I’ve decided I don’t much like my new painting, the Eucharist/Last Supper. There are lots of reasons, but for future reference here are the main ones: 1) Unrealistic detail and light (this is because I was using very, very tiny pictures and had to guess at the little details I couldn’t see well. Also, like most camera pictures, the light is always full frontal, leaving no shadows.) 2) Too colorful! I got excited about being able to include lots of colors in this one, but actually, I prefer my canvases in cool, earthy colors like gray, tan, light blue and …

I’m exhausted with this project. It feels unfinished, there are still a lot of little details that could be done, but then nobody but me knows all of the original intentions; and it’s coherent and holds itself together well enough, so: finished. Now I can finally clean the grime off of my floor that’s been growing for the last two weeks. Two of my fish died, probably from my stagnant tank. (I cleaned it today.) But I’m definately in a paintings streak, and it will be a relief to work on some smaller pieces. Maybe I’ll come back to it …

I’ve reached the inevitable point of frustration – ‘Eucharist’ still isn’t finished and I’m getting careless and making big mistakes. There’s only so much you can put into a painting before you start to resent it….and so I’ve resolved to finish it as quickly as possible, as well as I can, and call it quits. With any luck, sometime tomorrow I’ll sign it and hang it. I’m excited to start several projects – I have about 5 canvases sketched and just went out to buy 3 more large ones….I’m in a painting phase again, after about two years. This one …

I don’t think I’m supposed to admit that painting is REALLY hard sometimes. Maybe I’ll scratch this blog with time, so that I appear to flawlessly and effortlessly paint great things on the first try. Actually…I’m in that phase of going over and over, screwing up, waiting for it to dry, trying again. I painted hair and blood today. It’s starting to look, well, really good. But the details are killing me and I’m getting careless because I want to move on to other projects. A few more days and I should have it finished!

I stayed home all week during my Spring break and watched movies…I also did a bit of painting. I’m surprised at how quickly I’ve been able to finish this – I’m down to the itty-bitty but fundamental details – the reflection of light in the pupils, on the wine glasses and silverware. This is where pedantic and tedious caution really makes a realistic painting. Unfortunately, I’m more of a “slab some paint around” kind of guy, and this part is hard for me. I’m much more comfortable with the portrait I’m working on – much bigger shapes and color areas, …

After a long day of painting, I’m finished with the basic ‘outline’ of the Last Supper. (I’m going to have to think of a new name; something more modern. How about “Jesus – it’s what’s for dinner,” or, “Jesus, the other white meat.”) I put in a church-background, which is going to look great, lengthened the altar cloth and lightened it. Now it’s just the DETAILS. Did I mention that this painting is 5 feet long! I also started a portrait, for a fun break from such a complicated piece.

I was surprised late last night by the sound of birds chirping – it was already 5:30 a.m.! Time flies when I’m hooked on a project. I couldn’t figure out what to do with my hands (I’m the guy in the center), and finally choose to hold some Eucharist props – they aren’t needed, but at least they don’t seem out of place. My original idea was to give bunny ears to the girls on either side of me. It would have been silly, ridiculous, trivial…which is why I loved the idea. However, I think it would have detracted too …