. . .Chapman's daily painting

Thursday, February 16, 2012

Details for Larger Painting

8"x10" oil on panel

These are some detail paintings for elements of a larger painting. The scene is "The Garden of Eden" when God confronts Adam and Eve about how they know they are naked.

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

The figure in this painting is drawn from memory of a small boy "Jason" that lived in Los Algodones. He could not walk and a group of people donated funds so that he could have an operation. After the operation I gave him therapy for about 3 months until we had to leave. I must admit I was getting discouraged and thought perhaps he would never walk on his own. 2 days before we left he walked into the clinic grinning and holding on to a stick. I was amazed. When we returned a year later he took my hand and walked with me around the village. If this was the end of the story it would be a happy ending... I can't write the rest of the story here and perhaps it is not over yet.
I don't think this painting is really about Jason. It's about having enough faith to get out of the boat and "Walk on water" . Some day maybe I'll get out of the boat. But today I'm having trouble leaving the dock.

Detail for Larger Painting

This is a preliminary small detail painted in preparation for a larger painting. The final painting will be about 36" x 60". The subject "scene" is Adam and Eve facing God after eating the forbidden fruit. I wanted the figures to be stark and vulnerable. I think the pose doesn't quite work but I like the colour. I'm doing another detail and will post it soon. In the final painting this will only be a small portion of the painting. The final shows a wide view of Eden with this detail in the lower right. Hidden in the foliage of the garden on the left will be Christ on the Cross.

Saturday, January 14, 2012

Paintings on Etsy

Visit my shop at Etsy called PaintersStudio

or do a search in Etsy for David Chapman

8"x10" oil on gessoed panel
I went shopping and found the most incredible red Pear and right beside it were Prickly Pears. I thought they would made an interesting composition. I really like the way the brush strokes, colours and textures compliment this subject.

8""x10" oil on gessoed panel

The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 1 Corinthians 11:23-25

This symbolic meal has become so full of meaning and importance for me personally as the years pass and I continue on my journey with Christ. I have painted it a few times.

I like to work on a gessoed panel because of the detail, brush strokes and textures that can be achieved.

9"x11" oil on gessoed wood panel
I did a water colour of this subject when I first met my Wife. (About 14 years ago) I liked it so much that I painted this oil painting using the same subject and composition. (The photo really does not do it justice) I love the way this painting turned out. It's very difficult to paint dark landscapes and retain a sense of depth and distance. This one retains the illusion of distance in a dreamlike fashion which was my intent. It's all about reaching for dreams in uncertain circumstances.

This painting is oil on gessoed panel, 8"x10", still life.
I believe that cabbages are highly underrated. They offer the most beautiful shape and subtlety of colour and texture. They are healthy eating too although I must confess this one wilted away while I was painting it and it had to go into the compost heap.

Oil on panel, 8"x10", still life,
A fun study of a pair of tomatoes. Painted over the coarse of two days allowing time for the paint to dry between sessions which allows for adding deep rich shadows and colour