Not a lick and a promise

 

Professor, halfway painted 2006
Professor, halfway painted 2006

I like to see half finished paintings, even of my own work. It says something about the work process. Was it the Dutch writer Cees Nooteboom who once said “Traveling is better than arriving”? I just found this image of a half painted portrait. Here you see: I am traveling. It is not finished; not yet  at my place of destination. Often I enjoy more of the process itself then the finished product.

Atlas
Atlas, click to enlarge

Also this picture reminds me of something else. I see the small statue in the background. It represents the Greek mythologic figure of Atlas who held up the celestial sphere. I added this prop at the special request of the sitter, the retiring Professor of Philosophy at Vrije Universiteit of Amsterdam. For lack of good reference material I made a sculpture in plastiline myself and painted it with acrylics to imitate the bronze patina. I really like to prepare things blow by blow. Not a lick and a promise.

One Reply to “Not a lick and a promise”

  1. Estimado Señor Ben,
    Soy gran admiradora de sus pinturas, vivo en Bellingham WA USA
    Tengo gran interes en que me dijera si le podia encargar unos cuadros al oleo de mis nietos a los que tanto quiero.
    Me gusts mush su estilo y su colorido de colores precious
    Si acepta el encargo digame tamano de la foto que necesita y precios segun tamano
    Voy a Valencia varias veces y podia hacerle una visita tambien pagarle por adelantado
    ESperando su respuesta
    Con afecto
    Angela Cuevas

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