Friday, January 17, 2014

"Back At The MFA And Loving It!"


"Old School Boston Trolley"
I am thrilled to be taking another class at Boston's Museum Of Fine Arts!

I am doing two paintings at the same time of the same subject!
Both works are Acrylic on 20"x 28" canvas.

#1 Beginning

Not sure why I painted this explosion of colors as a background!  I know that sometimes the underpainting helps me figure out the paintings direction. I almost stopped at this point. 

#1 Progressing
 I love how the trolley is emerging!  I will definitely paint out the scary looking second trolley in the background!
#2 Beginning
 Painting the car first and the background next is very unusual for me.


#2 Progressing

I am so off the chart happy with the way this piece is turning out! I did quite a bit of layering and started to add some details.  I love how the trolley is again emerging from the work!  
I will post photos of the finished works when they are complete.
I may post a photo of a New England Welcome slate painting soon!
Thank you for visiting and writing to me.  Makes my day!

24 comments:

  1. I love how #2 is progressing, Michael. You should be very happy with how its turning out. I love the colors, shadow and the hazed out background!! Nicely done.. I look forward to seeing this finished... Hope you're well..thinking of you!!!

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    1. Hi Hilda! Thank you so much! Your positive comments always make my day! I am doing better. Thank you so much for your support my friend! Time does heal!
      Take care Hilda!
      Michael

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  2. STOP RIGHT WHERE YOU ARE WITH #1! You did it. It's great. It's finished. I love your process. Second beginning doesn't hold a candle to #1--too tame. Too orderly. In #1, the trolleys are moving, there's action, energy and lot of emotion. Love it!

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    1. Hello Linda! So happy to hear from you! You are so nice! Maybe I will stop! At least stop and see where I am going! I am glad you like my process. So much fun for me! Thank you so much for your input! We will see what happens! Thanks so much Linda!
      Michael

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  3. Hi Michael, So happy to see you are once again attending the MFA classes. Now I can enjoy it again vicariously! I REALLY love #1 - it's eye-poppingly vibrant and exciting. I like how the more subdued background of the second allows the trolley to stand out - love the colours. I look forward to seeing the finished pieces.
    Have been thinking of you and hoping your days are getting a little easier. It is so wonderful to have art as a way to bring a bit of peace into the difficult days.
    I appreciate your concern for us here. In Perth we only had two really ferocious days in the 40sC and then some strangely coolish (mid twenties celsius) days afterwards which was very unusual but very welcome. Unfortunately, over the very hot days a ferocious bush fire burnt down over 50 houses on the outskirts of the city. At one point I feared that some of my relatives were in the danger zone, but luckily they weren't in the end. The threat of fire has increased a lot over recent years and is the worst thing about summer.
    Happy painting - also looking forward to seeing your red cardinal painting you were telling Sally about.
    Your art cobber Wendy

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    1. G'Day Mate! Hello Wendy!
      So happy to hear from you! I will try to take some interesting photos of Boston and MFA to share! I am glad you like these two starts. I very much enjoy having very little direction! Let's see what happens next! My days are getting a bit better. Still odd! I am looking forward to a celebration of Vincent's life being planned by his family in Boston!
      I am so sorry for all the hot weather related issues in Australia! So sad about so many homes destroyed! Glad your relatives did okay! Hope more cool and even some wet weather arrives soon!
      When the slate painting is finished I will hang outside and post photo! (Only a tiny cardinal in the piece. Let's see if you can find it!)
      Thanks again cobber!
      Your USA art buddy!
      Michael

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  4. Looking forward to the finish. I think you are right, the trollies emerging from the painting is what is making them work, or 'flesh out'. Maybe keep some of the underpainting visible in the finish. I love the orange trolley against the cool blue background.

    Keep painting...

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    1. Hello Buddy! So good to hear from you David! Also thrilled that you aren't near all the heat related issues in California! Take care out there!
      When I even think about painting trains I think of your work! You are right about letting the underpainting show through. My biggest concern is always covering up some nice paint! These trolleys aren't in operation anymore. I think that is why I was drawn to paint them. (Hey, I think I made a pun. "Drawn to paint!"
      Take care David and thanks again!
      Michael

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  5. Tus pinturas son una explosión de color. Me gustan.

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    1. Gracias Pablo! Thank you for visiting my blog. I am so happy you like the "explosion of color!" Let's see what happens next!
      Again, thank you!
      Michael

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  6. It is exciting to see your process of both paintings and exploring different approaches. Remarkable colors in both and I love your emotional brushwork. Beautiful mood in each. Number 2 feels mysterious while the first is just energy!
    I like the little car on the right of #1. It shows in both works you had fun!
    Thank you so much for your encouraging comments and helpful feedback during my painting challenge. You make me smile every time! :-)

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    1. Hello Celia! I am always happy to see your name on the comment form! Thank you buddy! I am glad you like the beginnings of these works! "Mysterious" and "Energetic!" Love that! I am glad you noticed the emotion. I find emotion to be so important in my work! It is my pleasure to visit your blog and comment on your wonderful art! So very, very colorful watercolors! Smiling is great!!!
      Take care Celia and thank you again!
      Michael

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  7. Michael, both of these are super! I love the first one which has that glow of an evening painting with the dark colors!!! It has a definite mood and energy to it. I can imagine the noise of the trolley and the surrounding traffic. The blues in the second one set a mood too, but of a peaceful nature. I can't wait to see both of these finished.

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    1. Hi Joan!
      As always, so very good to hear from you!
      Thank you very much for your wonderful words.
      Your comments always motivate me! I am also curious on how they will turn out!
      Take care Joan!
      Michael

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  8. Hi Michael, thanks for posting works in progress-- very interesting! Loved the explosion of color on the first one-- looking forward to seeing them through to the end.

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    1. Hello Susan! Thank you for visiting my blog! I am glad you are enjoying the two works in progress. I find it great fun to see a painting at various stages and photographing the stages as a reminder of what is under the finished work!
      Let's see where these works go! I have a plan but my plans are usually left vague!
      Take care Julie!
      I love your art!
      Michael

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  9. wow...fun to see two different approaches to the same subject. Both of these are great! I am looking forward to seeing how they evolve from her. Great subject!

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    1. Hello Celeste! Fun it is! Thank you for writing! I am happy you are enjoying the progression of these two works. Sometimes I am so nervous and excited at the same time while painting because I am not always certain what my plan is. So I often don't have a clue how my work will develop. So I am also looking forward to their evolution!
      Thanks again Celeste!
      Michael

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  10. Oh, happy day! A painting class at the MFA! And how interesting to see the differences your two unique approaches provide you! I think I love the second one because the complimentary colors are just so beautiful together and make the focus so dynamic.But then again I love the freedom of the color explosion in the first one! Happy painting, Michael!

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    1. "Oh, happy day!" is so very true! Always a happy day when I see your hame Susan on the comment form! Thank you so much for your support and interest! You are such a great artist. You positive energy is a great motivation for me! Thanks again for so much Susan! I am happy you mentioned "freedom!" I think being able to freely paint whatever and however I wish is one of the reason I paint. So I am also eager to see where these works "take me!"
      Art on Susan!
      Michael

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  11. I love this work, Michael. Especially the pastoral ambience of #2. I don't remember if those cars had lights on both the front and back, but I prefer to think of the car in #2 was moving away from me. I gets me to wondering where it's going, where it's taking all those people and what will happen to them when they get "there", wherever "there" is.

    Paul Penta

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    1. Hello Paul!
      Thank you so much for visiting my blog and taking the time to write. I am so happy to hear from someone who remembers the trolleys. I think the cars did have lights front and back. I also vaguely remember the trolleys having the ability to reverse their direction and the front and back on the cars "switched!" Now you have me wondering more about the trolleys. Thanks for making me think differently about these wonderful trolleys!
      Thanks again Paul!
      Your EB art buddy!
      Michael

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  12. Michael,
    I love them all but truly love the bright explosion of color in the progressing one. I am sure whatever the final paintings turn out to be, they will be outstanding.
    Have fun as you continue to explore so many options.
    Val

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    1. Hi Valerie!
      I am thrilled that you are visiting my little art blog and you took the time to write to me! FB, Blogs, and so much more still amaze me in how we are able to connect with so many people from all over! Imagine how we used to draw and paint with our SND buddies back in the day! Take care Val! Thanks so much for so much!
      Your EB Fitton Dear Friend!
      Michael aka Mikey

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