Metalica - Part 2

Metalica
by Jane McElvany Coonce

So here is the finished product, "Metalica", but I will continue on with how I ended up with this painting and the steps it took to get there.

After the first day, the painting was very wet.  To speed the drying time, I put it in front of a heat lamp overnight.  This made the paint dry so that I could continue working on it.  If it were still wet, it would be hard to get my lights on there without blending in with the first coat.

So the 2nd day, I have a dry painting and I begin to put on thicker paint.

Step 4 : I started with the top half and began to develop the plate, the metal cups and pitcher,the apple and the yellow bird pitcher with the stick candy in it.  Notice I paint the stick candy in solidly without stripes.  This is so I get the form of the sticks and make them look 3 dimensional.  The stripes will be added later.  I also block in a background with thicker paint, but I will come back to the background later.  All of this work takes the whole 2nd day.  Again, I take the painting home and put it in front of the heat lamp so that it will be dry the next day.

Day 3:  I focus on the bottom half of the painting (the table cloth) and refine the whole painting.

Step 5:  This time I focus on the cloth.  I work out the folds (the light areas and the dark areas of the cloth.)  At the same time, I add the pattern on the cloth.  The pattern of the cloth repeats the colors of the metal cups and pitcher.  I also to back and refine the upper half.  I put the stripes on the stick candy and add the little hard candies on the table top.  I go back and refine the yellow bird pitcher, adding some of the orange reflected light on the side of the bird.  I also play up the reflections in the metal pitcher and the silver plate.  I add the highlights to each of the items to make them sparkle and shine.  I work on the "portrait" in the plate, but keep it blurred since it's not really the focal point.  I add a little more thick paint to the background, throwing in a few colors from the cloth and the plate to repeat the colors that are throughout the painting.

It's a wild painting, but fun to do.  After 3 days, I'm finished and exhausted.  All that is left to do is sign it.  I usually wait until the painting is dry before I sign it.  That way, if I mess up the signature, I can wipe it and do it again without affecting the paint underneath.

Step 5 

Step # 4

Metalica - Part 1

Metalica
by Jane McElvany Coonce

Many of you have told me how much you enjoyed the step by step process of painting that I did with the Key Bridge.  So I thought I would do it again.  This time it will be of a still life I did.  I worked on it 3 days, straight all day long, drying it at night with my space heater.

Every spring and fall, I go up to Woodstock, VA and paint with a group of friends that I've know for years.  My art mentor and former art teacher, Diane Tesler, comes back from Indiana to see all of her old students.  Still lifes are set up and we paint for 3 days straight.  It's heavenly.  No laundry , no cooking, no waiting on anyone except myself.  It's a tight knit group and it's like going back to a class reunion every time.

So this is the still life I did in November.  I call it "Metalica" because it has those metal cups that we used to have when I was a kid.  There's even a self portrait in the silver plate!

So here is how I started.    I've numbered them so you can see the progression.  I'll do part one today and part 2 tomorrow.


 #1   I begin with a pencil sketch on paper so that I can determine what size canvas I want to use.

#1  Pencil Sketch

#2   On the canvas, I start  by drawing with paint.  I'm concentrating on the composition and placement of the items on the canvas.

#2 Draw with paint

#3  I begin to block in the objects with a thin layer of color.  Things at this stage may move later on, but I need to get something down so I can see what's working and what isn't.  This is all I get done the first day.

#3 Begin to block in

Ft Smith Results

Evening Over Georgetown
by Jane McElvany Coonce

Friday nights reception was a huge success.  Thanks to all of you that came out on such a cold night.  It was great seeing so many of my friends.

Two of my paintings found a new home.  The first one is a Key Bridge painting that I did in very monochromatic colors.  In class, one of the projects I did with my students was monochromatic paintings.  I did a few myself.  This was one of the paintings I did from the monochromatic series.

The other one that found it's way into a new home is the painting that is my Christmas card this year, "Black Capped Chickadee."  I encourage my students to do a Christmas card painting.  That way there friends can see what they've been doing.  I always try to do one, too.

I haven't even started addressing the Christmas cards yet.  I need to get through Thanksgiving first!  Hard to believe that Christmas is only a month away.

Black Capped Chickadee
by Jane McElvany Coonce

Shrink Wrap at Ft. Smith

Summer's Bounty
by Jane McElvany Coonce

As an artist, I do many paintings a year.  It gets expensive to frame everything.  So sometimes, I'll just mat it and put it in a plastic cover and not frame it.  I sell it at a reduced cost because I know the patron has to go out and buy a frame. We call these pieces of art "shrinkwrap."  I also switch out paintings from shrink wrap to frames so that I can show pieces in places where a frame is necessary.  However, at Ft Smith this weekend, I will have both framed pieces and shrink wrap pieces.

Above is a watercolor called "Summer's Bounty."  It's a still life that I painted from life.  It would be great for a kitchen or breakfast nook.

Wintertime for a Chickadee
by Jane McElvany Coonce

Another piece I did was called "Wintertime for a Chickadee." It also is a shrink wrap that is very inexpensive.  This was a fun one to do because I used kosher salt in the background to give it texture.  It looks like ice crystals on the branches.  I hope you'll get by and see the paintings not only on the walls but also in the shrink wrap bins.  Lots of bargains there!

Ft Smith runs this weekend from Friday night to Sunday afternoon.  The reception is Friday night from 6-8 pm.  

Ft. Smith Reception: Friday, Nov 21, 2014

Friday Night Traffic
by Jane McElvany Coonce

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This Friday night is the reception at Ft. Smith.  If you have never been to this event, you are missing something.  It is a fun event with beautiful art.  I will be there and will be looking for you.  I've got paintings, framed and unframed, and cards!  So come by and have some wine with me.

The show runs Nov 21-23 (Friday - Sunday).
Hours:  Friday 6-8 pm
             Saturday  10-5
             Sunday    12-4
Address:  2411 N. 24th St. Arlington, VA.
There is plenty of parking so stop by if you can.  I'd love to see you.

Evening Time in Georgetown
by Jane McElvany Coonce

Sold 2 Key Bridge Paintings Today

Twilight Over Georgetown"
by Jane McElvany Coonce

I had a good day today.  The Art League, located at the Torpedo Factory in Old Town Alexandria, sold my large painting of Key Bridge.  A classmate of mine from high school bought it, and he has graciously agreed to leave it up for the remainder of the show.  So get down to The Art League and see this massive painting before it goes into a private collection!

The 2nd Key Bridge painting sold at ARTregeous, the first annual fundraiser art auction for the Arlington Artists Alliance.  It was held tonight at the Gallery Underground tonight in Crystal City.  Three of my friends were bidding on it, and one of them finally won!  I'm thrilled that both of my paintings ended up with someone I know.

If you missed ARTregeous, you missed a fantastic event.  You'll have to make sure you make it next year.  It was fun with lots of great live music and delicious food.  McCormick and Schmick's served bacon stuffed shrimp the size of lobsters!!!! ( Well, maybe not that big, but almost!) Everyone had a blast and we have many new art collectors.

View From Footbridge of Roosevelt Island
by Jane McElvany Coonce

ARTregeous

Twilight over Georgetown
by Jane McElvany Coonce

There is a really cool event happening this Friday at the Gallery Underground in Crystal City.  It's the Arlington Artists Alliance first fund raiser in the form of an art auction.  It's called ARTrageous.  It will be held this Friday, Nov 7 from 5 - 9 pm.   Bidding starts at 6 pm.  All paintings are priced at $100.
If you have ever wanted to own a Key Bridge/Georgetown painting but couldn't afford it, now is the time to strike.  This painting is 15 x 30 inches and is done in oils.  This painting will be going home with someone on Friday night, so why not make it YOU!

There will be plenty of paintings, sculptures, pottery and jewelry to chose from.  Over 100 works were donated for this event.  There are also some special auction items such as a week at Lake George, painting lessons, pet portrait and many more.  There is even a wine basket you can bid on.   This would be a great place to start your holiday shopping.

Become an art collector and start your collection at ARTregeous.  You can get a look at these works of art ahead of time.  One way is to go over to the gallery this week and pick out what you'd like to have.  Another way is to go to Flickr and type in Gallery Underground.

Friday night should be a lot of fun.  There is live music by Suburban Hearts.  And of course refreshments will be served!  I will be there all evening, so please stop by and party with me!