Monday, February 16, 2026

Art on a Monday

With the TV off, I fell asleep for the entire evening. Waking after 11 PM, I was surprised it isn’t morning. I missed all the Sunday night PBS shows. What to do!?

Putter? Watch YouTube? Snack? All three are good. Near 2 AM, I want to change up and do the sketch on this week’s new painting from an old photograph. The funny thing is, I don’t remember where the photo is. 

Back tracking, ( a few times), I find the hard copy folder of printed out photographs it was with. I went through them 2 or 3 times making sure it isn’t stuck to another paper. I give up. 

Sitting there clearing my frustration out, I see a white piece of paper sticking out of my catchall basket on the bottom shelf of a side table. I pull it out.
TaDaaaah! It is the photo I’ve been looking for!
🥳😂

Lake Champlain

Photographs of people. I do not take or post identifying photos of individuals without their permission unless the person is a public figure or celebrity. Even then, if they are on their free time, it is highly likely I will not take a photo. 
I will post pictures of people when the subject is a crowd, a gathering, an event. Even then, I will edit features, change colors, blur numbers and such. 
My people photos are figure studies like the one posted above. 
Note, I also ask owners for permission to take pictures of their dog. 

About the scene. Space is the celebrity in the landscape. An 11 x 14 inch canvas is not the ideal size suited for the painting’s story. I have images of the area to use. The canvas will be the study for a larger artwork. 

18 February update
in progress


14 comments:

  1. Now I hope you manage to sleep tonight! Glad you found your inspiration photo and I'm definitely looking forward to seeing what you do with it. I haven't tackled people in my landscapes yet and rather doubt I will - but never say never.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Maryanne,
      I hear you.
      People aren’t easy to put in art. I rarely paint people.

      May

      Delete
  2. The cloud formation is amazing - and the composition is wonderful!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Carol,
      I see it now that way. The cloud is actually water. Thankfully,
      I have photos of water that show up better.
      May

      Delete
  3. May am anxious to see how you paint this photo. Like Maryanne I don't generally paint people...although stick figures might count (LOL)! Have a good day. Stopped over at your other blog and left a comment. Hugs!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Debbie,
      Love your recent post, a book I look forward to reading.
      May

      Delete
  4. I'm horrible painting people. I do better if they are from the back! Otherwise, it's only with transferring the main lines of the face and features. Do you have PBS passport? You can watch all the shows there, or maybe even just on the PBS.org website.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jeanie,
      Anatomy study helps for drawing people. The key is practice, draw figures regularly.
      PBS channels here have good signals. I can catch up from their reruns.
      May

      Delete
  5. I can't wait to see your painting.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Debra,
      I will be painting today. I’ve decided that when in a class, I can finish a painting in a session, then a small painting can be finished in a day.
      May

      Delete
  6. I look forward to seeing your painting, too. I often pass on taking pictures with people in them (like this one), but I'm seeing I miss interesting subject matter. As an artist you surely recognize everything as subject matter for art. The artist-wanna-be in me should make a challenge of this... Hmmm.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Becki,
      Anatomy people study can build confidence. I see artists that with barely a few strokes can paint a perfect person. Aspiring to that skill level is a worthy challenge.
      May

      Delete
  7. There's a story behind that photo and it's fun to speculate what the two people might be discussing and why they are there. Painting people is tricky, I find. Proportions are difficult for me.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lorrie,
      The expanse of all that water versus the couple helps the story along.
      May

      Delete

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