I’ve started my return to figurative painting sense my last post. I’m starting out with just basic head portraits the first of which is of a friend of mine, Frank Bitetto. I found my venture back in to the figurative realm a challenging but immensely rewarding one. It almost feels like I’m starting from scratch, like all my previous painting experience has withered away to almost nothing. I find my self tensing up and focusing too much on detail and not the work as a whole. On the other end there are times I start to lose myself just enough to bring me back to that place when painting was really exciting and fun. That helps soothe the more discouraging aspects.
I’m drawing some of my inspiration from Odd Nerdrum as well as Lucian Freud and the old masters such as Rembrandt and Velasquez. I’m trying to capture the looseness of Freud’s work while keeping the luminosity and temperament of Nerdeum as well as that of Rembrandt and Velasquez. There is a psychological aspect of Nerdrums work that I’m also trying to draw from. I think I’m putting a little to much pressure on my self to get it right the first time with this current portrait so I’m about to start a few more to work on simultaneously. If anyone doesn’t mind posing for a portrait just let me know.
Aside from my figurative work I’m still working on some new landscapes that I’m really excited about. I’m about to start a series of eight paintings inspired by our solar system. At The present time I’m trying to decide if I want to make my own surfaces or buy them pre-maid. I would usually make my own, but I find that I lack the space and materials at the present time.
Thanks for reading, if anyone has any questions, suggestions or whatever feel free to contact me @ todd.kramer@gmail.com
Thanks,
Todd R Kramer
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