Layering Bird Totems….

Day 5 detail shot of the figures this is when the planning begins on the figures

5 days into the piece and it is taking shape and being lost in the many layers.

I thought I would share a bit of the studio work in progress. I am wrapping up work for my show in Atlanta in September at Tew Galleries and wanted to do a little art stretching and try a little experimentation with oil paint and cold wax. I am working on vellum paper for this one. The subtle velvet texture of the paper is a good complement to the oil and wax. It has a slight grip that holds the paint in the first layers well and allows me to layer fairly quickly at this stage. I will lose the translucency of the paper rather quickly, but it is nice in the beginning to have that aspect of the vellum.

Day 5 detail of the textures developing

You can click on each image to get a larger size to see the texture detail.

Day 7 of layering and working on the figures. The challenge is to get enough detail without losing the anonymity and the content of the painting as a whole. Too much it becomes a particular thing and too little it is not significant.

Day 7 the figures are being worked on then lost in the texture then found again in details

Day 9

Looking at the last stage on day 7 and I am thinking the yellow gold in the bottom is just not quite in sync with my thoughts for this painting, so I begin to layer more on that part of the painting, and work more on the whole piece with thin layers of varying neutral tones. In between the layering process I am working on the texture in places and losing and then reinstating the edges of the figures. It is a love/hate process, as at some points I love it and think I am finished,only to look again and see that I need more depth in the painting.

Detail of Day 9 shows I finessed a good bit on the figures. I redefined some of the values. I want the piece to be about the figures, but I want the textures to tell the story of the softness of the feeling I am trying to express in the painting. I will work a bit more on it but this piece is nearing the finish at this point.

Today I spent a lot of time just looking and thinking on the painting. I was quite sure I needed to loose the yellow gold at the bottom of the painting and worked in many more layers to soften it and give it more depth, which gave it weight, but did not leave it looking as bottom heavy as it did to me in the day 7 ending photo.

I find it interesting to see the process other artists go through to achieve a finished piece and thought I would share mine.

Thank you for reading my blog, I hope it in some way helps and interests you about art and painting.

Take care,

Cathy Hegman

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About Cathy S. Hegman

Art, much like a road links people together both visually and mentally. One can attain a glimpse inside the artist’s soul by studying the artist’s work, and perhaps find something that links them to the artist and the art. A work of art has the ability to resonate and touch the emotions without regard to age, gender, race, or religion through the application of pigment to canvas or paper. Art can be the voice that cries out without limits, or sometimes whispers the thoughts of the creator. Art speaks silently, yet conjures up feelings and gives satisfaction that is undeniable, and yet intrinsic. It validates our need to learn about ourselves, and gives us freedom to search for our own identities. The road is long and often dusty, but always renewing the spirit with inspiration. It is my hope in this lifetime to give a part of what I have learned through and on my journey with others. The deepest form of us is revealed in our thoughts and my art is the translation of my thoughts to paper and canvas. I paint layers of color and line to create a history of marks that will guide the viewer into my world of thought and engage them in the process. I embed personal symbols throughout my art to give it deeper meaning. I encourage you to think about life in a visual way and to contemplate our connections with each other and the world we share.

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2 Responses to Layering Bird Totems….

ĽAdelaide says:

July 9, 2015 at 12:04 am

Your work is evocative, it makes me feel. Art that emerges from those deeply held places within, inspires. My gratitude to you for sharing. I look forward to exploring more of your work in the days ahead…

- Cathy S. Hegman says:
  
  July 9, 2015 at 4:31 am
  
  Thank you so much!