History of T-Bone in Paint

I come from a large family and we are closeknit. My 4 siblings and I live within a 15-20 mile radius so we've shared multiple experiences and attended numerous family gatherings. This has allowed for me to watch my 6 nephews and 1 niece grow from birth to present. I have taken the opportunity to paint them over the years and recently finished a graduation portrait of my nephew Tanner Jack.

As I was posting it in my Art Newsletter this month I realized I have probably painted Tanner more often than any other thus far. I thought it would be fun to see the metamorphasis of not only Tanner, but my painting style as well. As I was putting this together I found how awful some of my early photo quality was and there is also no photo record of a large painting I did of him when he was around 6 years old. I will have to rectify that!

So here it is... a history of T-Bone in paint! (My nickname for him)

T-Bone is the tow headed boy on the right with the red shovel.

My youngest nephew, Grayson is wearing a red sweatshirt on the left.

T-Bone playing on the beach of Whidbey Island

In this group painting that was done of all 6 grandsons as a gift

 to my Mother and Father, T-Bone is the boy on the lower right corner.  

The oldest boy is now 31 and the youngest 16.

 T-Bone with his older brother Cameron with their dog Sparky back in 2004.

 T-Bone as one of my "Victims" in my FACE Project in 2012

in which he was named "The Insolent Tuber"

(see more about this on my website by clicking here)

Graduation portrait of T-Bone titled:

Tanner Jack: An Unfinished Man

Even Cowgirls Have Dreams

"Even Cowgirls Have Dreams"

16x12 oil on linen

To be exhibited at the Out West Art Show

March 18-21, 2015

Great Falls MT

My inspiration for this painting came from a young cowgirl named Liz. Last summer I took a workshop from her father, cowboy artist Charles Dayton,  located on his family ranch in Wyoming. For 5 days we painted everything from landscapes to horses. But my favorite moments were when Liz sat as our model cuz I love to paint people. This portrait I did using a photo resource and the color study from a live painting.

While working I took pics along the way to demostrate the my process of this painting. The title, "Even Cowgirls Have Dreams" stemmed from the conversations we had during her sessions. Liz is a talented high school athlete with dreams of playing volleyball in college and my background of playing and coaching this sport made for a fun exchange.

Anyone interested in taking a workshop from Charles can do so by registering through the Jackson Hole Art Academy.

When using paint to draw I like to use 2 colors:

Dioxazine Purple and Transparent Iron Oxide Red.

These work well not only because they are both transparent colors,

but also because one is warm and one is cool.

Being able to indicate temperature as well as value during the initial

stages can help the later process flow more smoothly.

Above: End of the drawing stage

Below: beginning of the color stage

See more of my work at www.cherylkingstudios.com

How to Photograph a Cat

Recently I put it out into the universe for people to send me their cat pics for possible paintings. I knew I might be opening up a can of worms! Most people love every picture of their cats, but even a good photograph does not always make a good painting (and vice versa). It's been fun seeing all the adorable cat pics sent to me and it is obvious why cat lovers are so devoted to their feline friends! But I thought it might help to list out some simple rules for getting the best shot possible for a painting subject. So here goes!

1. Good Light Source: This is the MOST important factor. Flash photo or flat light is a recipe for disaster. Natural light hitting the subject from any angle but directly above or directly in front is good! Sunny days make a strong statement either indoors or out. Cloudy days are tough but a high thin cloud at least makes interesting colors and a subtle glow. Days in between bright sun and clouds are optimal because you get shadows as well as good color.

2. Design: Getting down to the level of your cat is great. Lay on the floor and snap many different angles. If shooting from above make sure the shapes are interesting, not just a lump of fur. The one above works because of the shadow designs. Don't worry about the edges. I will crop as I see fit. (The original pic is below and the cropped version above.)

3. Props: As cute as it is to you to see your cat wearing bunny ears or costumes or sitting in a cardboard box, these props do not lend themselves to a beautiful oil painting. Think of your cat as a model for a classic painting that can hang in a museum. How would you portray him or her? Take a look at the pic below of the cat looking out the window and see what I mean. This is a very appealing and romantic composition.

4. Camera: Today many of the cameras on phones take good quality shots. Poor quality photo resource = poor quality painting. I prefer an SLR digital camera, but whatever you use make sure its the best you can come up with. The awesome thing about digital is you can take a hundred pics to get that one perfect photo!

5. Have fun with your cat!! Hang out with them for a good while and see what they do. When I do a photo shoot I ususally spend up to an hour with them, playing, hanging out, snapping away. I let the cat dictate what will come of it and usually they deliver!

This photo shows good design because the shapes around the cat and the 

shadow make it interesting. Also the light catches just one side of the face and 

lights up his eye magnificently, creating a focal point. 

The cropped version is at the top and what I most likely would

personally do to paint it in my style. 

 Even though the light in this outdoor shot is from above, the glow created in his fur makes good value changes from light to dark and shows the color that bright sunlight would bleach out.

 This kitty lounging in a sunlight window is photographed well. 

The eye travels well around the entire shape but the glow on the fur near

 her face creates a focal point. 

 Cats don't always cooperate and sometimes it's good to have an assistant.

These 2 photographs show how you can sooth a cat by having a friend 

pet her. Have your camera ready! When the moment is right

your friend can pull back their hand and viola! You have your shot!

Here is an example of a poor quality photo for a painting.

 This is the same cat as above. Even though she is very adorable

and the owner probably would love this pic, it wouldn't

make a strong painting. The light is flat and the angle awkward.

Another couple of examples of cute photos but not well suited for paintings. 

This cat cracks me up! Look at that expression! I suppose this would

work well for a contemporary piece but the flash has made the face 

too one dimensional. But still....what a character.

Now that I have outlined my advice for good cat pics....feel free to share them with me!

Send them to Cheryl King: redfriend1@msn.com

Who knows....your cat may end up featured in oils! 

Check out my cat paintings at www.cherylkingstudios.com

Game of Chase

"Toby and Henry - A Game of Chase"
24x24 oil on canvas

Toby the Collie and Henry the Dashshund are the best of buds! They live on the rural paradise of Whidbey Island where dogs rule and parks are plenty. I took a long walk with them and their owner one fine day last August to take resource photos for this painting. 

The challenge of creating a composition with two very different size dogs is tricky. It comes down to finding the correct perspective and shapes to balance the awkwardness of their disparities. Then there is the difference in their personalities. Henry is full of the dickens, darting around with lightening speed and agility. Although Toby is the same youthful age, he is blind in one eye and more cautious. He absolutely adores Henry and keeps his good eye on him constantly.

The thing that struck me about Toby was the way his long luxurious hair swayed when he was on the move. It was quite captivating! Henry rarely was without the tennis ball lodged in his mouth. When he returned it to be thrown again he ran as fiercely as an Olympic athlete in pursuit of gold. He could put many a Labrador Retriever to shame with his intense focus on this little green ball!

Capturing animals in motion is another aspect I love to do when painting. Digital cameras have come so far and have the ability to snap quality pics at great speeds allowing me much more freedom to pursue my vision. During this same photo shoot I also got some great shots of Henry from the side. Of course these also showed him on a dead run with the ball in his mouth! I decided to paint a very small one to enter in the Randy Higbee 6x6 Art Show that occurs at Randy's gallery every December in Costa Mesa CA. 

Painting that small was excrutiating at first since I normally paint large. I ended up painting a total of 5 (all different subjects) and 4 were accepted. I was thrilled that the one of Henry which I dubbed "Weiner on the Fly" even garnered an award! Having a long haired Dachshund of my own I am particularly smitten with this pose and have seen it often in my Homer. Doxies have an attitude about them, they are big dogs on short legs. I nicknamed my guy "The Weinerator" due to his opinion of himself!

"Weiner on the Fly"
6x6 oil on linen
$300

Majestic Migration

In July of 2014 I was driving through the Grand Teton area of Wyoming when I happened upon a small herd of bison wandering along a ridge. No one else was in sight and I had them all to myself! I snapped a series of photos and combined them for this painting titled "Majestic Migration".

So many people are interested in the process of building a painting so I stopped at times along the way to take a picture so I could share my process with you. Well at least the progression of how this particular painting came together. Not all come together the same way.

 Charcoal Sketch

 Blocking in

The initial laying in of the color can be a bit boring for the viewer. These are very basic and large color blocks that will be refined in later stages. But it is important to get the relationships established early throughout the painting so values and temperature can be constantly checked. I often like to keep my initial color a bit raw and somewhat bright. It is always easier to gray it down later. I also want the background around the bison to be wet when I paint them. This makes it more interesting with the treatment of the edges between them to avoid a cut and pasted look.

 This is where the real fun begins for me...painting the bison! More often I paint all of them simultaneously, but this time I decided to work one at a time. I began with the benevolent leader who pauses to glance back in patient encouragement to his fellow beasts. I will go back into each one later and refine once I get them all laid in.

 Moving across the canvas I had particular fun with the next two bison. I didn't want them to appear as if they were marching in a straight line along the ridge so I changed their angles to break it up. Also it was important to have the creatures vary in size and demeanor to create a more natural story. Another mistake would be to have space between each one so this was a perfect opportunity to connect 3 of them. The "ghost herd" is beginning to come alive!

 Not long after I had painted the 4th bison my son dropped by for a visit. I had to chuckle when he sarcastically commented on the albino buffalo. The group is still looking a bit "cut and pasted" so once the "albino" is given full color I will work the landscape and background which is still very roughed in. Also I will spend time refining each individual bison.

Now all 5 bison have been painted yet I still need to "tweak" each one to be certain they are as accurate as I would like and are "reading" the way I want them to. Next I will be working on the surrounding landscape and sky. Below are closeups done after I refined them.

"Majestic Migration"

11x46 oil on mounted linen

Finally the finished piece! As you can see I did a fair amount of work around the bison figures....the landscape was detailed and deepened in the foreground to give it depth and the bison were grounded by their cast shadows. I simplified the sky so it did not compete with the rest of the painting. The mountain peaks were challenging with their white peaks. They had to be downplayed considerably otherwise they would become the focal point and I wanted the bison to be the stars here! Speaking of focal points (as artists we can be obsessed with this), usually there is one specific area that is designed to draw the eye, but I don't always adhere to this principle. In this case I wanted the focal point to be the entire group and what they represent individually but more importantly as a whole. The majestic mountain peaks echo the majesty of their own living, breathing forms. I hope you enjoyed this process as much as I do!

Wild Things

My friend Pepper (I call her Peppy) is the real deal…a one-of-a-kind Gen-U-Wine character! For many reasons she inspires me. Number one is she is a CREATIVE FORCE. In the 8 years since we met and became art buddies I have seen her reinvent her art several times over, always with great results. A neat trick considering she is within spitting distance of my mom's age yet pulls off the spirit of a woman 30 years younger!

Visually she is as much a treat as her artwork. She has the kind of hair that people cross the street and ask to touch. It is not only the brassy red color, but mostly that she wears it unlike anyone I have ever seen (excepting infant girls). She sports it in 2 thick pom pom-like pony tails on top of her head that bob and sway with her energetic movements. Being of Italian heritage gives them ample opportunity to accompany her vigorous hand gestures. Her hair could have its own Facebook page! I wouldn’t be surprised if they suddenly began to talk, they have that much personality. I should start referring to them as the twins...

Needless to say they attract plenty of attention and Pepper takes it in stride. Here's an example of what she encounters on a regular basis: Recently she made a visit to Daniel Smith's art supplies in downtown Seattle. One of the employees called to her across the store and excitedly started telling her about a series of paintings she had done using pictures she had taken of Pepper some time ago. Pepper had forgotten all about the photos, being used to having people ask for a pic. This woman pulls out her phone to show the images, babbling with high enthusiasm about her Pepper paintings. Turns out these were not just small studies…they measured 3 or 4 feet across. Can you imagine that? Someone snaps your photo and gets so inspired as to create not one, but an entire series of very large paintings!?!?  Such is the life of Pepper!

Not too long ago she contemplated changing her hairstyle to something more normal. This was to please someone in her life that was uncomfortable with them. We, her friends, her buddies were aghast! Her pom poms are so much a part of her it would be like an amputation, unnatural and grieve worthy should they be snipped. Thank goodness she snapped out of it!!

Next week the two of us will be the featured artists at a new gallery in Seattle called Vernissage. Our show is aptly titled "Wild Things" with my wildlife and her seductive women gracing the walls. We decided to have a bit more fun than usual that evening by handing out brightly colored "pigtails" for attendees to wear. It should create a delightfully carnival atmosphere of fun!!

GRATITUDE

Inside this beautiful new home I have studio space.
Thanks to my brother John whose home this is!

November is the month that we celebrate gratitude, our thankfulness for the bounties in our lives. This particular November I have more to celebrate that usual. I have a new art studio and next week I will be having a Grand Opening. This event will be a way of showing appreciation for all my blessings...my friends, my collectors, my God-given talent but mostly my gratitude for my family. In particular my brother John.

I am one of 5 of siblings and we grew up relentlessly competitive, both physically and intellectually, learning early on to hold our own in a verbal war. A word could sting but a sentence could slay. Yet love and loyalty cushioned the blows and we didn't harbor any hard feelings...it was just all part of the game. It was good training for life in general...but that may be easy for me to say...I was the 2nd oldest so I probably dished out more than I took. This rivalry didn't extend beyond childhood. Today my 2 brothers and 2 sisters are my dearest friends on the planet.

John, being the oldest, was afforded special status by our Father so our response was to tag him with the nickname "Golden Boy". It was apt, and still is. John was given more responsibilities and he never took them lightly. We are all type A...John is AAA, but not at all uptight, quite the opposite.  He graduated high school and college at the top of his class, navigated the business world with aplomb and success and was able to retire early due to his sacrifices, brilliance and nose-to-the-grindstone work ethic. We come from humble and he rose to the top, yet never does he adopt an arrogance that often comes with the territory.

When he was designing his new home...his forever home I have come to call it...he came to me with an offer. It would be larger then he would personally need and he felt guilty about the extra space. Could I use studio space? He would be happy to give me some along with gallery space with room to hold events. Who would say no to that? That was nearly 2 years ago and even though he moved in 6 months ago I have finally set up my studio and begun to paint there.  Now it is time to celebrate! I want to share this with people, this new beginning, this fresh start. After coming out of the ashes it really does feel like the promise of great things to come.

Let the festivities begin!!