Sunday 30 December 2007

Melting

Today is a stinker! Which is why we are getting out of our small apartment and retreating to air-conditioned comfort. In severe heat our small apartment doubles as an oven and we bake as a consequence. I hate the heat with a passion and am so longing for winter again - bring on the rain!

Happy New Year everybody!

Unchained..

Damn it's hot and getting hotter tomorrow. Which is why I think it a perfect time to unchain myself from the easel. I've been painting for about 10 hours a day and desperately need a day off. So I will re-chain myself on Tuesday. I think a day away from turps fumes will help the brain cells..

Saturday 29 December 2007

more progress..

Here's a little more progress - still many layers to go. Though it gives you an idea of where I'm going with it. This only shows a portion of the painting...




Friday 28 December 2007

I'm back!

Sorry for the lack of posts this week. The Christmas madness is over now, so constant posts are back again:) My Santo painting seems to be going really well so far. I'm hoping to have it finished by mid Jan. Fingers crossed.. Anyway here's a section of the painting again...

Friday 21 December 2007

Yet another update...


Well here's another update. Still playing with the face really - the rest will get a good seeing to very soon.

Thursday 20 December 2007

A Very Sketchy Christmas...

Last night was loads of fun. Michelle and I attended the Christmas session of Dr Sketchy. With the Dimond Dolls in full swing we were not short on exciting poses. Sadly it was the last Dr Sketchy until March - so bring on March!

















Wednesday 19 December 2007

Santo Update

Okay, here's a little of my progress. I'll give you a better look tomorrow...

BTW - everything but the face is underpainting - so don't panic about the bright bold red and yellow:)


Thursday 13 December 2007

A Thin Layer of Skin..

I hadn't planned to start painting until Friday, however last night I couldn't help myself. All I've done is apply a very thin layer to Santo's skin. Sure I should have blocked in the background etc.. But I like to go straight to the fun bit..

Tuesday 11 December 2007

Ready to Paint!

Okay, I am now happy with the face. After rigorous tinkering I am now convinced I've captured Santo. Oh, I've also whacked Mick Molloy into the background. He'll be slightly out of focus and out of the spotlight.. So I am now ready to paint!



Monday 10 December 2007

Nearly ready to break out the paint..

The preliminary sketch is by far the hardest part of the painting. Everything must be in exactly the right position for the painting to work. I've re-worked the face and body, and am now very very close.



Friday 7 December 2007

Face Update..

I did a load more on this last night. He has a body now - though I don't want to show it yet. May have to do some moving and resizing proportions wise. Getting closer though. I hope to have the pre-sketch done by Saturday so I can start the fun bit........Painting!

Thursday 6 December 2007

Face to Face...

Last night I drove down to a fantastic art shop in Malvern and picked up a giant stretched linen canvas to paint Santo on. Thankfully there was just enough room in the car, though I was squashed up against the steering wheel with my chair all the way forward. Small price to pay for a big arse canvas:) Once home I started to draw Santo's face on the canvas. Now I paint and draw a lot of faces, though this one has to accurately resemble somebody. This means every facial feature must be in the exact spot otherwise his likeness will be lost. Well here's the face I've drawn on the linen so far - the rest will happen tonight...




Also - The Herald-Sun just called me and are interested in doing a story on my Archibald entry! Very exciting and very freaky! I'll have to check with Santo though.....





Wednesday 5 December 2007

Santo Strikes a Pose - Our 3rd Session

I had an absolute ball yesterday afternoon. With camera in hand I made my way to the Working Dog offices in South Yarra. Within 10 minutes of arriving I was snapping away as Santo did his thing as only Santo can. He was such a good sport and was incredibly generous with his time. He really is such a nice guy - exactly as you'd expect him to be! I have the utmost respect for him and thank him enormously. After numerous photographs and sketches I had all the information I required to begin the painting.

Monday 3 December 2007

Burnley Harbour.........

The Art at Burnley Harbour exhibition was on during the weekend. Unfortunately I didn't manage to sell any of my 4 submissions, though I was told they only sold 50 this year - The hot weather may have deterred the public. Not to worry though:)

Congratulations to Michelle on her sale though!

Thursday 29 November 2007

First painting for sale via blog (framed with matte)

Every so often I'm going to offer small works for sale on this blog. So to start things off I'm offering a framed ink painting. Please email me at info@danielsanger.com if you would like to buy this piece. First in best dressed!


Home
Ink
approx 40cm x 35cm (including frame with matte)

$150 + $10 postage within Australia

Wednesday 28 November 2007

All booked up for 2008!

After a meeting with Louey and Lane Gallery yesterday in Elsternwick I'm now booked in for a show in June! It was a great little gallery with some wonderful work and the people there are fantastic - I have a very good feeling about this one. So I now have 3 shows plus the Archibald for next year - I may have to grow some more arms to fast track my painting....

I'm also taking a couple of works into Louey and Lane today for general exhibition.

Monday 26 November 2007

Busy Busy Busy

Things are quite hectic at the moment art wise. I've got a meeting with a local gallery tomorrow, Burnley Harbour Exhibition this weekend, 1st Santo sitting next week, Actually painting the Santo portrait, Linden Postcard show to prepare for, possibly a couple of paintings for another local gallery and more... whew! It's all good though - and a great way to see the year out:)

Tuesday 20 November 2007

2nd meeting with Santo for Archibald 2008

We met again, this time at Loco cafe in Elsternwick. We've decided the painting will be based on a classic Late Show sketch and may feature another D-Gen member in the background (as he did in the original sketch). Apparently the ABC still have the very costumes from the sketch, so it's all systems go! We'll meet again in about 2 weeks to start our first actual sitting with 'Santo the Magnificent' in full costume! - should be a whole heap of fun:)

Monday 19 November 2007

Street Smarts...

Here's a painting I forgot to post. It's from about 1 month ago. Enjoy:)

Street Smarts - oil on canvas

Thursday 15 November 2007

The ART of conversation...

Last weekend I was fortunate enough to have lunch at Loco with four fantastic artists. They were wonderful company and gave me so much useful advise in relation to my art career - I thank them enormously. Michelle and I got to share our work with Dianne Gall, Triecia Gibney and a rather suspicious looking pink rabbit. Such a fun meeting!

'Boobie' Prize.....

Mel Knight from Dr Sketchy emailed this great photo this morning from our last sketchy session. It was a wonderful night, and I remember how surreal it was to be on stage with two half naked women, a novelty pumpkin and what's more in front of an audience :) It was such great fun and am so looking forward to the November Dr Sketchy!

Wednesday 14 November 2007

Back to the canvas...

After 2 weeks off I'm so ready to paint again. I'll be stocking up on art supplies this weekend as I have a mass of ideas to get down on canvas. This time I'll be taking my new style much further. I'll be using basic line to represent body dimension/shape etc, with the face being the main focus with it's brash use of colour and broad brush stroke. Hard to explain, though will hopefully have my first one ready to post next week...

Monday 12 November 2007

Forward...

With Momentum coming to an end it's time to move forward. Michelle and I already have a venue in Smith St Fitzroy confirmed for our next show in April 2008. This show should be a blast as we have some very fun ideas up our sleeves. I'll let you know more about the show once it progresses a little further...

I'm also hoping to have my 2nd meeting with Santo this week at Loco - will let you know how that goes:)

Wednesday 7 November 2007

Self Portrait Wednesday

After the opening of Momentum last week it has been so nice to just kick back and relax a little. I plan to start painting again in a week and am having many ideas for another possible joint show down the track.

I also bought a new camera this week. It is the best! It's big and bulky and feels like a camera should. No more grainy pics and endless lighting problems - this camera is fantastic!

Lastly, I should be meeting Santo again next week and we've both recently decided on a direction for the painting - and it's one I'm verrrrry excited about! Will tell you more after our next meeting...

Friday 2 November 2007

Opening NIght!

I'm a little worse for wear today, so I wont write much as I'm finding it hard to stay awake:) Last night was soooo much fun. Michelle and I had such a great time and thank everybody who came. It was great to meet the buyers and re-assuring to know our paintings are going to good homes:) I am just soooo stoked to have sold 9 so far!

Here's some pics...


Michelle's fabulous small works..



My Geishas..


My staring faces..



More of Michelle's great work - I loooove the one on the far right - my fav (which would look good hanging in my apartment:)


Me looking goofy..


Michelle and I after a few reds...

cont'd... goofy drunken smile on my face..

Thursday 1 November 2007

A Sketchy Halloween...

I had the most wonderful time last night - it was sooo much fun. Miss Midnite Delight and madam Trolley Dolly were absolutely fantastic and kept us laughing the whole time. It was a great chance for Michelle and I to take a deep breath before our show tonight at Loco and just
unwind. Oh, I also won a pumkin full of chocolate - not a good night if you don't come home with one of these;)