I spent part of yesterday and today sketching out a new painting. As I work I find myself wanting to be more and more deliberate in my (graven) image making. Trying to be more fully aware of the composition , the drawing out my ideas provides an excellent roadmap. That and it is a hell of a lot of fun.
The Presentation at the Temple
2016
graphite and colored pencil on paper
I am returning to a theme I explored in 2014, another painting also called The Presentation at the Temple but one in which I pursued the composition less deliberately . The painting hangs in my studio and I have never been happy with it, yet I am not the sort of painter to rework a painting. Generally I allow the painting to be less than satisfying and make an another attempt; drawing upon what I felt was working and abandoning the rest. Such is the case with this new painting.
The Presentation at the Temple
2014
oil on canvas
30 by 40″
When I look at this painting on my screen I like it,yet some things drive me nuts, I feel the female figure Coatlicue is undeveloped for example; but mostly, the painting feels to large. I feel my play upon the biblical presentation scene should be more intimate , more jewel like, more of an illumination. So this version will for starters feature a more composed earth mother Coatlicue , presenting her son, the war god Huitzilopochtli (also of virgin birth) will bepainted on a 12 by 16″ panel. I think it will work out well, plus frankly, there isn’t any more room in the studio for large paintings, I’m maxed out.
The theme draws upon multiple references, traditional images of the Presentation, such as this wall mural from an Orthodox church (The Brotherhood of the Holy Cross, which I believe is in upstate NY):
But also popular culture such as the usually cute, yet in this image,completely crazed wrestler Conner McGregor:
Part of my studio discipline has been devoting a portion of the day, usually before lunch, to making at least one decent rendering a day. I’ve made this challenge part of my Instagram feed ( leonardgrecoart). What I’m rediscovering is just how much I love drawing, particularly graphite on toned paper with chalk highlights. I am finding myself improving each day. This image, of Christ Enthroned, I felt to be successful.
Well for now that is all, be well.
LG
Boondocks Babylon 
I have already developed a fondness for that dragon 🙂
The expression on the character’s face (the one holding the head with attached, plant-like brain stem) is sending me into convulsions 😀 😀
Also, the horned woman holding up the offering–she is so statuesque, I mean her appearance is so much like one of the Ancient Greek “models” of virtue or something (ok, her clothing store not that period, but still), and then those horns, and her offering…. I love this whole thing, awesome!! 😀
That McGregor guy, though…. Geez
😛
Oh I am glad that you like it!
It is a convoluted image drawing upon discordant sources and inspirations but I think it works , glad you do as well.