wild hill country 1

It's been donkey's years since I posted a series of 'real time' work-in-progress posts so I think it's time I took another crack at it. It might actually be more interesting this way and if it is, then maybe it'll inspire me to do more, um, inspired blogging. I've drifted away this past year and, as a result, so have my readers. (To those who still drop in now and then: I lurve you. Please comment. Don't make me grovel.)

So, it's back to work on the Texas Hill Country commissions. (I talk about the project here.) This is the first stage: cutting down and attaching the paper to an appropriate surface for support (a 30" x 40" stretched canvas in this case) then masking the image area. As you can see on the top of the easel, I printed the mockup on my new inkjet printer. (It's just a cheapie for workaday purposes that we got as an added incentive when we got Greg his Canon Powershot for Christmas. I actually use his camera to take my in-studio photos -- like these -- because my Nikon D70 doesn't have a wide-angle lens.) Then comes the underpainting in a complementary colour scheme to the final painting. Seem strange? Stay tuned, my lovelies, and all will be made clear.

And, because someone requested a scale shot, here's me. Am I working in my underwear? Actually, it's my pyjamas, sort of. (And they even have little birdies on them.)