Stacy Weitz Minch

8x8" It seemed like a good day for a carefree sketch of something. I haven't painted in a couple weeks, and maybe I'm missing it. Or maybe I'm just itching for a change from what I've been doing lately. This is me playing with paint and not thinking too hard--just letting the brush go.  I need that sometimes. These little studies may not be much, but I do think they are more helpful than I give them credit for. The mistakes made here are small, the pressure is low, and the lessons learned can be applied right away to the next little painting. So maybe I'll try to do it more. Or maybe I won't--just taking it day by day right now. I think this was 30-45 minutes or somewhere around there.

8x10, water mixable oil on canvas panel, 2/21/16 (sorry for the glare--just couldn't find an angle that didn't have it) I've been apprehensive to attempt a copy of a Sargent painting. He's so brilliant, and his drawings are hard enough to copy :P But I admire his skill so much, and I guess I was feeling particularly ambitious or fearless or something last night and decided to just go for it.  I don't think I was using quite the right color mix for the skin tones--his seemed more saturated somehow (I'm thinking maybe he was using yellow ochre? versus my cadmium yellow med. It seems like ochre has some serious tinting power). One fun thing about "drawing" with paint versus pencil or charcoal is that you can manipulate the "line" from both sides, if that makes sense...  Anyway, it was a fun experience, and I'm not totally horrified with how it came out (which I thought I probably would be). Of course it doesn't look exactl...

6x6, water mixable oil on canvas panel, 12/2/15 I don't know why I keep trying to paint these roses--the color is impossible. It's making me think I should start on one of those massive color chart projects to see if I can figure out a way to duplicate what I'm seeing ;) Yes. I should, I should, I should. But I don't waaaaant to. It feels too much like homework ;) On another note, flowers. And painting in general. I'm starting to realize that it's all about simplification and holding back (hmmm, not so successful with this painting--I got a little stroke happy with those petals). Which before this year was something I would have never really supposed (doesn't it seem like when you look at a very realistic painting, that there is so much detail work?). But for the painter, it's all about leaving things out and only putting what is absolutely necessary--eliminating the details (where possible) and simplifying the scene into distinct masses for the v...

6x6, water mixable oil on canvas board, 9/20/15 They had these adorable pears on sale for 33 cents a pound this week. You just might see them again :)

6x6", water mixable oil on board, 9/16/15 An apple a day, you know ;) Somehow, they are always the most willing subjects, and I find it so challenging to study the shaded side of these dark red apples.