Portrait lesson

Annabelle  13" by 15" oil on panel, 2012

This portrait was very hard to paint. Her complexion is so subtle the applications of paint kept building into a subtle refinement I can only now consider semi-obsessive. But I learned a lot from this painting, especially about the complexity of edges. Her hair, contour of face, nose, lips, brow, and eyes required constant examination and revision in order to maintain her beauty, youth, and vitality.

And on swimming? my coach told me to not swim in my head, to let the drills seep into muscle memory. It is all about the feeling. These things can not be analyzed.

Swimming to the Studio

Welcome! In this blog I am going to attempt to reveal insights about the two disciplines I love to do the most, painting and swimming. For me these crafts (and I can consider swimming a craft as well because it requires an ever increasing honing of skill) are interrelated because they demand technique blended with sensitivity, a deep feeling for the painted subject and a deep feeling for water. Both require solitary training, long hours spent immersed in environments conducive for concentration in the moment, that can lead to personal experiences subtle yet profound.