Corporal Cole Bartsch-Work in Progress Work in Progress-Stage 2

This is the second stage of the painting with all areas roughly blocked in with the approximate colours. At this stage there’s no detail and I’m not too fussy about getting exact colours, my goal is to get the canvas completely covered with paint and try to stay true to the oil sketch which ultimately gets covered up. I had an illustration assignment to do so I only had time to block in the background and shirt.

The next day after taking care of some business aspects of art (the part I don’t particularly like) I added Cole’s beret and got the first layer of paint on his face. Luckily the painting isn’t dry yet so I can paint wet in wet which I prefer. I’ll be fine tuning the colour and shapes, making sure that the drawing is accurate, adding details and the pattern to the uniform. It looks like I’ve wandered a bit from my oil sketch (see post from June 12) so I’ll have to make some adjustments here and there.

We’re painting from photos given to us by the families and most often the soldiers are dressed in civilian clothing and are in candid situations. It’s necessary to delete backgrounds and other people from the photos and add what is needed like the beret and uniform. We paint a background that is flattering to skin tones, add the berets and uniforms, and pose them all in a similar manner so that the paintings will look like a cohesive unit when they’re displayed together.

Cindy

Corporal Cole Bartsch Initial Drawing in Oil, 14 x 18

We are working on commemorative paintings and the portraits. Each of us has a slightly different approach to a painting but I always begin by drawing my subject in oil directly on the canvas. I prefer to do my drawing in one session but it doesn’t always work that way. Once I feel the drawing is accurate I begin blocking in the colour. I’ll post the block in as soon as I get a chance to get back to the easel but for today I have an illustration job to do.

This project has many aspects to it besides the portraits and there’s much to plan. Meanwhile the regular work of our businesses and families carry on as though there were no project. A living must be made and my commissions and illustration assignments continue to roll in which makes for a jam packed schedule, but am I complaining? Not a chance, I couldn’t be luckier and I know Susan and Shairl feel the same way.

-Cindy