Dear Subscribers,
 
Greetings!
 
New still-life this week.
 
The setup:

My concept was to bring the front pitcher into focus with sharp edges and high contrast, while making the big pitcher soft-edged, loose, and high-key. And to use the color of the glass to balance the composition.
 
First stage:

Umber block-in.
This was actually the third block-in, the first two didn't fill the space well.
 
Next stage:

My favorite stage of painting... when form first emerges.
 
Next stage:

At this point I realize that the big pitcher isn't nearly as high-key as I wanted.
 
Next stage:

I still want to push the big pitcher back even more than this. I do that and finish up some detail areas on the small pitcher and the glass.
 
And the finished painting, "A Hazy Shade" (10x8):
 

 
(Click through the image above to get to the Facebook "Like" button!)
 
Progress on the life figure painting continues:

 

Spent a long time on that hand.
 
We didn't end up getting make-up time with last month's model, so it's 'done'.
"Study of Eliza" (24x18):
 

 
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After sending out the newsletter with my latest self-portrait last week, I was like dang, should have included all my past self-portraits to show the progress I've made over the last couple years. Well, here it is:
 
March 2009:

 
June 2009:

 
June 2010:

 
August 2011:

 
Until next week,
 
David A. N. Cheifetz
www.davidcheifetz.com

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