FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you paint these (daily paintings) from life or photos?

I almost always paint from photographs. I only paint from my own photos. I take photos every day.

When I was a young man painting on the Navajo Reservation, I spurned the use of a camera. I did a lot of paintings and made a lot of sketches. But I soon realized how much more I could have had to work from if I’d used a camera. And now it saddens me to think of the historic record they could have become. I couldn’t afford a 35mm camera, much less the film at the time, so I bought a used Super 8mm movie camera with a cable release. This allowed me to take thousands of tiny still frames. They didn’t have much information, but were like small thumbnail sketches, and served the purpose well.

Over the years I’ve used many kinds of cameras, and now have drawers full of both slides and prints. Since digital came along, I’ve been using my computer for storage (with external hard drives for backup)  and now have a very large collection of photographs that I browse through each day, until something catches my eye; something compelling, or that stirs old memories, or that presents a special challenge. I then crop the image, maybe I will alter the lighting a bit, then I bring it up on a monitor next to my easel, and paint from it. I now have a couple of pretty fine digital cameras. But the camera that is always with me is my iPhone 4. While browsing through my archives, I also keep an eye out for those shots that can best stand on their own as photographs, and every day post them one of them on my other blog When a Painter Snaps.

Do you use your same 3-color limited palette for plain air?

I have used the same three pigments and white, my (Un)limited Palette, exclusively since the late 1990′s or early 1980′s, whether painting in oil, acrylic or watercolor (minus the white in watercolor).

I don’t do much plein-air painting, anymore, though I did do in the past. I find that I can get the same excitement, and the same feeling for the scene, the atmosphere, and the ambiance from my photograph, minus the interruptions, discomfort and inconvenience of painting on location. Also, I find my memory contains the most lucid part of the experience, without the distractions, allowing me to better extract the essence of the scene. That said, I do occasionally enjoy painting on location when traveling alone. Usually in watercolor.

Do you make your 6×6 panels or do you buy them – if so what type/brand?

I currently use Masonite panels cut to size by my friend Paul Bell  at Artisan Santa Fe. I then apply five coats of gesso, alternating in direction. This gives me a very absorbent surface that I have learned to love painting on. Others may prefer a slicker, less absorbent surface. I have in the past.

I have tried, I believe, every available commercial product with the exception of the Raymar panels which I understand are very nice to work on. I just haven’t gotten to them yet. I’m quite happy for now with the panels I’m using. I have in the past used a roller to apply the gesso to larger Masonite panels, affording me a variety of surface textures, but find those textures distracting on these smaller pieces.

For my larger works I use Oil Primed Belgian Linen, and am now experimenting with using this wonderful product when traveling, then affixing it to Masonite when I’m back home. This is for weight considerations when traveling, as I tend to travel light, and never check baggage. I may switch to this Belgian Linen solution for the smaller pieces as well. As my wife just pointed out to me, only the use of photographs and the (Un)limited Palette are constants with me. I am always searching for a better way.

For more information on the materials I use, please visit the Workshops page on my main website.

I will be expanding this page as time permits. Your questions are always welcome.

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