Current works in progress

The following oil paintings are 24 inches square. They are part of a commission I am working on. These pictures are for the waiting room of an occupational therapy clinic for children.

Working with the client has been very rewarding. Together we are discovering what images and techniques will be appropriate for her clients. The first image is a little farther along than the other two. All three will be handled in the same way when finished. They will be painterly, realistic, and colorful.

Stone Carving Video

I made this video with the Division of Learning and Innovation at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts. In it I try to describe and demonstrate the basic tools required to shape stone.

Treden Wagoner - Artist and Portrait Painter on Facebook

I now have a page for my studio work on Facebook.


http://www.facebook.com/pages/Treden-Wagoner-Artist-and-Portrait-Painter/125675007500226

Custom Fine Art Panels by Rodney Thompson

I just starting working on a new commission.

Artist and encaustic painter/printmaker, Debra Blair told me about Rodney Thompson's cradled panels.

His panels are made of maple, solid on the sides and veneer on the panel surface (which has a mdf core). Each panel has a system of braces on the back. I am convinced that they are built to last. The design and construction is of the best quality.

I emailed him for more information before ordering and he was quick to respond. He answered all my questions directly. The turn around was very quick. I ordered at the end of one week and within 9 days I had the four panels I needed for the commission.

The panels were very carefully packed and arrived in pristine condition. The boxes are a work of engineering all on their own.

I am going to purchase panels from Rodney for all of my future works.

Check out his site for more information.

Work in Progress - Up Against the Wall: Greg

This painting is still in the "underpainting" stage. I started with a charcoal drawing, blocked in basic colors, and then began to model form-dark to light. Once I have the form where I want it I will begin glazing.

The foreground will have some additional detail including plants and stones. I have worked that out entirely.

Up Against the Wall: Patrick

This painting is complete and waiting for varnish. I might add a few more layers of glaze. I want to wait to see what the varnish does to the colors. This might also be an occasion to work with matte varnish in certain areas.

I create my own matte varnish by adding dissolved beeswax to my picture varnish or painting medium.

Red Chair Portrait: Gerry

This painting is complete and waiting for varnish.

New images in current project slide show

http://treden.com/current.html

Treden.com Updates

I updated www.treden.com this morning.

The home page has a slightly new look and the Current Projects page now features a slide show of a work in progress. Soon the Current Projects page will feature a gallery of slide shows, each showing the progress of recently completed works (or those that are nearly complete).

The slide show includes captions which are initially hidden. Click on "captions" underneath the toolbar beneath the slides to read my comments on each slide.

I welcome your comments on the changes and would appreciate it if you would post them here.

Foot in the Door web site is now live

Check out the MIA's Web site for the Foot in the Door show. Look for your favorite work of art, artist or just browse the creative endeavors of your neighbors.

Thank you MIA.

http://artsmia.org/foot-in-the-door-4/

My painting on the wall at the MIA's Foot in the Door exhibition

Treden makes it into Art Forum (kind of...)

Art Forum Online reposted the Foot in the Door video.

http://www.artforum.com/video/id=24922&mode=large&page_id=0

Foot in the Door 4

The show at Minneapolis Institute of Arts opens on Thursday, February 18. Check out the promotional video on YouTube. It goes by quick but I and my painting appear early on.

For more information on the exhibition visit the MIA's Web site.

The Star Tribune newspaper did a story on the show and my piece is included in the third picture in the online slide show. Look for the top of the red chair.
My Foot in the Door painting is in the Star Tribune

Photos coming soon.

What am I working on?

I will have pictures soon of the pieces I am working on for the Foot in the Door show.

The plan is to create as many 12 inch square pictures as possible by the deadline and then choose the best one to enter.

My current favorite is a portrait of the red chair. There is no sitter. The chair sits in the corner facing the viewer. It will be a nice capstone or intro to my red chair portrait series.

Any Minneapolis readers out there want to sit for a red chair portrait? Use comments to let me know.

Merry Christmas

and Happy New Year.

Look for more posts and more updates on art making and art education in 2010.

Thank you for reading.

2010 Foot in the Door

Foot in the Door is an open exhibition at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts for all Minnesota artists.

Works of art must be in any visual media that can fit intoe a 12 inch square box. A/V submissions will be considered.

Drop off dates for works are Thursday, February 4 through Sunday February 7, 2010.

http://www.artsmia.org/maep

Here is the Web site for exhibition in 2000. It only comes around once every 10 years.

http://artsmia.org/foot-in-the-door/

Van Gogh's Letters

Just heard about this Web site today, vangoghletters.org.

The site design is fantastic. The letter viewer allows one to switch from the original text in Dutch or a translation. There are scholar's notes that can be viewed if one chooses. In another pane, on the opposite side of the screen from the text of the letter, once can choose to view a scan of the letter or referenced works of art.

I plan to spend some time each week reading the letters. There are over 900 of them. I will write here when I find something interesting to write about.

Latest progess on red chair portrait of Carmen

This is not the best digital image of this painting. It was taken in low light and I had to push it a bit in Photoshop to come close to the colors of the original. I will post better images soon.

The next steps I will take will be to heighten the shadows with glazes on both the figure and the chair. I really want to push the back of the chair into space with some deep shadow behind the figure. Carmen was wearing glasses when she sat for this. Those will be the last detail I add.

Be on the look out for a new feature on treden.com. I will soon be adding a gallery of works in progress. You will be able to follow several of my recent paintings from the initial drawing through to the varnished (completed) piece.

Latest red chair portrait - June 16, 2009

Brian Setzer Album Cover Concept

Brian Setzer's record label held a contest to find the designer for the cover of his new album. This is my submission. Unfortunately, the contest only gave you ten days to come up with the design and I missed the deadline. I sent in my entry anyways. I haven't heard anything from Surf Dog Records. I don't expect to.

If I had more time I spend it on the guitar. I am going to work on it and post the updated version here.