On the easel...

[GKreindler]

Hey everyone,

I just got some scans back from the photographers that I thought I would share. They're not completely color-corrected yet, so they might be a little off in some spots, but overall, they're not too bad:


Honus Wagner, 1914, 20" x 16"


Walter Johnson, 1914, 20" x 20"


Richie Ashburn, March, 1956, 9" x 12"


Honus Wagner (color study), 1902, 5" x 7"


Moonlight Graham (color study), 1905, 5" x 7"


Horace Wilson (color study), 1902, 5" x 7"


Kijuro Abe (color study), 1908, 5" x 7"

Some of you might recognize the Walter Johnson portrait, as I had done one last year of the same image. It's actually the exact same painting, but I realized that I had made a mistake with the color of the dugout roof face, and the client who purchased it was kind enough to send it back to let me correct it for him. That was after I sent him a late-night panicked email. Ya know, because I'm insane. So yeah, thanks a lot for that opportunity, Mike!

The studies were a lot of fun, as I was able to paint two fellas (Wilson and Abe) who are pretty unknown to people in the United States, one of whom happens to have an amazing beard. And heck, I've always wanted to paint that darn Wagner image - I'm surprised it took me this long to get to it. The Moonlight Graham was an interesting challenge too, one that I'm not sure as to whether I'll be able to create a full-sized painting of, as I can't locate a scan of that image that's in high enough quality. Even then, the print that I worked from for this wasn't terribly clear or crisp.

Anywho, I hope y'all dig 'em. And certainly, if you have any comments, questions, critiques, or criticisms, please feel free to share them!

Thanks,

Graig

[billyb]

Graig,
They look great.

[Runscott]

The lighting on the Ashburn is fantastic.

[thecatspajamas]

I thought that Johnson looked familiar! Thank you for explaining, and yes, you are insane, but in a good way I'm really digging that beard on Wilson and would love to see a larger version some day. Ashburn keeps getting better every time I scroll down the page, and is sure to take the lead as my favorite of the bunch if I stare at the screen much longer.

[GKreindler]

Thanks so much, guys!

Scott, in person, I think the Ashburn really glows. In a good way, I mean. I think. There's only so much nuance that photographers can capture when shooting that kind of two-dimensional surface. Actually being in the presence of a painting brings out so much stuff that is flattened by photography. I think nothing beats it.

Lance, you know more than most the depths of my insanity. And for that, I'm sorry.

Graig

[Lordstan]

Craig,
Keep being insane. We love you for it.

I do have a question. IS it me or does Wagner's nose look significantly different in the 2 paintings. The one in the blue uniform has a nose that appears more bulbous than the Horner portrait. Is that just an optical illusion for different light and angles or did his nose change over the years?

Some truly spectacular paintings recently buddy. Any update on the 27 Yankees team?

Mark

[GKreindler]

Hey Mark,

I think there might be a different lighting situation that's creating some of the difference. In the case of the one of him facing left, his whole head (and body) is under undiffused daylight, and in the studio portrait, there's more of a controlled environment that might only have a north-facing window or a skylight, so light is going to catch it differently. I think that difference alone might make for some of the discrepancy. Also, he's about 12 years older in that outdoor shot, so perhaps age has something to do with it. Oooorrr, it might be because the studio portrait is just a color study, so I didn't really flesh it out as much as the other portrait.

Perhaps it's a mix of all three? Or, maybe worse, I just screwed it up. I'm not quite sure, to be terribly honest.

Regarding the Yankees team shot, I'll try and take some photos of it tomorrow when the light is better.

Graig