown and orange shag carpeting of my parent's family room became lush rolling pastures of green, and the Little People...

Golden Open Acrylics

I get all sorts of process oriented questions. Most recently I've been getting asked a lot about my paints and palette, which made me realize what a nice blog topic this would make! I use a Masterson Sta-Wet Premier palette box . This is comprised of a box (think Tupperware) with a sponge liner and a slice of palette paper that work together to keep my paints wet. This setup allows me to work with the same palette for about a full week, having the box open for multiple hours every day. You can see what the palette looks like at the beginning of a new session above - below the exact same palette after this week's work. For the last 25 years I have used Golden brand acrylics, mediums, and varnish. I love the overall quality of these paints and the fact that, when I have a question, their customer service department is made up of artists who actually use the products. Until last year, I used their Heavy Body paints exclusively. They have a buttery consistency, a little loose...