Figures in the middle ground...

I have been making progress, though the figures remain incomplete, lacking a few glazes and definition of form.  The idea is to embed figures in the environment (and the mottled background paint film), to emphasize our relationship with the natural world, as the literal ground of our being--coupled with social interactions and familial relationships, friendships, etc.  

Larger figures in the foreground will be slightly higher in contrast and detail, though I am not intending to overly illustrate individuals, per se, nor contemporary dress, etc.  I am content to have body language carry the message of healthy families and children (and a few dogs), as well as those who have gone before us.  

A bit more foliage...more figues to come...still getting the color balance that I like.

Enriching the landscape, beginning figures

Still at it.  Much to go.   Photos by María Isabel Piñas

Progress

I have just started laying in the treelines, branches and basic divisions of light.  Figures are coming soon.  So much more to go!

This panel is destined for the 2nd floor landing at the top of a grand staircase.  I want a sense of expansive openness to characterize the piece AND for it to include images suggesting collaboration, interdependency, legacy, inheritance, social and biological continuity.  The trees are far from finished, but I am thinking they may abstractly contribute to the sense of the web connecting individuals, of what sharing existence is all about.  Of course there are to be human figures in the lower half, perhaps less densely, "unpacking" some of the them as shown in the proposal.

I hope the committee and others might weighs in on the issue.   In the meantime I intend to enrich the landscape elements, add foliage to the trees and begin to compose the smaller, more distant figures.

First week of March

The canvas for the 2nd story stairwell is grounded with color and ready to receive further imagery.  Photos by María Isabel Piñas Espigulé.

Finally, ready to go...

Most of February was taken with administrative, contract and insurance issues, clearing the way for the project to actually start.   As of today, the contract is signed and returned, the necessary liability insurance policy is in effect and the first shipment of materials has arrived, including the canvas (19 yards of 10' wide #12xx cotton duck), high-quality gesso to ground the canvas, and several gallons of high-quality acrylic medium.  The studio is being transformed to make way for the work.

This week gesso will be applied to at least one of the 10' x 16.5' of canvases, the 2nd story piece first. I have quite a bit to do to establish the background texture field, basic color passages and various measurements/marks before it will come off the floor and go on the wall for the rest of the creative work.  Photos to follow at intervals.

I had hoped to work on the 2nd and 3rd story pieces simultaneously, and the studio (24' x 36' with 12-14' walls can theoretically handle it, but given the excess of canvas necessary around the parameter to accommodate wrapping the stretcher bars later, it is impractical.  At it turns out, lines of sight and other working considerations, such as the rolling scaffolding, preclude working that way.   No worries.  I am just happy to be about to begin.

Lobby mural dimension adjustment:

THA Architecture has suggested the following adjustments to the dimensions of the lobby mural to better align with interior features, such as the light fixtures and seating configuration. Final measurements are 106.5" x 255".