Sure, it’s been ages since I last posted, but things are calmed down for the moment, so here’s a brief update on the goings on.

First, and perhaps most fun: I have updated my gallery with a few of my favorite pieces from this last semester (and culled some pieces that had over-stayed their welcome; they’re in limbo at the moment, but will likely land on tumblr; see next item). I hope you enjoy the new, shiny things.

Second, and perhaps most enticing: I noticed that my poor sketchbook and d’zyne pages were terribly neglected, rendering them quite uninteresting. Solution: I have moved my studio to a tumblr blog, easy and quick to update, a receptacle of sorts to catch anything and everything I want to show you and that is perhaps not blog- or gallery-worthy material (coffee-shop sketches, unfinished drawings, etc.). Not much on there right now, but you can and should visit often: http://stephenteater.tumblr.com.

Third, and perhaps most exciting: I will begin work on a gallery piece for a show in August. I will of course show you the roughs and design as I develop them.

Fourthly, and perhaps most last: for those of you who read this whole post, here’s your reward: oil on canvas

Onward and upward. Here’s to a summer of independent projects and more practice. Stay tuned and thanks for stopping in.

And, sure, it’s really too late to be blogging, but I thought I’d share since I was scanning a few things before calling it a day.

Well, a lotta ins, lotta outs, as a good friend of mine is wont to say. A good friend who just so happened to visit a couple weeks back, and so got a sneak preview of tonight’s unveiling. (Nothing makes perfect sense, n’est-ce pas?)

I’m moved on already to another painting, but haven’t had even a moment to post the (undoubtedly) much-anticipated final installment of what I’m just now (and never after) referring to as the “lady in bed” series.

Alas, yes, this is the final installment; however, I will make several subsequent marks on this art before it’s finished-finished. It’ll be shelved for now, but I’ll post the finish in the Gallery once I’ve made those marks and sent it out into the world to seek its fortune.

Like in the previous post, in addition to the new picture, I’ve also included a picture of the step right before this “final” step, so that you can flip back and forth and see what changed (if you’re so inclined).

So, without further ado… et voilà!

Now, back to the studio with me. Thanks for stopping by.

I spent some hours in the studio today and “painted canvas” (just trying that one on for size; it’s sorta like “driving truck” or “driving cab”), and per our bargain, I’m here to document the progress.  I apologize for the quality of the photo (for this series so far I’ve been photographing (“taking photo”) the painting with my phone — yes, it has a touch screen; no, it’s not a smartphone — and the mediocre camera on that device combined with the light glare (“glaring light”…er…wait…) means the pictures aren’t GREAT, but I’ll take a fancy one for the finish).

Oh, and I figured the easiest way to see the new additions to the work would be to see the last posted photo and the new one in quick succession (flip back-and-forth, if you will). So, here we are.

Some of my favorite things about this painting just aren’t captured in this photograph, but only two more dates and you’ll see the finished piece shot with a better camera and well lit, &c. Can you even wait to see what’ll happen next? Yeah. Me neither. But we’ll all just have to.

So let’s resolve to be like the NKOTB, and hang tough for just a couple more weeks.

Ciao.

Notes: I concentrated on establishing (roughly) the major light and shadow areas. Most of my attention (and time) was paid to the head and face. The legs and skirt remain largely unchanged and the background is merely a notion but, alas, there just aren’t enough hours in the day. A little late in the game for the value pattern to be as yet unresolved, but I’ll correct that once the painting dries a little (yes, I will), and continue to refine proportions, angles and perspective while working on unification. I’m basically out of control. But is it really against the rules to work out the value while glazing? Don’t answer that.

Thanks for coming by. I’ll post another picture of the picture after our next bout — same Teater-time, same Teater-channel. So stay tuned, would it do ya.

To loosely reference a line read by Joaquin Phoenix as Commodus (a character based on Lucius Aurelius Commodus (161-192), son of Ceasar Marcus Aurelius, the namesake of my cat) in the blockbuster smash sensation film of 2000, “Gladiator”, I have been a busy little bee.

I am an art machine. I make art. And I practice art. In anticipation of making more and bigger and the best art. In between I read about art. The best. And anticipate its making. Yes, school is back in session and I am (to quote a friend…you know who you are) “lovin’ ev’ry minnetuvit”. I mean it.

I’m painting with oil again in my life this semester (it’s akin to cooking with gas), and wanted to blocument (blog+document) the progress/stages of the painting I started this week (I worked almost exclusively alla prima in undergrad, and this process will be glazing and scumbling, so for those of you who are familiar with my college paintings, the end result will look different than what the three of you are used to).

This is the underpainting as it now rests.

I will post the subsequent stages as they develop.

And there’s so much more I’d like to show you, but alas this will have to suffice until another day and another installment. I’m looking forward to it. Until then, dear readers.

I was viewing a documentary/biography of Hunter S. Thompson and the Kennedys were mentioned in the picture, and I became inspired to do a painting. Charcoal on chipboard at the present time. I’m planning to finish this one in acrylic and then offer a limited edition run of giclée prints, because who wouldn’t want the Kennedys in his or her office?

More to come.  Thanks for looking.

Just an initial sketch (I have my ‘eye’ on at least one area that needs to be corrected), but I’m looking forward to painting this one up…have some fun ideas for it and think it’s going to turn out just fine indeed.

Will post more process work as it’s processed and/or the finish if it just comes together that quickly. Thanks for stopping in.

Thanks for taking a look.

I have another project in the works: it’s still another portrait, but since I’ve had my fill of digital painting at present, this one will be completely analog. Can’t wait to get my hands and clothes dirty.

Commissions for profile portraits are still being accepted. To get your very own, place your order by January 31.

Stay tuned, dear readers…