some studies from 2021

"Mechanic" sketch copy from an ad...

"Ashley" (and others below) from the Open Draw at Lyme Academy… 

"Rene"

"Lauren" 

"John"

UPDATES 

study for 'Job', graphite on toned paper , 2017 detail...

&... my other half and I have slowly been working on a book... see below :)

COMIC BOOK WEBSITE CLICK HERE 

welcoming fall...

(figure collage / promo art idea... )

instruction, collaboration, illustration, portraits, commissions, etc : jamesmorren at gmail dot com
 

works in progress, spring figure studies

Mary Anne (24 hrs in...)

Freddy (as John the Baptist)

(both color pieces) oil on board, 18"x24"...

(pieces are gonna be used in a series of paintings I'm developing over this up-coming year... hopefully... :) )

lost at twenty

(another throwback: self portrait, oil)

the watchman

Jimbe figure study, oil on panel, 18 x 24

... I posted some the progression of this dude in an earlier post. Since I am now abstaining from most social medias (for various reasons, primarily "focus!"), I feel inclined to make another post that directs viewers to the exact image - also I am so grateful to be painting the figure in proper color (after 3+ years studying in the Ecole des Beaux-Arts methods through GCA & my own grasping). Thanks (again!) to Will St. John & Colleen Barry for guidance. 

winter scene, progression from block-in

(still a work in progress, would love to correct some errors I already see... gotta wait till the next storm...)

Jimbe figure study in progress

details of the under-painting above... back in the figure room at GCA; below, a good display of the progression of studies, from Diana's drawing the figure (right), to my grisaille under-painting, to an eventual color study (by Raina Dai) below...

... (update) before I put in a color tone / background, here's the dude with a color pass in the studio: 

...

Jimbe figure study... / 'The Watchman" , oil on board, 18 x 24

(will upload a better (non-phone) pic ASAP)

Bather Study

 portrait detail ...

(roughly) 3 hr figure sketch, graphite on toned paper

happy new year & sending off some old landscape studies

getting ready to send off two landscapes, both painted on location last summer ; "Scorched Pine, Estes Park, CO" & "Oak overlooking the Hudson River, Yonkers, NY ", oil on board, roughly 12" x 9" each... below is a detailed graphite & chalk study of the dying Pine tree that is featured in the "Estes Park" painting (from the sketchbook)...

...

 details of evening lit "Pine" ...

Looking forward...

portrait of Jamal

another study of Jamal, (see earlier figure study a few posts below), portrait sketch (in ~4 hrs), graphite & chalk on toned paper... 

Jamal figure study; new work in progress

detail of 'Jamal', my first time using charcoal since... high school, I think.

...then onto a color pass, here's a detail of the portrait in progress, oil over the charcoal on panel.

…more progress down the torso, trying to keep my "shadows warm, transitions neutral (cooling?), local colors chromatic (warmish?), and high-lights cool", in accordance with the laws of the "flesh-ball", pictured below (a new concept introduced to me by Colleen Barry) : 

... and wrapping up - the full figure,  before the final touches:

some plen air art on view in Rye, NY, September 21st into October

I am looking forward to participating in a lil silent autction up in Rye, NY with the Rye Arts Center this fall.

I'll have the above alla prima piece I made earlier this year in Maine, up for auction in their gallery, as well as painting a another piece on location, for the auction, the day of the auction - October 3rd. If you are in the Rye area, check out the painters around the town! Thanks for the invite, Rye Arts Center & Jim Langley! Here's more information: http://ryeartscenter.org/?page_id=5539

old drawing refound...

...figured to share, I like the accidental composition...

 

 

The Ancients (based off a photo by Edward S Curtis), 10 x 8, graphite and chalk on paper, 2012 

figure studies

Looking forward to focusing on studio pieces featuring the figure more, here are some studies from the past, one example of a Bargue copy and one recent Russian drawing copy ...

 Santiago, graphite on paper, 2013 & Samir, grapite on paper, 2013

Santiago in repose, graphite and chalk on toned paper, 2013

earlier study of Mary Anne, 2016, oil on panel

Andre (detail), graphite sketch under 3 hrs, 2015

 female figure block in, graphite 2013

 Charles Bargue figure study of many others (copies), graphite, 2012

Aubrey figure block in, 6 hrs, graphite on paper, 2013

Toni figure study, graphite on paper, 2012

unknown Russian Master, copy, graphite on paper, 2015

Alphonse Mucha figure study copy, graphite and chalk on toned paper, 2016

Belvedere Torso, cast study, graphite on paper, 2013

Eve, study for larger painting ~2020

update, group show coming up...

 "Kiesha", graphite and chalk on paper, 2013

"Sarah", graphite on paper, 2013

UPDATES...

First: JUNE 28th:  Looking forward to sharing some old drawings (see above) in a group show at the UPSTREAM GALLERY, 8 Main Street, Hastings-on-Hudson, NY, 10706. ; (the reception is on the 28th, 6 pm; the work will be up through the end of July...)

Secondly, I am also excited for a plein air painting excursion / vacation to VINALHAVEN, ME from late June into the July 4th weekend. Hope to share the work on here when we get back. Thanks for looking. 

art show in the bronx, april

I am very excited to share some "recent work" from the last couple years at AN BEAL BOCHT (445 West 238th Street, Bronx, NY) in April & also stressed, coz I have to finish up a few un-finished pieces. Having a reception with foods, bevies, etc at 7 PM, APRIL 4th. Hope to see some heads :) ... & if you even care, (ha) one can now find more progress on other projects at http://catharsintherye.blogspot.com ... Happy Spring.

other links to art, etc:
http://www.instagram.com/jaimemorren
http://www.twitter.com/earthen_b

the fisherman

A recent portrait drawing session turned into a narrative piece about an old fisherman preparing to traul...

Thanks for guidance from Will St. John and the model Pete.

February 2014

returning from a journey north...

I just got back from the 2013 Hudson River Fellowship in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Check out the Grand Central Academy Blog (http://grandcentralatelier.blogspot.com/2013/07/hudson-river-fellowship-2013-week-two.html)  for more information on this transformative, amazing experience. Thanks for looking again. Regards,

J

(photo by Emilie Lee)