Monday, July 22, 2013

"Michael Van Gogh-Up Date!" Acrylic Canvas 14" x 16"

Celeste Bergin, a great artist and wonderful fellow art blogger, requested an update on my little "Michael Van Gogh" self portrait!
(Check out Celeste's great blog!)
Still very unfinished but here is the work in progress!  Aren't we all?



 As you may remember a while back I had a medical procedure on my ear and thought a Van Gogh like self portrait was in order. Still more work on this one!
I definitely will be working on the likeness of the face.  May add some more flesh tones!  May continue  with making the black Bruins shirt a funky blue. Adjust the mouth and teeth for sure.  I love the color blue!  I really love blue!  I may make more changes because, as most of you probably know by now, when I paint I have an idea but I keep it vague.  I keep it vague so I am always open to new ideas while I paint!
 Being an art blogger is a great motivation for me to work more.Thank you fellow art bloggers!
 I am liking this piece so far and I am almost finished!  Next portrait no smile!
(Thanks Celeste!)
My buddy Vincent is a forever inspiration.  I constantly marvel at his wonderful work and his life!
("How you suffered for your sanity!" Don McLean)

18 comments:

  1. Je suis très heureuse que vous poursuiviez cette toile en cours...
    Céleste a tout à fait raison de vous encourager... alors encore un peu de couleur avec votre pinceau magique et hop !
    Gros bisous

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    1. Merci beaucoup Martine!
      Thank you so much for visiting and writing to me.
      I love your comments. They always make me smile. I am very fortunate!
      Gros bisous!
      Michel

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  2. G'day Michael!

    I LOVE this - finished or not. The blues are very Vincentish and I'm sure he would be very proud of you. I think it's great that you keep things vague so the element of surprise may visit when you least expect it. I was in "the zone" today with a painting and during the first half I felt like an excited onlooker as the brushes did exciting things. By the second half it seemed I was in control again and it became a little more predictable. I hope to finish it tomorrow.
    I look forward to seeing your finished portrait Michael. I hope your ear is better now?
    Your art buddy,
    Wendy

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    1. G'day Wendy! Or G'devening?
      I love reading your comments! You are so very nice to visit and comment. I appreciate that so much!
      "Very Vincentish!" I love that. I so much love Van Gogh's work! So exciting!
      I very much enjoy picturing you painting in the 'zone!" I think that is where the magic happens! It is a joy to go back and forth between "onlooker" and "the one in control!' Good for you. Life is so short! Enjoy every moment and savor every second! I am eager to see the finished piece!
      I hope to finish the portrait soon. Now I am working on two "bar" paintings I started some time ago! (In the US a bar is like a pub. A place to drink alcohol?)
      My ear is on the mend! Thank you. Maybe one more procedure and I should be ready to go!
      I am happy you are my Australian art buddy!
      Peace!
      Michael

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  3. Hooray! good update--(and thank you for the mention)! I'm looking forward to the next phase of your self portrait. I have tried several self portraits and I wind up looking like people other than me...haha! I know it would be good for me to tackle self portrait again some day. Good work here--I like where it is going!

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    1. Thank you Celeste. Fun that you are the one who got me to post this little piece in progress. Now I have to get back to it. Lately I have been working on two bar scenes for a friend. I am going to give them to him as a surprise. He has owned this 'pub" for some time and recently made some design changes. So I have a painting of the place back in the day and a current one. Both are almost done!
      I would love to see you do a self portrait! I am more than sure it would be fantastic! So please on behalf of the entire art world, go for it!
      Thanks for so much Celeste!
      Your art buddy!
      Michael

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  4. This is great Michael. I'm glad Celeste reminded you. I like your blue all over approach. It's Michael and not Vincent. Keep it up.

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    1. Hello Linda!
      As always, it is so very good to hear from you! I so much appreciate your support and kind words. I am happy you noticed the "Michael" in this one! I love Vincent but he is already taken so I will work on being me, Michael! I am also glad you noticed the blue! I love, love, love, blue! James Taylor's "Sweet Baby James" song has some lyrics that always remind me of my love of the color blue! He wrote, "Deep greens and blues are the colors I choose..." Love that!
      Take care my artist friend!
      Michael

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  5. Glad to see a progress shot of your portrait. Looks like you are going through a bit of a "blue" period. lol I know that this will be changing as you work so I'll be waiting for the final version. Self-portraits are not the easiest things to do. I always find I look much too serious when I sketch or paint myself.

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    1. Hello Joan!
      I am certainly going through a bit of a "blue" period! I am happy you noticed! I was just writing to Linda how much I love blue. I have to make sure I don't paint blue over everything. Variety certainly is the spice of life but given a choice I often choose blue!
      Now that you mentioned self portraits and our fellow blogger Celeste did I am hoping you and are other art blog buddies think about painting self portraits. We could have self portrait month! How much fun would that be!
      You are a very talented artist! I would love to see your self portrait!
      Thanks for so much Joan!
      Your art buddy!
      Michael

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  6. Hey Michael, it's interesting how much happier you look than Vincent. In fact Vincent looks a little bit worried doesn't he? In fact Vincent looks more like he has a case of the 'blues' and you are the one in blue without the'blues'... go figure.
    That's a testament to your exploratory method of painting for sure, that you could go so blue and make it work. Nice

    Keep painting...

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    1. Hello My West Coast Art Colleague! So very goo to hear from you David!
      You had me laughing about poor Vincent and the blues. You have a great sense of humor. It is a gift to find humor and be able to share!
      Thank you so much for your very kind comments David. They make my day! Always. Since I started this blogging thing I have come to realize how so very, very nice it is to be able to put out art to an art audience and get such wonderful and so very kind responses. We are lucky!
      So thanks again buddy!
      Your East Coast Rock Around The Clock Buddy!
      Michael

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  7. LOVE it! And can hardly wait to see the grand finale!

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    1. Hello Susan!
      It is always a thrill to hear from you! Your excitement and art enthusiasm is contagious! Just you writing to me makes me want to pain more! Thank you so much for so much! I appreciate your very kind and supportive comments. I am so very sensitive about my work and at times it is so difficult to post for all to see. Your compliments, as well as the many other bloggers, keep me keeping on. As my former students used to say, "Keeping it real!"
      So, thanks again Susan. (Oh, I love your art! Love it! Love it! Love it!)
      Your art buddy!
      Michael

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  8. I love your smile Michael! It show you are happy doing what you do and proud to be following in the footsteps of Van Gogh. You are still making it your own and I can hardly wait to see the final masterpiece!!

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  9. Ciao Celia! Welcome back from holiday!
    You are the best! I am so happy you mentioned my smile! I was so self conscious about that! I was thinking it wasn't serious enough. At least compared to our buddy Vincent's scowl?
    I do love Van Gogh's work and life so much! I still get a kick out of doing this "Bandaged Ear" piece. I hope to finish it soon! Now that you are home I am eagerly awaiting more of your fine are work!
    Take care my friend!
    Michael

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  10. Am loving the painting; looked back to the sketch and it made me grin-- so mischievous!

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  11. Hello Amy!
    I am so glad you enjoy my work! ( I absolutely love your paintings Amy! Wow!)
    I too grin when I look at both the sketch and the painting. I look almost look like some kind a giddy guy who doesn't want his portrait done! Laughter is so good for the soul. I hope to finish it soon. Right now I am not sure where it is going so I am going to let it be for a bit. I am working on a few other pieces and as soon as this guy on the canvas "speaks to me" I will continue!
    Take care Amy and thank you for dropping by and leaving such a wonderful comment!
    Michael

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