Day 4: Duality - Camel No.1: The Dreaming Camel

Camel No. 1 - The Dreaming Camel: acrylic on canvas, 40"x30", 2010

This painting is yet another piece in the camel series. There was no initial inspiration for this painting, other than that.

Camel No. 1 - The Dreaming Camel: underlayer 1

So many people have given me such lovely feedback on my Sassy Camel piece. And many expats expressed a desire to have something that would eventually remind them of their time here in the Gulf; without it being like everything else available to tourists. So this is how the continuation of the camel series evolved.

Camel No. 1 - The Dreaming Camel: underlayer 2

Camel No. 1 - The Dreaming Camel: underlayer 3

In these photos of the underlayers, I continued to build up the body and the decorated harness until I decided that those aspects were complete. But when it came time to work on the eyes, I had to come to a decision as to what emotion or look to express.

Camel No. 1 - The Dreaming Camel: underlayer 3

But with the idea of "remembering time spent in the Gulf", I chose to leave them as they appear in the final stage.

Camel No. 1 - The Dreaming Camel: acrylic on canvas, 40"x30", 2010

Camel No. 1 - The Dreaming Camel is on display at Yama Yoga Studios from May 27th to June 6th, 2010. For more details on timings and directions, please click here.

Day 3 of Duality: Camel Nose Abstract

What a day! Spent another lovely morning painting away at Yama Yoga Studios. And I thought I'd get to my daily painting description on my 4-8pm shift. But alas, my little girl threw up during suppertime back at home, and had a bit of a fever. I rushed home as quickly as I could.

Luckily, my wonderful husband had everything under control by the time I got there. But my sincerest apologies to the Astanga Yoga group who I was looking forward to speaking with after class. I hope we meet again.

So, here is yesterday's entry in the series of photo essays that highlight work on display.

Camel Nose Abstract: acrylic on linen, 50 cm x 100 cm, 2010

Camel Nose Abstract: underlayer

This particular piece underwent quite a few reincarnations during its process. I had initially started filling in an underlayer when I soon lost interest in that particular pose and composition.

I tried a few different ideas, all the while building up the background.

Camel Nose Abstract:
underlayer 1 of snout

I was really enjoying the challenge of trying to take the "too-often-romanticized camel" out of those clichéd "sweeping desert settings" that one can find in a lot of paintings sold to tourists out here. So, this particular shape soon emerged on the canvas.

Camel Nose Abstract:
underlayer 2 of snout

I worked with many different layers to imply ropes and tassels around the face, as I built up the shapes and counters of the camel's nose.

Camel Nose Abstract:

underlayer 3 of snout

And here it is:

Camel Nose Abstract: acrylic on linen, 50cm x 100cm, 2010

Camel Nose Abstract is part of the Duality exhibition at Yama Yoga Studios from May 27th to June 6th, 2010. For more details on timings and directions, please click here.

Day 2 of Duality: Camel No. 3 - Red

Thought I'd try something new and actually paint at the exhibition venue today. The light that floods in is brilliant. The familiar smell of incense and the calming yogic energy that flows through is both invigorating and soothing. And to have a solid block of uninterrupted time to stay focussed on work is something quite lovely to get reacquainted with.

Please stop by Yama Yoga Studios and not only visit me, but check out their schedule of classes. Everything from salsa to wushu, pre-natal to mommy-and-me, intro yoga to pilates...Today's crowd included the cutest bunch of little girls coming in for their beginner ballet class.

I've met such a lovely, diverse group of people over the last few days.

As promised, here is today's installment in the series of photo essays that highlight art work included in Duality.

Camel No. 3 - Red: acrylic on canvas, 36"x30", 2010

I was really intrigued by the rarity of black camels, and wanted to include one in my camel series.

Camel No. 3 - Red

underlayer 1
(sketching it in)

Camel No. 3 - Red
another underlayer
(almost done)

However, in the process of filling in all the red under-layers of the camel's face to add depth and texture, the "camel-that-came-to-be" simply couldn't be painted over anymore. So I just completed the background, and here she is:

Camel No. 3: Red - acrylic on canvas, 36"x30", 2010

Camel No. 3 - Red is on display at Yama Yoga Studios from May 27th to June 6th, 2010. For more details on timings and directions, please click here.

last sneak peek

This shall be the final glimpse of this particular painting until the exhibition. I completed it at the end of yesterday, but this photo is another detail shot of the unfinished piece, about two steps away from completion.

1 down. 21 paintings & 85 days to go.

Al Jamal III (unfinished)- acrylic on canvas, 30"x40"

camels, camels, camels

...They're what I've got on the brain.

Detail photo of painting underlayer:
Al Jamal III (unfinished)
acrylic on canvas, 30"x40"

rationing

Now that I spend more of my time focussing on one or two paintings a day for the exhibition, it's becoming more and more of a challenge to share photos of daily work without showing off the completed final piece.

Al Jamal series: No. 3 - acrylic on canvas (in progress)

As days go on, I will be getting stingier with photos, I think. At least until I can find enough time to do something on the fly; perhaps while waiting for paint to dry?

However, 'waiting for paint to dry' time is usually my queue to continue work on a differen piece; or sneak out of the studio for a few minutes to play with Sofia. Until then, here's another glimpse of the next layer of the third camel.

no. 3

Still untitled, this is the roughly sketched-in underlayer of the third camel painting in this series. (acrylic on canvas, 30"x40")

sleepless

1:30 am - Couldn't sleep, so I've just continued working on the new painting I started yesterday. I am enjoying the process of deciding how to dress my camel.

Perhaps it would be wise to give sleep another go now or the rest of the day may be a creative write-off.

(tentatively titled: Al Jamal II - acrylic on linen, 50cm x 100cm)

This is the same piece, but this photo was taken when I first began at 10 am yesterday. (I think it looks like the Loch Ness monster at this point.)