"AAU Figure Painting Final Project (Day 1)"

Time flies! One and half week from now, I will end my AAU journey for this summer. For the Figure class, I need to do my final project. This is again 30" x 40". The painting is from a reference photo. I started yesterday and worked whole day. This is what I got so far. I have spent most my time in the drawing stage to get the proportion, placement, and composition. Then I worked on the value with a monochromatic approach. Now the painting is just entered the third stage, which is color design. I got the shadow on the torso cooler and reflection on the leg warmer. The painting still has a monochromatic feel, but I am going work more today to show some color.

"AAU Figure Painting 5 (Day 2)"

The second day on this major painting project, I started modeling the figure. I tried my best not to get trapped in details so I have the freedom in adjusting my drawing. I have spent most my time dealing with the foreshortening of the legs. I made a large amount of adjustment in value to show the depth. Compared with my other second day paintings, I felt good about the progress. I think I am on the right track and looking forward to the Day 3.

"AAU Figure Painting 5 (Day 1)"

I am back to SF this morning around 1:00 AM. After a short sleep I went to my figure class. I started a new painting. This one is 30" x 40". It is the largest painting I have ever done. We will spend 5 days on it. I am deadly tired now. I really need to capture some more sleep. Bye now.

"Demo at Newport 2012 2" --- Sold

This is my second demo painting. Painting flowers is my main scheme for this demo, but I really like the rusty pot I did. Newport is very beautiful today. After the workshop, we went to the beach. I had lobster rolls for dinner. Man! Life is so good.

"Demo at Newport 2012 1" --- Sold

Yesterday I have arrived at the beautiful Newport, Rhode Island, and I have started my second workshop in New England this morning. The workshop is organized by Libby Gilpatric in her Brimstone Studio. Thank you Libby for putting this workshop together and thank you all the artists for attending. This is my first demo. In the middle there is a plastic glass. It introduced such interesting texture to the painting. I really enjoyed painting it.

"Demo at Marshfield 2012 3"

I did an additional demo to the workshop today. Upon request, I did this portrait from a photo I took a while ago in Austin. I don't have much of experience demo portrait painting in front of many people. I think it is only the second time. I might need a little more time to do some final adjustment, but I think I did OK.

The workshop is over. Thank you again to all the artists attended. I will take a couple of day break before my next event. I will visit Museum of Fine Art in Boston tomorrow. 


BTW, I mentioned Steve Carell yesterday. He is a famous movie star. If you don't know him like me, please check : Steve Carell.

"Demo at Marshfield 2" --- Sold

This is the second demo I did. It is the first time I painted gold. I consider to name this painting "Gold and Time". I am really having a good time here. I have learned a lot too.

Yesterday morning, My friend Julie and I was on our way to the workshop location. We passed a couple walking their dog under the cozy morning sun. Julie whispered to me: "Oh, my goodness, that man is Steve Carell!". I didn't have any reaction, and asked: "Who is Steve Carell?"

"Demo at Marshfield 2012 1" --- Sold

My life is so dramatic. I was just settled at the coast of the Pacific, but now I at coast of Atlantic. Today is the first day of teaching a workshop at Marshfield MA. I want thank Julie Ulher, Laura Harvey and North River Arts Society of organizing this workshop. I feel very happy meeting this group of wonderful New England artists. Thank you all so much for attending. This is the first demonstration I did. Marshfield is a cozy small town south of Boston. You would love the lobsters here.

"AAU Figure Painting 4 (Day 1)"

Shhhhhhhh! Please do not tell Zhaoming and AAU that I am running away from school. In a couple of hours I will be on the plane to the east coast. Now, I am pretty tired on painting figure. I want to go back to what I feel comfortable with......Ha Ha I am just kidding.

Well. I am not completely kidding. I will teach two workshop next week in New England, and will be back to San Francisco after that. I will miss a week of class. Well my study at AAU is not perfect, but I feel very satisfied with what I got.

Today we started a new figure painting. It was planned as a 3-day project, but I only have today to do it. This is what I got so far. I may work from photo after I come back.

"AAU Figure Painting 3 (Day 3)"

On the third day of this figure painting, I worked on the edges and color. Zhaoming talked about skin tones. If you want to make her complexion look pail, you put cool colors in the area between light mid tone and the core shadow. It worked well. I made the background a little warmer. I did not paint her face much because I'd like to have her shoulder and knee as focus centers. This painting is done. It is not bad, but I need more drama. I hope my next one will be better.

"Three AAU Props"

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After I finished my figure homework yesterday, I still have some time. So I did this small still life. Oh boy! from a 24" x 36" to a 5" x 7", the downsizing is so dramatic. I almost forgot how to paint small paintings. The fine art department of AAU has a quite good collection of props. Paint this painting felt like tasting a gourmet food. It was so delicious.

"AAU Figure Painting Homework 1 (Day 5)"

This is the 5th day I have worked on this 24" x 36". I got pretty sick of it now. My hand and mind are all being tied up. The progress is so minimal. I don't think I can get everything I want from a single painting, so I am going to call it done. In general I felt OK with the proportion, anatomy, form, value, and unity. I have exhausted my energy to deal with edges, color, designs, and paint works. I am going to turn this painting in as my first homework. On Zhaoming's figure class, we only have two homework assignments. This one and the final project. Even though this painting made me working really hard, but I am very happy I have achieved this major milestone in my art career.

This morning I walked to the studio (I usually take school shuttle or Muni). I climbed the steep Jones Street. After I got on the top of hill and panting, I saw the beautiful scene of the Fisherman's Wharf and the ocean. Similarly in my art journey, AAU is one of the hilltops. Before I got there I saw it is my destination. The road ends there. But now, I am arrived at this hilltop. I see the road is keeping going and leads me to another destination. Here at AAU, my painting is very mediocre, I have met a few very talented young artists. I will introduce their work to you when I get a chance.

"AAU Figure Painting 3 (Day 2)"

Today, I worked on this figure painting from life. It is the second day on this one. I don't have enough experience of doing a painting more than one day. All my previous two figure paintings were not very successful. On the second day, I worked on modeling the details. The hardest part was painting the shadow side. I don't want to show too much, but I can't leave it out. I am happy with this one because I have seen progress. When I did my first multi-day figure painting, the painting got worse on the second day. For my second figure painting, the second day work didn't make too much difference than that of the first day. For this painting (the third one), it looks better on the second day. I have one more day working on this painting. I hope I will not ruin it.

"Head Study 070512"

I did this head study from a photo I took today.

Quite a few friends commented that I should talk more detail what I have learned at AAU. I will try my best to do that. The first thing I have learned from Zhaoming's class is the relationship between unity and details. For instance with this head study, before I model the details of the eyes, nose, mouth, and ear, I need to make sure the value are unified to convey the general egg shape of the head. In the light part, The forehead is the brightest, then cheek is a little dimmer, the area above the lips should be even dimmer, and the light area of the chin is much much dimmer. All these value relationships makes the head look solid. Many time when we paint details, we tend to pay attention only on the value difference in a small area and ignore the unity of the entire painting. So the head look flat. This principle applies not only to portrait and figure painting, it applies to all genres.

"AAU Figure Painting 3 (Day 1)"

Today, I have started a new figure painting. It will take 3 days to finish. This image shows what I got so far. The color of painting becomes more important now. I feel more confident in dealing with proportion, anatomy, and modeling. Painting large is no longer a problem. Gradually, I will be able to pay more attention to edges, composition, paint quality, and details. The progress is noticeable.