Adventures of the Brush

West Color Study

2012-02-13T16:45:00.005-06:00

West Color Study I.
Watercolor & White Gouache
8X10, Regular Paper

North, South, East, & West

2012-02-01T13:53:00.010-06:00

Here are the first two compositions for my North, South, East, & West painting series. Ive also finished some compositions for Earth, Air, Fire & Water. All eight painting will be displayed together. Ill try and post these as I finish them.

West & East Compositions
5X7 each, Pencil
West
East

Coffee Shop Portraits

2012-01-25T20:03:00.005-06:00

Coffee Shop Sketchbook
Lilly's Portrait
Pencil, Micron Pen 01, Watercolors, & White Gouache
4X7, Sketchbook Paper

I sketched this portrait awhile back at a local coffee shop. Lilly was a regular there and asked me to draw her. I added the trees to add some atmosphere. I loosely inked my drawing and colored it with my watercolors, and just a little white gouache.

Thank You Card

2012-01-20T01:06:00.011-06:00

Here's a peek at a personalized thank you card that Im mailing out tomorrow. I hope the recipient likes it.

Little Rabbit
Watercolor & White Gouache
the size of an Altoids Can

I enjoy making my own thank you cards. I usually keep them pretty simple.

I used White Gouache, and these watercolors; Yellow Ochre, Alizarin Crimson, Transparent Oxide Red, Ultramarine Blue, Cobalt Blue, and Viridian.

I mixed a bit of Alizarin and Ultramarine to make a Violet for those background trees. I grayed the Violet with a mixture of Yellow Ochre and Viridian. I used the Colbalt Blue to outline the trees and make them vibrate against the white of the card which is also the sky.

Bouguereau Study of Adelaide

2012-01-10T14:08:00.005-06:00

Hey guys,

I just came across this portrait study by Adelaide Labille-Guiard and its seems to be very similar to Bouguereau's study. It seems Bouguereau got some inspiration from Adelaide. Anyone else see the similarities?

And below is my study of Bouguereau's Study

Happy New Year!

2012-01-01T09:41:00.014-06:00

Happy New Year to everyone, and a Happy New Year to all you artist, paint well.

Check it out, Im on Artist Daily's Home page as the Featured Artist of the Month! Cool way to start the year off! http://www.artistdaily.com/

My Bed,
Oil on Linen, 8X10

Painted on a night I was having trouble sleeping, around 2 in the morning. I used Lots of Raw Umber in my mixtures, so the paint would dry fast.

And below is a quick sketch I did a couple of days ago. This was done in one sitting, with wet into wet paint. This is a sort of memory study, meaning, I didnt have a model, it was based off of my study of Bouguereau's At the foot of the Cliff. I even reversed the figure in my mind to make it more interesting.

Memory Sketch/Color Study
Oil on Linen, about 6X10

Heres a link to the original study: http://jasons-brush.blogspot.com/2011/02/bouguereau-study.html

Sketchbook Tales

2011-11-27T16:46:00.009-06:00

My take on the Gollum character from The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings.

Ill probably ink this, and give it a monochrome watercolor wash.

More Imaginary Figures

2011-11-26T22:02:00.006-06:00

Little Red Cap, Also Known as Little Red Riding Hood
7X7, Pencil Sketch

Im planning on painting the Goddess Circe, from Greek Mythology, and these are some of my ideas, so far.

From my Sketchbook

2011-11-23T16:17:00.010-06:00

My sketchbooks are full of imaginary figures, its a good practice to draw from the imagination. For me, it makes it much easier to compose a final painting using an actual model.

Laurel Wreath
7X10

And here is my initial color study for this painting.

I gesso the pages of my sketchbook and then tone them with Golden Acrylics N6 Neutral Gray. Then paint directly on them with oils. Great for quick color studies. Once the oil is dry to the touch, I put a piece of tracing paper in between each page to prevent them from sticking together or rubbing away the oil paint.

New Plein Air Sketch

2011-10-10T19:05:00.006-05:00

A Boy and his Dog Statue

8X10, Oil on Linen

Here's a quick oil sketch. I focused on the large light and dark shapes, and blocked the entire picture in quickly. These quick sketches make nice color studies.

Note: For quick sketches, I just use Gamsol to thin my paint. I paint with a combination of thin paint and thick paint. The thicker paint is usually in the light areas.

Chandler and Lilies

2011-09-23T10:30:00.003-05:00

Chandler & Lilies
8X10, Oil on Linen
by Jason Peck

This portrait is just about finished. I still have to make one more pass over her legs and feet to bring the lights up to full strength, and there are a couple of other areas I may go back over, but otherwise its about done. The Medium I used to finish is a mixture that consist of 1 part Stand Oil, 1 part Dammar Varnish, and 5 parts Turpentine.

Get to Know Me Better

2011-09-17T01:11:00.006-05:00

Hello fellow Adventurers in Art,

If you've ever wanted to know more about me, just check out this awesome article written by Richard Senti. Richard is the Assistant Director of Publications for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. I really enjoyed my interview with him, hes a very nice guy, and he did a great job on the article.

http://quest.mda.org/news/jason-peck-artist-with-dm-teaches-others

On my Easel, A New Portrait

2011-09-12T21:13:00.014-05:00

My initial ideas start with a simple thumbnail sketch. This is to help me layout my composition. This one is about 5X7 inches.

I normally do a careful drawing on paper, but because this painting is very small, 8X10, I started my drawing in paint right on the canvas. I then quickly scrubbed in the average colors with very thin paint. Basically, straight paint, thinned with Gamsol.

Below is the second layer. Im painting one area at a time, and making any design changes on this layer. I wanted more contrast on her dress, so I painted the shrubbery right over the stone block, up to the side of her dress. This will need to dry before finishing that area. My medium for the second pass is a 50/50 mixture of Turpentine, and Stand Oil.

Ill post the finished painting soon, and talk about the medium Ill use for the finishing touches.

My Palette

1.Titanium White
2. Cadmium Yellow Medium
3. Yellow Ochre Pale
4. Cadmium Orange
5. Cadmium Red
6. Alizarin Permanent
7. Burnt Sienna
8. French Ultramarine Blue
9. Cobalt Blue
10. Viridian
11. Raw Umber
12. Ivory Black
13. Kings Blue Light

Note: I mix Raw Umber into any mixture that I want to dry quickly. I use it almost like its a fast drying medium. It works great. The green area that I blocked in over the stone, is a mixture of Cad. Yellow Medium, Ultramarine Blue, and Raw Umber. It was dry the next day.

Model Stand

2011-09-02T17:47:00.009-05:00

Here's my model stand. Its 18 inches from the floor to the top. That's the height of most piano benches.

Also, I happen to glance out my window today and saw this butterfly. I took these pics in my backyard.

Here is the same butterfly, right outside my window. I was lucky to get this photo. As soon as I snapped the pic it flew away.

My Old Cap 2

2011-08-14T18:45:00.010-05:00

My Old Cap I
9X12, Oil on Canvas

My Old Cap II
8X10, Oil on Linen
Source Tek Panel, C-12TS

I just finished this one today.

More from my Sketchbook

2011-08-07T18:55:00.004-05:00

Lion's Head Sketch
Pencil, Ink, and Watercolor

From my old dusty Portfolio

2011-07-29T02:18:00.012-05:00

I painted this portrait some time ago.

Early stage of the painting

Oil on Gessoed Board, 11X17

This is the last painting I ever painted with a completely imaginative background. After this one, I started painting everything from life.

The Pieta by Jason Peck

2011-07-20T20:39:00.017-05:00

The Pieta
pencil, & watercolor, on stained paper, 8X10
by Jason Peck

pencil, and watercolor, 8X10

Pen & Ink Drawing, & watercolor, 5X7

pencil, pen & ink sketch, & watercolor, 8X10

Limited Palette

2011-06-21T12:53:00.005-05:00

Study of a Bouguereau study. Oil on palette paper. This is just straight paint thinned with Gamsol.

1. Titanium White________W&N
2. Cadmium Yellow Medium_Gamblin
3. Cadmium Red Light_____Gamblin
4. Ivory Black___________W&N

This is to show the wide range of colors you can mix from such a limited palette.

Sketchbook

2011-06-18T22:56:00.004-05:00

A quick watercolor sketch. I did this with a water brush, and a small pocket watercolor set.

Recent Painting

2011-06-10T00:23:00.005-05:00

My Bed
8X10, Oil on Linen

Sneak Peek of the WeeK

2011-05-25T12:09:00.007-05:00

Hey Guys,

Here is a unfinished painting, I still have much to do before Its finished.

A look at my current palette.

From Right to Left, the colors are:

1.Ultramarine Blue
2.Cobalt Blue
3.Viridian
4.Cad. Yellow Medium
5.Yellow Ochre
6.Naples Yellow
7.Titanium White
8.Cad. Orange
9.Cad. Red
10.Alizarin Permanent - Gamblin
11.Burnt Sienna - W&N
12.Mars Brown - Old Holland
13.Burnt Umber
14.Ivory Black

From My Imagination

2011-05-20T10:50:00.006-05:00

I do sketches and color studies like these all the time from my imagination. The imagination is a powerful tool for the artist, its good to use it.

Oil Sketch

Paintings from my Past

2011-05-20T10:34:00.005-05:00

I painted this Mural for my Church, years ago. This Mural is at Richland Baptist Church, in Memphis Tn, for anyone interested in seeing it.

Unfortunately, I dont have a photo of the finished Mural, Ill try and get one taken soon.

From My Sketchbook

2011-05-15T00:20:00.004-05:00

Sketch

From My Sketchbook

2011-05-13T15:15:00.005-05:00

Leg Studies for the same painting as the previous 2 post

Soon, Ill start posting the actual painting that these studies belong to.

Part I.
Part II.
Part III.

From My Sketchbook

2011-05-02T03:41:00.009-05:00

Sketch

From My Sketchbook

2011-04-29T15:16:00.004-05:00

Below is Burnt Sienna, Viridian, and the addition of Yellow Ochre. I add Yellow Ochre If I want to quickly see a flesh tone. Burnt Sienna serves as a red.

From My Sketchbook

2011-04-16T14:08:00.003-05:00

Portrait of Bouguereau,
Sketch, 7X10
by Jason Peck

From my Sketchbook

2011-04-16T00:45:00.001-05:00

Study of a Bouguereau, 7X10
by Jason Peck

A Painting I Miss

2011-04-12T15:24:00.010-05:00

I know Ive posted this painting before but these are the original pictures taken as it was painted. Its nice to see a painting in its various stages.

As you can see my block ins are rather loose, but I do know where Im going with it. Its really all about drawing. Im drawing and then filling the drawing in with thin washes of color. Once everything is in place, I begin to use less medium and thicker paint to finish.

Oil on Linen, 8X10

From my Sketchbook

2011-04-12T13:12:00.004-05:00

Mary
Pencil, 6X8
by Jason Peck

From my Sketchbook

2011-04-11T13:49:00.005-05:00

A Page from my Sketchbook
This is an oil sketch on paper

William Bouguereau's Palette

2011-04-10T16:53:00.035-05:00

Hey Guys,

Here is Bouguereau's palette presented in the form of a color wheel.

If you have ever read Mark Walkers article, Bouguereau At Work, then you know Bouguereau is reported to have used this palette:

1.Naples Yellow (lead antimoniate)
2.Yellow-Ochre
3.Chrome Yellow, dark
4.Viridian
5.Cobalt Blue
6.White Lead
7.Light Vermilion
8.Chinese Vermilion
9.Mars Brown (iron oxide); this available from Lefranc & Bourgeois
10.Van Dyck Brown
11.Burnt Sienna
12.Ivory Black
13.Bitumen
14.Genuine Rose Madder, dark

It is also noted that Bouguereau never mentions a specific palette, and probably experimented with many other colors, as his notebooks suggest.

Im not sure why Mark Walker list Mars Brown as one of Bouguereaus pigments, Originally this pigment is written in French as Brun Rouge and it seems to translate to Brown Red.

Mars Brown is a low chroma earth violet. You can mix up a close match to Mars Brown using Cad. Red Light and Ivory black.

I think Bouguereau likely used an earth red like Venetian Red.

Allot of the information on Bouguereau's technique, and materials, including his palette, actually comes from Charles Moreau-Vauthiers book, Comment on Peint Auhourd'hui 1923. English title, How One Paints Today.

BOUGUEREAU.
Jaune de Naples — Ocre jaune — Jaune de chrome
foncé — Vert émeraude — Bleu de cobalt — Blanc
d'argent — Vermillon clair — Vermillon de Chine —
Brun rouge — Brun Van Dyck — Terre de Sienne
brûlée — Noir d'ivoire — Bitume — Laque de garance
foncée.

Follow the link below to read this book. The book is in French, but you can use Googles translator to read it in English. The book also provides us with information on many other great painters.

http://www.archive.org/details/commentonpeintau00moreuoft

Below is Bouguereau's painting titled L'art et la Litterature, Art and Literature 1867, and at the bottom of this painting we see a palette left by Bouguereau himself. Here you can see how Bouguereau laid out his palette.

In the newly released William Bouguereau Catalog Raisonné, on page 475 there is a picture of one of Bouguereau's actual physical palettes, and the layout is exactly the same as the picture above.

Some Additional Palettes from;

Charles Moreau Vauthier's
Comment on Peint Auhourd'hui
1923
How One Paints Today

Carolus-Duran. 
White Lead, Yellow Ochre, Cadmium Yellow Light,
Cadmium Yellow deep, Indian Yellow, Seville Earth,
Red Ochre, Vermilion, Rose Madder,Nasturtium Lacquer,
Firm Lacquer Madder, Burnt Sienna, Ultramarine Blue,
Cobalt Blue, Emerald Green, Brussels Brown, Ivory Black

David. 
Lead White, Naples Yellow,
Chrome Yellow, Yellow Ochre,
Gaude Lacquer, Natural Italian Earth,
Roman Ochre, Mars Orange,
Chinese Vermilion, Cinnabar Red,
Red Brown, Madder Lacquer,
Burnt Sienna, Cassel Earth,
Ivory Black, Peach Black,
Ultramarine Blue, Prussian Blue,
Mineral Blue

Delacroix.
Lead White, Naples Yellow, Zinc Yellow,
Yellow Ochre, Cobalt Blue, Emerald Green,
Burnt Sienna, Ivory Black, Bitumen, Mummy Brown

Jules DupRÉ.
Lead White, Naples Yellow, Indian Yellow,
Yellow Ochre, Yellow Lacquer, Lacquer Robert n 6?,
Natural Italian Earth, Roman Ochre, Raw Sienna,
Burnt Sienna, Mummy Brown, Bitumen,
Ivory Black, Fine Lacquer, Vermilion, Red Brown,
Cobalt Blue, Mineral Blue, Prussian Blue, Veronese Green,
Emerald Green

Gérôme.
Lead White, Cadmium Yellow, Yellow Ochre,
Mars Yellow, Vermilion, Red Brown,
Burnt Sienna, Rose Lacquer, Purple lacquer,
Emerald Green, Mineral Blue,
Cobalt Blue light, Ivory Black.

Ingres. 
Lead White, Naples Yellow, Yellow Ochre,
Raw Sienna, Natural Italian Earth, Roman Ochre,
Chinese Vermilion, Cinnabar Red, Red Brown,
lacquer Madder, Burnt Sienna, Van Dyck Brown,
Ivory Black, Cobalt Blue, Prussian Blue,
Mineral Blue

Aimé Morot 
Lead White, Zinc White, Yellow Ochre,
Red Ochre, Cadmium Yellow, Cadmium Red,
Raw Sienna, Burnt Sienna, Cobalt Blue,
Emerald Green, Rose Lacquer, Fine Carmine Lacquer,
Ivory Black

I went ahead and translated these for everyone the best I could.

Owl Done!

2011-04-03T15:38:00.005-05:00

The Owl & the Chair
10X14, Oil on Linen

Close Up of the Owl and the Chair

Owl Detail

Chair Detail

On my Easel Part 2

2011-04-02T19:06:00.005-05:00

Well Im almost finished with this painting. Here is a peak at the finished owl. Im still finishing the chair, and when thats done Ill post the entire painting.

Part One: http://jasons-brush.blogspot.com/2011/03/on-my-easel.html

Plein Air Sketch

2011-04-01T14:23:00.006-05:00

Old Trailer
8X10, Oil on Linen

If your curious about the greens I used they are rather simple.

The background yellow green is just a thin wash of Old Hollands Golden Green Deep. Over the top of that I washed a mixture of Yellow Ochre Pale and Viridian to cool it down a bit, otherwise its just to bright and yellow.

The cooler foreground greens are just a mixture of Viridian Green and W&N-Burnt Sienna.

From My Sketchbooks

2011-03-24T14:05:00.005-05:00

A Mighty Pen
pen & ink drawing
5X7 on toned Paper
by Jason Peck

On My Easel Part 1

2011-03-23T23:20:00.013-05:00

Sorry about the poor picture quality. These were taken under very low light. Ill take some better photos, with daylight as soon as I'm finished with this.

The Set Up, and loose color block in. This is 10X14, Oil on Linen.

My Palette

I started by drawing directly on the canvas with my brush. The color I'm drawing with is a mixture of Burnt Sienna, and Ultramarine Blue thinned with medium. The Medium is One part Stand Oil, One part Dammar Varnish, and 5 parts Turpentine. I'm using a number 2 5590 Langnickle brush for the drawing and a number 6 for the large color washes.

Tightening things up a bit.

Here is a close up of the Owl. This is the second pass.

Im adjusting the colors and values as I go. I'm not as concerned about color as I am the values.

Ill post the finished painting as soon as its complete and in its frame. Thanks for looking. This paintings a Hoot!!

Mushrooms

2011-03-23T18:27:00.004-05:00

Hey Guys,

Have you ever seen anything like this? I have a old dead tree in my backyard, that is completely hollow, and every year these HUGE! mushrooms bloom. Looks like something from Science fiction.

Shhhh! Shes Asleep!

2011-03-20T18:51:00.006-05:00

My Cat likes to sleep inside my Painting Taboret. I couldn't resist taking a couple of pics. One of these days I'm going to paint her while shes asleep in there.

I think Ill paint this picture of her.

Plein Air Sketch

2011-03-20T14:32:00.011-05:00

Plein Air Sketch, 8X10, Oil on Linen

I stained the canvas with a wash of Burnt Sienna, and allowed it to dry before I started the painting. I used three pigments for this one. Titanium White, Raw Sienna- W&N, and Ivory Black.

For mediums I used; Liquin and Gamsol.

Note: The Burnt Sienna wash contributes to the overall color effect. The Palette I chose was primarily cool. Allowing the warm burnt sienna wash to show lets me play with warm and cool effects.

Broken Sculpture

2011-02-25T20:39:00.003-06:00

This Stone sculpture originally had a egg shaped top, but it broke off. Im not really sure what its called. I was going to through it out, but decided to paint it. I thought the broken top looked interesting. I think its made from pored concrete.

Plein Air

2011-02-23T12:09:00.010-06:00

This is painted on a 8X10 New Traditions L600 panel. Awesome panels!

http://www.newtraditionsartpanels.com/

Bouguereau Study

2011-02-23T02:28:00.009-06:00

This is a small 5X9 inch study. Here are some things I learned, that some might find useful.

For the skin tones, I mainly used mixtures of Titanium white, Yellow Ochre Pale, Cad. Red, and Raw Umber. The shadow areas are nothing more than a mixture of Raw Umber and Yellow Ochre Pale. Occasionally I would add small amounts of Cad. Red to the mixture to warm it up a bit. Using Raw Umber helps speed up the drying time, which I like.

In the brightest area of the leg I used Titanium White, Yellow Ochre Pale and just a touch of Cad. Red.

I learned allot from this little study.

Past Paintings

2011-02-21T20:13:00.005-06:00

Oil on Linen 8X10

Bouguereau Color Study

2010-08-28T01:51:00.025-05:00

Here is a small 5X9 color study I just finished of a Bouguereau painting. I believe its titled 'At the foot of the cliff, 1886'.

Palette Used:

1. Titanium White
2. Cad. Yellow Medium
3. Yellow Ochre Py 43
4. Cad. Orange
5. Cad. Red
6. Alizarin Permanent
7. Burnt Sienna, Pr101
8. Raw Umber
9. Ultramarine Blue
10. Cobalt Blue
11. Viridian
12. Ivory Black

For a Medium I used M. Grahams Walnut Alkyd, and for a glaze I used M. Grahams Walnut Oil.