People and places in C'ville

Here are various studies in oil of people and places in the C'ville area. Please let me hear form you if you're interested in getting together to paint, critique or talk about art. Contact info: mikeu@muddi.com.

Thx,
Mike

Mike Uriss' cuture studies

More preliminary work -MU

African Dancers Waiting

This under-painting is called a grisaille. It helps you solve a lot of problems in a single dimension -- just one color. It's easier to see what things need fixing, if you start a painting in just one color. Later, I'll work in more colors, when this layer of burnt sienna dries. That way, if I don't like the way the color is going, I can wipe it out without losing this under-painting.

Someone asked me why I'd rather paint that take photos. If this project is something of a documentary, then would the photograph more accurately depict the subject mater? Perhaps -- photos would be quicker. Do any of you readers have response to this? Hey, don't just stop and read. Rather, read and write some too!

Best,
Mike

Why paint?

In this series, I want to pay homage to these groups of people who:

• seek to flourish here in a new culture
• seek to hold on to their heritage
• may be in the throes of assimilation

-MU

Feel free to comment on any of these posts.

These women were among a group of African dancers at the FOC (notes below). I'm tryin to learn whether or not they are Bantu dancers. This drawing is an extended study for a painting. Rather than working exclusively from photos, I’d like to work from observation. Looking into connecting with some of the FOC groups in the service of research. Would like to observe the groups while they practice, and participate in normal unstaged settings.

African Dress

Working on a series of paintings on African dress that I photographed at the C'ville Festival of Cultures. See posts below for more on the FOC. Here's a study for one of the pieces to be done in oils. The subject was reaching into a bag for a sandwich. -MU

Morris Dancers paintings on hold

Think I’ll let these Morris Dancers studies, from the Charlottesville Festival of Cultures, remain as sketches for the time being. (Long term plan is to work up paintings at a size of around 16” x 20”.)

I like what I’m learning from studying these figures, but, something else piques my curiosity a bit more. At the moment, I’m intrigued by a cultural attribute that is unfamiliar to me – African dress.

In attendance at the Festival of Cultures was a group of women dressed in traditional African attire. The colorful clothing speaks for itself. But, as an artist, truly, the most beautiful skin I’ve ever seen on any human being was that of an African woman’s. The way light caught this woman’s face made her skin produce a violet ruddiness. This shouldn’t be surprising. It’s a common practice for portrait painters to do the underpainting, or grisaille, for African skin in violet tones, such as dioxazine violet.

In the time ahead, I’m planning to use the photo references I have for studies. The aim is to paint more extended works – compositions based on the studies. When I have something respectable, I’ll post it for the group to have a peek at and comment on.

Likely, then, I’ll return my painting focus to that likable troupe -- the Morris Dancers.

yrs,
MU