Juicy Brushstrokes...

Ma Lo, 9 x 12, oil on linen, email me for purchase

Studio Diary

January 4th.

Busy day in the studio today. Get to start a new commission of a lady by a Koi pond although I have been sketching it up in my head for a while - and a TV interview in the afternoon, all of which I am look forward to.

Here is a sketch I did from life last night of Ma Lo, who I call the most beautiful woman in the world. I love juicy brushwork. The hardest thing is to put a brush stroke down that you kinda know is good and leave it alone. People say I am a fast painter. I think I paint fast because the more I work at something, painting from life, the more I seem to ruin it. I like to get in and out fast. A spontaneous look. Use the brush loaded with paint and carve out the forms, hoping to get the right color-value correct. That's the plan at least.

However, painters like Jeremy Lipking, who I was painting with last night, seem to be absolutely genius, at getting the slower, more considered finish, just right.

What do you think?