I Call it Staging

In the old days the artist would plan the painting and then work out compositional details by painting what they called ‘studies’. It’s not so different than studio musician’s jam sessions. Or a writers rewritten versions that pave the way to a final draft with just the right energy and flow.

Now we can accomplish similar utility with digital tools. I call it staging after the work I once did on the network at work. I designed the network configuration then I set it up in side the building by making the cables and running them above the doors and into each cubicle and side office then making the network go live. After the network was all working reliably, I spent a weekend installing all the cable under the floor. Testing is much better with cables above the floor than introducing the added diagnostic complications of not being able to readily trace and remedy problems from a bad connector or pin out.

Staging a planned painting lets me work out the balance and the compositional elements in advance of actual painting. Much better than winging it. I’m not sure yet if this beats old school ‘studies’, but it’s what I’m using. It should also make the color decisions easier to dial in.

I have been working on the Back to Back concept again. One thing I should have done was tried different variations on the idea when we did the photo shoot, but I only went one way. It’s a good start though.

What I wanted to see was different environments.

These two girls each have their unique look, and both are beautiful. They get along, so it’s good. It’s a “friend” picture and there aren’t better friendships than sisters.

The photo was taken in a yard. I had them stand on a board so that grass and debris would not interfere. The background was not a keeper so it had to go. It was a hodge podge of chain link, lumber, and firewood.

This is Kayla and Larissa.