Painting Walkthrough: Reflections by the Sea (Patreon)

Here's the whole process video of "Reflections by the Sea Side" AKA the meat hat painting. I'm jumping this video up in the queue because the gallery wants me to post it on social media to promote the show. But I want the Choir to see it first!

I started it with the atmospheric landscape. Which means I started this around the time I was doing the Intro to Drawing Bad Art lessons about depth and atmospheric perspective. So that would be about February or March?

I remember buying the panel that I painted this on. It was kind of one of those magical occasions where it just feels like universe in your corner. It was January 2nd I think. Whatever the first Monday after New Year's Day was. 

I was working at this school and I sent the teacher a list of supplies I was needed to use. She replied, "we don't have class today!" 

I was all dressed and ready to go to work, so I decided to take a trip to Downtown LA and spend my allotted work time shopping for at art supplies at one of my favorite places on Earth. Artist & Craftsman Supply Warehouse. It's huge, they have every art supply that exists and some that probably don't exist. all the people who work there are angry, unhelpful and can't be bothered*. And I love that environment for an art store. Customer service is overrated. 

Usually there's no parking around this place, and you have to circle the block and then park on some sketchy side street where you can't tell if your car will be impounded or vandalized, then walk a mile through broken glass and rubble and step over possibly dead people to get to the store. 

But on this magical day, as I pulled up, there was a car right in front of the store that just pulled away for me. A VIP spot. 

I got bunch of supplies that I didn't need. Specifically and intentionally stuff that that wasn't necessary to my usual art habits. None of my usual brushes, paints, or mediums. Just stuff that I've always kind of wanted to try, or looks interested in the spur of the moment. I want to tell you what they were, but I honestly don't remember. I know I got some un-stretched canvas because I had to have them cut it for me and the guy rolled his eyes at me.

The only thing I know I bought that day was this 12x12 inch panel.  

I paid in cash, to eliminate the paper trail. Stopped at Taco Bell on the for a Cheesy Gordita Crunch. And was home at about 2:30 pm, which was the time I'd normally get home from work. 

I slipped out of my work clothes and into something more comfortable and felt like I had gotten away with something.

Painting Info

• Reflections by the Sea
• Acrylic on birch panel
• 12x12 inches
• available through La Luz de Jesus July 2023

*Okay this is a little exaggerated for the story. If you work at Artist and Craftsman Supply Warehouse, I'm not talking about you.