Old Master Copy By Gardega: Virgin On The Rocks

I am currently completing a full scale copy of Leonardo's Virgin on The rocks for a church. It is a lot of work, yet a labor of love. When it is completeI will discuss the painting and the process in detail.

Vermeer Mural by Gardega

I was commissioned to paint this in a jewelry store in Palm Beach Florida recently. (The box in the lower middle is a window into the other room.) It is a copy of Vermeer's Girl Reading a Letter. I had to take some compositional liberties. Oil on wall.

Old Master Copies: Battle Of Anghiari by Gardega

Here is my third and final Battle of Anghiari commission. This painting exists only in a sketch by Rubens after Leonardo's original. I really enjoyed learning as much as I could about this piece but I think a third time is a charm. I can probably draw 85% of it by memory now. I am going to give that a go.

Trois Cheveux!

I went to The Met yesterday and saw some new drawings/ prints they had put up, Luckily their print and drawing section gets changed up regularly so its exciting to see new works. I thought I would use three different prints and drawings based on horses to compare style and give my two shillings on them. 

One of my favorite artists is GERICAULT. (He was Delacroix's teacher) I love this drawing/ watercolor there is so much life to it! Look at that sky! There seems to be a coming storm (is that a volcano in background??) it leads to a lot of mystery and questions..The horse seems to be nervous as they are often are pre-storm. The guy sitting is awesome as is his pose, just a great piece! VIVA GERICAULT.

Lautrec! I am not sure what has happened to art but you dont find much it around anymore, this strikes me even more when you look at work buy the genius of Lautrec. Look at the life in that horse and rider! Totally stylized, totally great! If you notice the print is composed as an perfect  angle from top left to bottom right. Just brilliant! The sharp diagonal is broken by the curve of the arena. I had to fight not to steal off the wall and run out like james bond. Not bad for a dwarf who drank absinthe out of his cane.

  
Sargent... When I was in art school everyone loved Sargent (because they had no taste) A lifeless, well rendered photograph of a horse. Very mechanical..go back to painting buttery aristocrats, Sargent--he did paint some nice watercolors, though--and he had skill. Skill without taste is like bread without jam.


There you have it, a complete explanation of art and drawing using only Trois Cheveux...

did I butcher the french?

ANGEL PRINTS

Prints are now available of my angel. 12"  x 18" Limited to 100 pieces signed and numbered. For info fill out form to right.

ART WITH ALEX : Monday Morning Art Podcast

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOrE7ltR80E&feature=youtu.be

Here is the speed painting of the angel I promised

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ED__aqEGtNQ


I will go further into the painting process on SATURDAYS. Each Saturday there will be a teaching session on here. He who teaches, learns.