New David Update

This is my latest. Major changes, as you can see. The mountains just seemed to overwhelm David and I just felt that had to be changed. I did not want to detract from David. I did finally give him sandals. Still not ready to sign, need to live with it this way for a while.

Mahalo for following this project. Will be back soon with the finish.

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Another David Project Update

As much as I wanted to put more time into this project, time was pretty limited last week and it doesn’t look any better for next week. However, that being said I decided to learn more about King David’s life during those times that I wasn’t painting. I thought it would make this painting more real to me.

I started reading about David in the Bible with the book of 1 Samuel. David makes his appearance in 1 Samuel 16, after God has rejected Saul as king over Israel and sends Samuel to Bethlehem to the home of a man named Jesse. The Lord told Samuel that He had chosen one of Jesse’s sons to be king over Israel. Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel and none of them “passed muster.” Samuel asked Jesse, “Are these all the sons you have?” Jesse replies that there was still the youngest, David, and he was out tending the sheep. David was sent for and all activity halted until his arrival on the scene. On David’s arrival it is said that…” he was ruddy, with a fine appearance and handsome features.” In researching him even more on the Internet…I discovered that he is supposed to have had red hair and some paintings of him from way, way back show him with red hair, so I have given my David red hair.

The story of King David from the time of his anointing to the time of his death in 1 Kings 2 proved to be very, very interesting. He reigned as king for 40 years…33 of those years was as king over all of Israel. Although I’ve known of David and his exploits, i.e., Goliath, Bathsheba, etc., and read about him in the Bible before…reading about him this time, I seem to have learned much more in depth about the boy David then the man than I had ever known before. Did it help me with this painting? It most certainly did.

Sing Praise
24x20 oil on stretched canvas

I still have quite a bit before considering this piece finished. I’ve changed his mouth to make him be singing. Not sure whether I like the mountain directly behind him or not. The pasture area needs work and I’ve got to put his sandals on him. Also, still need to work some on his clothing. His legs sure gave me problems. Thank goodness, with my son’s help and posing I think I got it now.

This is where I am now. I’m hoping to work on him some today.

> There are 3 ways you can make a real difference to this blog.
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Update to the David Project

This past week has been quite hectic, so I have not been able to put as much time into this project as I would've liked. What little I have done, I will post here. Hopefully the upcoming week will be more productive.



I have worked on bringing the intensity of the mid-range mountains down and glazing down the far mountain to put them more in the distance. I have problems with edges, so will focus on which edges should be soft and which should be hard. I put more detail into the grassy knoll, which still needs work, and some detailing on the lambs. Worked some on the cast shadows, but don’t know if I’ve rendered those realistically enough. I have reference pictures to work from, but none show me how the cast shadows should be rendered. Of interest is the indentation in the hillside of the grassy area…that was accidental, but I think I’ll keep that in…of course rework it some. This week I do want to start laying in the color on David.

Hmmm…it’s been a while since I posted about Hawaii’s past and legends. Will try to think of something interesting for next time.

Also, I want to say how much I appreciate the comments made by those of you who visit here.

> There are 3 ways you can make a real difference to this blog.
1. Share the link to this site with just one other artist, art collector, or someone who would be interested.
2. Post your thoughts in the Comments section.
3. Email your ideas and/or suggestions on what you would like to read/see more of to lokeforrest@comcast.net

Progress on David

Thought I would post the progress I’ve made on my David painting. Nearly done with the underpainting. Today I am planning to lay in another layer on the grassy knoll and refine the figure.



I corrected the length of his legs because anatomically they were too short for the figure. I don’t know how I missed that. Fortunately, a Wetcanvas artist noticed and brought it to my attention. David looks more anatomically correct now. Making his legs longer and adding the two lambs in the foreground took care of the “too much negative space” problem that I felt I had. Oh yes, gotta put his sandals on…LOL! Anyway, this is where I am now.

On a different note, over the past couple of days Middle Tennessee has had the most snowfall that I can remember since the first year I moved here. Here are a couple of pictures of this beautiful winter wonderland. I believe the total snowfall in our area is 4". Lovely, but I've had enough cold and winter this year. Anxious for spring to arrive.





























Thank you so much for coming by.

> There are 3 ways you can make a real difference to this blog.
1. Share the link to this site with just one other artist, art collector, or someone who would be interested.
2. Post your thoughts in the Comments section.
3. Email your ideas and/or suggestions on what you would like to read/see more of at lokeforrest@comcast.net

My New Project

I have started a new project and am into it about 12 hours. It is going to be my submission to our church’s First Annual Art Festival, which is scheduled for April. The theme of the festival is “Praise Him.” Just in case you don’t recognize the depiction, this is the shepherd boy David. He is praising God in song. A couple of weeks ago I was at a stagnant place in my art. Not doing much of anything except sketching periodically, but with no desire to paint. I have been doing sketches of the ideas that came to mind for this piece and now that I’ve decided and started on my submission, I am excited. It is oil on 20x24 stretched canvas. I will show my progress beginning with the two I’ve posted below…



I first sketched directly onto the canvas using hard vine charcoal, and then sprayed with Fixatif to keep the charcoal from smearing and thereby losing my line work. The sketching took me about eight hours. I had my 18-year old grandson pose for me so that I could get the position of David anatomically correct. In using him for this purpose, I decided to use his facial features for David. My conception of David was to be a young David so I would imagine that David at that same age would probably have had the same physical structure as my grandson. I also thought that David’s hair and his complexion would most probably be very much like my grandson. He doesn’t know yet that I am using more than his pose for this painting.



This is where I am now. The background has been roughed in. I think the mid range of mountains is too intense in color, so I will be glazing over that section to bring the intensity of the color down some. I will next work on the underpainting of the figure. Thank goodness for the internet...I've been able to research and download images that I've used as reference instead of guessing at what it may have been like at that time.

As far as a title goes; I am usually inspired for a title while I am doing the piece. In this case, the title that keeps coming to mind is "Sing Praise." That comes from a worship song that we do in church. If anyone has a better title, I would love to hear it.

Thanks so much for visiting.

> There are 3 ways you can make a real difference to this blog.
1. Share the link to this site with just one other artist, art collector, or someone who would be interested.
2. Post your thoughts in the Comments section.
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Practice, Practice, and more Practice

Couple of days ago I blogged on being stuck. Trying to get unstuck is what this entry is all about.

I have been told countless times and read countless articles that the way to better your artistic skills is through practice, practice, and more practice. I have come to the conclusion that, that statement is totally true and unless I “bite the bullet” and work on a painting EVERY day I will never reach the level of expertise that I aspire to. That being said, I put a little 9x14 practice oil painting that I’ve been working on off and on for a few months back on my easel in an attempt to finish it. It is a study of a painting done by William Bouguereau ”Petite fille au bouquet.” William Bouguereau is a master of the arts who was not only a painter, but a teacher, frescoist (Someone who paints on a surface of plaster esp. while it is still moist. I had to look up that word.), and draftsman as well. He lived from 1825 – 1905 and is considered one of history’s greatest artistic geniuses.

Anyway, to break this block that I’ve been experiencing I am trying to finish this painting.



Because I want to better my portraiture skills, I decided to do just the head and shoulders of his wonderful painting, which I will post below. Sorry couldn't get the picture any larger.

Petite fille au bouquet

By William Bouguereau

My version looks older, but that’s what practice is about. Practice until you get it right. And too, maybe this little bit of doing will get the artistic juices flowing again.

FYI…For those of you who may not know, you can find this artist’s work and all of the great masters at http://www.artrenewal.org.

Mahalo for visiting.

> There are 3 ways you can make a real difference to this blog.
1. Share the link to this site with just one other artist, art collector, or someone who would be interested.
2. Post your thoughts in the Comments section.
3. Email your ideas and/or suggestions on what you would like to read/see more of to lokeforrest@comcast.net

I'm Stuck

Yes, I am at a stuck place. I have not put brush to canvas in almost two weeks. I have; however, sketched some, but cannot seem to muster the desire to paint. For Christmas I received a gift certificate for an art store from my grandson. I was excited about that and almost immediately redeemed it for new brushes and several canvases – but those packages are still unopened.

Back in November 2009, I contacted our church’s Minister of Music whose ministry also includes the arts of Drama and Visual Arts. I presented him with the idea of a visual arts art festival…a way to give local artists, professionals as well as amateurs and students, a chance to showcase their talent. The theme “Praise Him” was selected around which all artists would create a piece or pieces of work. Anyway, he went for the idea and the art show is coming up in April.

I plan to enter a couple of pieces. One idea that came to mind is the shepherd boy David, on his harp, praising and glorifying God with his songs. I came up with three different versions of that idea, but am not totally happy with any of them. Here’s what I have….



I am at a loss. Maybe what I need to do is start with a new idea. What to do, what to do. I’ll take any ideas you may have.






Thanks for listening…now maybe I’ll go stand in front of the blank canvas I have sitting on the easel and see if I get an inspiration.

Until next time...take care!


> There are 3 ways you can make a real difference to this blog.
1. Share the link to this site with just one other artist, art collector, or someone who would be interested.
2. Post your thoughts in the Comments section.
3. Email your ideas and/or suggestions on what you would like to read/see more of at lokeforrest@comcast.net