Filtering by Category: Work in Progress

Understanding my painting process

Added on by Lara Hoke.

I've come to realize that I need at least three hours of dedicated painting time per studio session.  My process seems to be that during the first two hours, I make a mess.  In the last hour, I fix the mess and move forward.  

I stopped working on this portrait months ago because I found myself only making a mess, never having that third hour to fix and improve things.

Today I had a good chunk of time in the studio and believe me, I made a mess.  But I also made some progress.  It is closer than ever to complete.

Scroll down to view several stages of the portrait and the source image.

Isabella, oil on board, portrait commission in progress. 1/1/2013

Isabella, oil on board, portrait commission in progress. 1/1/2013

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Isabella, oil on board, portrait commission in progress. 12/31/2013

Isabella, oil on board, portrait commission in progress. 4/30/2013

Isabella, oil on board, portrait commission in progress. 4/30/2013

Isabella source image.jpg

Side Project: Coasters and Ornaments

Added on by Lara Hoke.

In addition to showing my recent paintings and drawings at Norton Factory's Open Studios and Holiday Arts and Crafts Fair on December 7th and 8th, I'll be selling my woodland creature ornaments and coasters.  

You may remember them from a few years ago, 

http://www.larahoke.com/larasblog/2010/2/21/rollercoaster.html 

Here's a shot of some of the coasters in progress.  Ideas for new creatures are welcome!

 

Coasters in progress

Coasters in progress

Approaching Completion (in muffled steps)

Added on by Lara Hoke.

I'm excited to share these images, the portraits are getting closer and closer to completion. It's been difficult working with reference photos that are black and white (portrait on left) and under saturated (portrait on right), but I'm always up for a challenge.

Please note the black lines are digitally imposed and used as guides rather tan being part of the final product.

Lara Hoke, Portraits in Progress

Using Technology to Capture Likeness

Added on by Lara Hoke.

Periodically while I work on a portrait I use Photoshop to overlay a photo of the painting on the source image.  Not a fancy technique by any means, but a hugely useful one.  By overlaying the images I can see immediately where my painting is off.  For example, in the first series below, I can easily see that my painting is too straight on.  Rather than directly facing the camera as I've painted him, the subject is turning slightly toward his right.  In the second series I see several issues.  The most important of which are the tilt of the head and the placement of the right eye.

Capturing the spirit of the subject can't be helped by technology.  Thank goodness at least likeness can.

Source Image, Portrait in Process, Overlay

Source Image, Portrait in Process, Overlay

Portraits in Progress

Added on by Lara Hoke.

Reference Photograph, Grandfather ZibbelI'm am working on a series of portraits of a client's grandfathers.  The paintings are meant to be a clear expression of their memories and evoke a feeling of nostalgia and history.  

Reference Photograph, Grandfather Buck 

 

 

 

Although early in the process of painting the portraits, I want to be careful not to overwork them.  I want the paintings to be a combination of fully developed areas and loose, gestural lines.

Lara Hoke, Grandfather Buck in ProgressLara Hoke, Grandfather Zibbel in Progress

Lara Hoke, Grandfather portraits in progress, oil on panel

 

Quick Update on MacArthur and Park and Liquor Video

Added on by Lara Hoke.

Added more complexity to the horizon line and a stroke of red.  Almost done!

Lara Hoke, Rockridge Nightscape, AKA Liquor Video

Trying to add more depth and interest in the foreground. Struggling with the tree on the left.  All I can think about is broccoli.

Lara Hoke, MacArthur at Park, Oakland Nightscape

Two Steps Forward, One Step Back (and another new painting)

Added on by Lara Hoke.

I've been working on Rockridge Nightscape AKA Liquor Video for 4 weeks.  Because I only work on it during class - twice a week for three hours - each time I paint I look at it with fresh eyes.  I made several major changes (at least major to me) this past class.  Although the painting may look worse for it for now, the changes are for the best.  The tree that was dividing the canvas virtually in half is gone and I've brought back the green leaves in the foreground. Next up: bringing back the depth in the sky and foreground.

Lara Hoke, Rockridge Nightscape AKA Liquor Video, new on left, old on right

And you may recognize this painting.  It's a larger version of a study I did several months ago. I'm really happy with how the foreground is shaping up.

Lara Hoke, Short Sale

 

 

A New Painting and an Update

Added on by Lara Hoke.

This painting is from a photo I took with my phone this past Friday night.  It is the intersection of MacArthur and Park Boulevard by the high school. 

Lara Hoke, Oakland Nightscape, MacArthur and Park

And the latest iteration of "Liquor Video".  I've been trying to paint only with 1" or larger brushes to keep the stroke loose and painterly and force myself not to fall into my old habit of overworking details.

Lara Hoke, Oakland Nightscape, "Liquor Video"

Latest Work-In-Progress

Added on by Lara Hoke.

The last month was a whirlwind.  After EBOS I spent a amazing week in Bend, OR with my husband Ben's family.  During the last three weeks of June we made an offer on a house, went into escrow, closed, and moved.

My new studio is not functional yet, but will be soon.  I will share pictures of the studio's progress in my post.

In the mean time, I've been taking classes with Mel Prest at 10th Street Studios.  Below is the painting I am currently working on.  For those of you familiar with the Rockridge neighborhood of Oakland, you may recognize the glowing sign for what I affectionately call "Liquor Video" aka Eddie's Drive In Liquors. 

Rockridge Nightscape AKA Liquor Video

Oakland Nightscapes, Continued...

Added on by Lara Hoke.

I've begun painting the fourth large painting in my series of Oakland nightscapes.  The reference  photograph (below, middle) was one the first that I took in the series and the color study (below, right) was the first in the set of studies that I created last June.

The new painting is in it's *very* early stages - it's just an underpainting.  I've probably only spent about an hour on it.  BUT I really like the gestural quality it has and am afraid that I will lose that quality and by continuing to work on it.  It's that fine line that I continue to search for - mixing looseness and gesture with line and fully realized form...

 

Underpainting

Reference PhotographColor study

Stages of a Portrait

Added on by Lara Hoke.

I've been working on this portrait of my friend Ariyele for quite some time.  I intitally started it back in May 2009.  I worked from life, I think we had two sittings of about an hour or two each, and was very pleased with how the portrait was progressing.  After the second sitting, I continued to work on it from a photograph.  The portrait became very severe - as you can see below in the image on the far right - and I put it away in mild disgust for over a year.

Earlier this month I took the painting out of storage, sanded it down a bit, and began working back into it.  Using thick layers of opaque painting mixed with subtle glazes of color I was able to soften the hard edges and bring life back into the painting despite the fact that I was still only working from a photograph.

Ariyele, late October 2010

Ariyele, early October 2010Ariyele, May 2009

Paintings Series: Oakland Nightscapes

Added on by Lara Hoke.

Now that summer is over and a certain normalcy has returned to my life, I've been able to get back into the studio and start the full-scale Oakland nightscapes in earnest.  These paintings are based on photos that I took in the spring that I turned into studies (you can see both the photos and the studies in an earlier post here http://www.larahoke.com/larasblog/2010/6/5/reference-photos-to-formal-studies.html).

The goals is to create and ethereal space - something that feels not quite safe but is at the same time very familiar.  To produce that effect I am developing the paintings slowly over time by applying lightly tinted semi-transparent layers of glaze.  I use the classic 1/3, 1/3, 1/3 recipe to make my glazing medium - linseed oil, damar varnish, and turp.  I am also working to loosen the brush stroke and am introducing line in the form of charcoal and graphite.   

Walking Towards (work-in-progress), Lara Hoke

Leaning (work-in-progress), Lara Hoke

 

Walking Away (work-in-progress), Lara Hoke

Work in Progress Update - Kim

Added on by Lara Hoke.

Just wanted to share the latest update to my painting of Kim.  I decided to change the time of day from night to dusk and use the window to give a greater sense of depth.  I have more work to do on her hands, the outdoors, and the plants on the windowsill but otherwise I feel confident that the end is in sight!

Lara Hoke, Kim

Video From East Bay Open Studios 2010

Added on by Lara Hoke.

Here's a clip from this past weekend's Open Studios taken by Stan Goldberg, self pro-claimed Senior Dad.  I come in around the 2:50 mark.  The other artist included in the interview is Laura Malone.

You can also watch the video by following this link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3R7Kiuh5aE