paintings
This painting of the two Brettonnes was done in the summer of 2004. I had some old acrylics and wanted to try and paint something before I took my introduction to oils class at the University of Cincinnati. I never tried to paint something real by looking at a reference. So I was very shocked when it didn't come out too bad.




I was looking at my old French book which had a tiny picture of these little kids on one of the pages. I was constantly pressing my face up to the book to find the detail in this photo and translate it onto the 26 x 32 canvas. Although technological advances in some tools like paints and brushes, I am very opposed to the use of technological aids the actual drawing of a work using things like tracers and projectors. I think it destroys the originality of the stroke, the line, the whole feel of the work. I rather see a "badly" drawn painting or sketch with some character a cookie cutter work of art. On the other hand, the definition of art has become pretty broad by now and actual drawing and painting doesn't have to have anything to do with it anymore.

Here is what that page looked like: