Painting in Progress: Mandolin

Yesterday I went to the library and headed for the fine arts section. It's a place I spent many hours in as a teenager. I loved it there. Of course this was pre-internet. Every art related magazine is there. Countless massive, glossy books on any artist. A friend of mine used to work at the library and said it's shocking and sad how the place has become a ghost town. Rarely do people show up to borrow books like they used to. Kids almost never show up to reference books for essays.

I'm guilty of abandoning what was once a favourite place. Along with almost everyone else, I browse the web for info and inspiration, which is obviously fantastic, but I would put it in third place, behind books, and actual paintings in first place if you want to look at art. Books and catalogues have been put together with painstaking consideration in colour correction and detail.

I borrowed Andrew Wyeth: Memory & Magic, along with several other books and browsing through them was completely inspiring. So, if you're looking for some fresh air and inspiration and are not near any major galleries, head to the library. I recommend it.

Here's an aerial view of me working on the mandolin. The mandolin is drawn nearly exact to life size. Starting next month I'll be posting actual completed pieces.

A Few Hundred Years Late

The most recent post on "Flying Fox" by Jonathan Janson (who also maintains the fantastic site Essential Vermeer) struck a cord with me and I'm compelled to share it.

Reading Jonathan's post on why Vermeer's paintings are now so popular made me aware that I may have been born a few hundred years late. I've always had sneaking suspicion this was the case.

Right now I'm working on a painting of a mandolin. I've never painted an instrument before, but this particular mandolin comes with a fascinating story that I'll share once the painting is complete.