Hair Hair!

Michael Bennett Hock

 16 x 20

Oil on Raymar Panel

NFS

My oldest son, Michael, has the most fabulous hair!  It is thick and curly...just fabulous.  I love painting hair and love it when he lets it grow so it gets really curly.  I am constantly asking...no begging... anyone in my family to sit for me.  Every once in a while I wear them down!  Being snowed in I have been able to get my husband to sit...though he does fall asleep.  I guess hiring a professional model would be ideal...but not always financially viable. Suffice it to say I have been having a great time, experimenting, painting and planning with no pressure or expectations.  My favorite way to paint.  

Rosie the Riveter

Rosie the Riveter 

20 x 16

Oil on Raymar Panel

A while ago I was fortunate to attend a fabulous photo shoot featuring women dressed in period outfits from World War II.  The women posed on steam engines, in railroad yards depicting railroad/engineering work that was typical of the day.  The shoot was in Pennsylvania.  It was a wonderful opportunity to not only take some great action shots, but also to learn more about the history of these great women who held down the fort and contributed to our fight for freedom.  The shoot was arranged by Lerro productions.  It was very well done with plenty of opportunity for close ups, figurative, and action shots.  The models were professional and played their parts perfectly.  The day could not have been more perfect.  

This painting is the result of one of those shoots.  I had a great shot of the machine and background...the model looked great.  To get skin tones and hand gestures I still rely on myself...mirrors...life...to get the gesture just the way I want it.  I am learning so much.  

Salute - Steve Campbell and Colonel William "Wild Bill" Campbell

Salute - Steve Campbell

20 x 16

Oil on Raymar Panel

This Salute portrait has particular significance in many ways.  The subject, Steve Campbell is a veteran and currently works as a pilot for commercial airlines.  He is a friend of my brother, Mike Bennett, who is also a veteran and commercial pilot.  I met Steve at Mike's retirement ceremony.  I was excited to meet a veteran at the retirement ceremony and then I found out Steve is the son of a Tuskeegee Airman!  How exciting!  His father was Colonel William "Wild Bill" Campbell.  You can see a short video tribute to his father here.  He was an amazing man and our county owes him great respect for all he did for us.  

This is my first post of 2016 and I am very excited to begin the year with a  tribute to two heroes that served our country.  

If anyone is not familiar with the Tuskeegee Airmen you can see a short clip here.

Boots on the Ground

Boots on the Ground

8 x 8

Oil on Raymar Panel

James Gurney is sponsoring a challenge.  The challenge is to write a story using only 6 words and then illustrate the story with a painting.  The most famous 6 word story was written by Ernest Hemingway.  "For sale: baby shoes.  Never worn."  Hemingway's story is poignant.  Baby shoes...never worn.  Such a sad tale.  

When deciding on a 6 word tale I started thinking about what would also be poignant.  I often turn to my life and what affected me.  As a child, a military brat, my siblings and I would count down days.  Days to the next duty station, days to the next holiday, days to any significant event.  Then I thought about who else would also count down...I can only imagine how many military members have counted down the days till they get to go home and see their loved ones.  It came to me.  Boots on the ground...counting days.  The days until the deployment is over and they can return home.  That was it...that was the story I would tell.  

I began by distressing the panel I was using.  I used some burnt umber and wiped it to look used.  Then I put lines...4 down and one diagonally across. A traditional counting tool I have seen used.  I used these lines to cover the background.  A visual depiction of counting days.  Painted the boots in the middle of the panel and put the lettering down on one side...down to the ground.  Counting days goes across the bottom and leads your eye off the panel.  

Rosie the Riveter

Rosie 

11 x 14

Oil on Raymar Panel

I attended a photo shoot in Lancaster County ,Pennsylvania that featured models dressed in 40's and 50's clothing reminiscent of "Rosie the Riveter".  Rosie was an iconic figure during the World Wars that showed women working in traditional male venues.  They worked on aircraft, automobiles, tanks, heavy equipment filling the void wherever needed.  Amazing women who help secure our freedom.

The shoot was great fun...it included models and lots of period props to include and old steam engine.  The shoot was set up by Lerro Productions.  I have hundreds of source photo and I use them for references for different scenarios...but this one was done just for fun. I love the look on her face.  I can see her looking for something "more."  I was working on skin tones and shapes.  When I work from photos like this I often use my own features to check planes of the head...I try to set up lighting to mimic the scene.   So if she kind of looks like a relative...that would be why.  When I can't have a model in my studio I am amazed at how creative I can get to try to learn as much as possible with my limited resources.  

Salute - Tuskegee Airman

Salute - Tuskegee Airman

20 x 16

Oil on Raymar Panel

$1200.00

This painting continues my "Salute" series.  I honor veterans of our services...these men and women dedicated their lives to assure our country's freedom.  Assurance that they are not forgotten is paramount.  I often walk around the World War II Memorial in Washington DC and meet many members of the Honor Flights.  Honor Flights bring veterans to see the World War II memorial at no expense to the vets.  The flight is donated and volunteers make sure the veterans, many of whom are in wheel chairs, get around.  When I talk to the veterans you can see the pride in their eyes.  When I ask them to salute I can see the young man emerging from the old.  Their back straightens, their head tilts up and that twinkle of a youthful service member shines in their eyes.  They are transported to the feeling that they are invincible...they are once again the superman/woman that defended our freedom.  They made a difference in our lives.  

You can read more about the Tuskegee Airman here.   These Airmen were an amazing group of primarily African American service members who were trained as pilots, navigators, maintenance staff, instructors and any support that kept the aircraft flying.  A group that was not recognized until recently.  Thankfully, now, they are being recognized for their enormous contribution to our freedom.  

The Sky is the Limit

The Sky is the Limit

6 x 6

Oil on Raymar Panel

$350

This is part of my military series.  I love seeing children play...and when grown ups join them it is even better.  This little princess is playing with her mom building a tower to the sky out of building blocks.  Mom is still in her flight suit from work...not a trendy jumpsuit from an exclusive store...a flight suit from her job as an Air Force pilot.  

And now a bit about photos of artwork...

I don't think I am a lazy person...quite the opposite in face.  I keep busy and have dedicated myself to painting every day.  It is my job and I treat it as such.  I get up in the morning, workout (most mornings), have breakfast and then head to the studio.  I paint most of the day either at a studio outside my home or painting small pieces at home.  The rest of my time is spent researching, reading, practicing with color, discussing art with colleagues etc.  I do keep busy.  Where I fall painfully short is when it comes times to take pictures of my work.  I too often opt for the cell phone picture and post it.  Today I took my lazy cell phone picture and decided to take a picture with my Canon Rebel also.  I set up proper lighting and took a picture...the result is painfully obvious. In the cell phone picture the colors are off...though a monitor can skew color it is still good to try for the best possible color rendering.  The photo is not as crisp...it is just not as good as taking the time to set up a proper photo shoot.  So...with this lesson in mind...I shall take pictures with my Canon and be thankful I have a nice camera to produce better results.  One caveat...my cell phone is not new and maybe the newer ones take better pictures...but for now I will use my camera. 

Taken with my cell phone

Taken with my Canon Rebel