Between Dreams & Daylight

A minor Key-Create depth,

2010-12-26T21:23:00.004-06:00

This painting incorporates many techniques that you can put to work in your representational art.

SHADOWS. Base layer is cadmium red glaze that will show through subsequent glazes.
Shadows are glazes in many layers so that the viewer sees through them. Study the paints and you will discover opaque, transparent and translucent hues. Combine to create the effect your desire. I use a cool color-way. (Terre verte stays in the background.)

Note: the reflected white on the shadow side is created by lightly lifting off some of the upper glazes to reveal the glowing underpainting. (Vermeer mastered this effect).

LIGHT SIDE. My light side colors are opaque and much thicker. I use flake white (it is a gentle white) mostly and and paint very softly with soft bright brushes directly into the wet paint. (Barely "disturb" the white paint.) In the "live" oil the skin seems almost palpable.

EYES LIPS. These translucent areas involve building up multiple layers of transparent paint in a thick medium and literally softly painting into the medium. I like real copal (which is hard to find and expensive.) Eyes (as in real life) have depth that seem to make a connection with the viewer. This effect was noted by a recent newspaper art critique wrote, "White Linen reveals his subject's mug shot with her glorified soft flesh and piercing but still gentle eyes." Unfortunately this depth doesn't come through via photographs.

DEPTH. To enhance the 3D sense of the painting I often use a loaded palate knife here and there. I sometimes use Titanium White for highlights and opaque passages because it is brighter than lead white.

Comments and questions are welcomed.
CLICK on this (or any) of these paintings to enlarge

Milky light

2010-12-19T20:55:00.001-06:00

Dreamy light to spend a bit of your life with.

Just a note.

2010-11-14T21:25:00.001-06:00

4 months and the oil painting is finished.

Enjoy,

Painter

July 10 post continued

2010-08-01T22:02:00.004-05:00

Well the painting continues. Please refer to the July 10,2010 post for earlier stages.

At this point the the underpainting is finished and the initial shadow glazes and build-up of opaque paint has started.
The figure is coming along with the face being developed the most. As the focal point, I want to make sure the face works before spending effort refining the background. Three views are posted for those of you interested in the details. Each image is clickable for a larger size.
Specific questions about any aspect of this work will be answered.

Beauty is truth. -Painter

Press Review of Pensacola Museum of Art

2010-07-26T22:06:00.002-05:00

The Pensacola News Journal art reviewer, Michael Roberts had this to say about a current juried show.(Unedited)

"The show's best moments are definitely it's paintings. Thomas Groth, who's dedicated to pre-Raphaelites subject, presents two small portraits in oil. The strongest one, titled "White Linen" reveals his subject's mug shot with her glorified soft flesh and piercing but still gentle eyes. The frame crops out the top of her hat for a sense of balance."

What's on my easel?

2010-07-10T15:12:00.007-05:00

Here are the initial stages of an oil painting that was begin July 2010.
A CONCEPT
Here is an idea I started playing with several years ago and then put away. It's about a high light coming through a window and a situation that yet is to be resolved.
THE CARTOON
The next stage is a full size cartoon that works out the piece. This stage done on tracing paper and works out details. For example the figure is in a setting and there are some difficult perspective issues that have to be worked out.
THE TRANSFER
The cartoon is transferred to a prepared canvas. (I use 2 coats of acrylic gesso and sand each coat). I transfer by rubbing charcoal over the back of the thin tracing paper and taping it into position on the canvas. I often use a larger canvas than the initial idea in case the painting goes where I hadn't planned. I then use a 5H pencil and a stylus and go over the figure etc on the cartoon. This roughly transfers the design to the canvas.
THE DRAWING ON CANVAS.
This is where I am at this point. I redraw very carefully the figure an other major elements. I use prismacolor with a very sharp points. This drawing is done to establish tones and lines (not color). I use prsimacolor because it doesn't bleed through the oil paint like graphite pencil does. (Never use graphite pencil as an underdrawing on an oil). I don't use charcoal because I like a tighter line than most charcoal provides.
After this drawing is done I'll fix it and move to an isolating varnish step--more on that in later posts.
IMPORTANT: click on images to enlarge.

Polka Dots

2010-06-22T14:37:00.002-05:00

Oil on canvas.

Details of development will be provided in next post.
Click to enlarge.

Regards,

Painter

What's on my easel?

2010-05-21T22:16:00.004-05:00

This is a continuation of the painting started in the previous post. (See images on this post).
Here shadow's depth and richness have been developed through glazes with transparent paints and various media.

Highlights and midtones are brought forward by opaque paints painted wet-into-wet and the glazed as needed.

Details are just being refined and at this point I am still not sure where this young lady in going.

Note that you may "click" to see enlargements.

You thoughts and questions are welcome.

Cheers,

Painter
All image are copywrited

A William-Adolphe Bouguereau & this painter

2010-04-30T21:32:00.005-05:00

William-Adolphe Bouguereau (November 30, 1825 – August 19, 1905) is considered by many to be one of the the finest painters in history. I have spent much time studying his techniques and visiting "the real thing" as much as possible. This image was shot in Europe.

Pensacola Museum of Art

2010-04-20T20:51:00.003-05:00

Here is a shot of one of my paintings in a museum setting. I always think art no matter how wonderful or dreadful takes on a different and less approachable feeling in an art museum.

One, two, three

2010-04-07T21:58:00.005-05:00

Here are 3 levels in the development of a recent oil painting.
Level one: prisma-color on canvas.
Level two; oil on canvas underpainting.
Level three: finished oil with multiple layers of glazes and scumbles.

If you have specific questions, please ask and I'll be happy to discuss in depth.
Click on image to enlarge.

Cheers,
Painter

P.S. All images are copyrighted (all rights reserved) Prints are available (just ask).

Duet (in the looking glass)

2010-03-29T23:28:00.000-05:00

Oil on Canvas

White Linen

2010-03-13T22:37:00.004-06:00

The idea here is one of "values" with layers of glazes in the shadows contrasted against the impasto in the highlights. I used a full range of transparent, translucent and opaque paints applied from washes, scumbles to thick impasto via palate knife for the white linen. It is small about 8 inches by 12 inches on board, not canvas.

I almost always paint head sizes smaller than life because they are more elegant. Hope you enjoy the work. If you have any questions I'll be happy to answer them. If you haven't gone back into my archive, please take a minute to do so.

Cheers,

Painter

What's on my easel?

2010-03-04T21:35:00.000-06:00

Here's a small oil painting on board in progress. It is a study in values with layers and layers of deep shadows and few accents (eg. lips). The lead white will gradually be toned down as the work progresses.
As usual the richness and depth of the art does not photograph well because it is not...a photograph.

I hope to post the finished piece within a few weeks.
Cheers,
Painter

2010-02-16T16:55:00.001-06:00

TAGS:

beauty. art. romance, Pre-Raphaelites, Waterhouse, sensual, portraits, oil painting, Vermeer, poetry, quiet,light, women, painting, simplcity, Henri, fine art, classic, Victorian, "I mean by a picture, a beautiful romantic dream of something that never was, never will be - in a better light than any light that ever shone - in a land that no-one can define or remember, only desire - and the forms divinely beautiful"
Edward Coley Burne-Jones, geishea, mermaid, angels, daydreamers, Newlyn School, gentle

wake up call

2010-02-11T21:30:00.000-06:00

Sometimes coffee awakens more than one expects.

Private thoughts

2010-01-18T18:16:00.000-06:00

oil on canvas

locked heart

private joys

    private thoughts

            private words

 are some things 

            so intimate

                    they shouldn't 

                   be shared?
                        -LaRue

setunai

2010-01-13T14:59:00.000-06:00

Pastel on paper.

Something that gives your heart a squeeze though, whether it's those feelings of pain and loneliness you get when you are in love, feelings of loss, nostalgia and melancholy, or that feeling you get when you see a beautiful landscape or painting and there is no equivalent word for it in English.

Some time for me

2010-01-04T21:14:00.000-06:00

Prismacolor on Coquille Board.

Last painting of 2009

2009-12-30T22:24:00.002-06:00

Greetings,

Here she is. (She needs a name). While you may have interrupted her sewing-- she doesn't mind. She really likes visitors.

For those who are interested in her make-up. This little oil exists on canvas and is made up of dozens of historical and modern techniques from impasto to glazing to dripping of liquid oil paint.

She and I wish you a rich and artful 2010.

Cheers,

Painter

Please see my post: Needle and thread. Friday, October 30, 2009

Merry Christmas 2009

2009-12-24T22:59:00.000-06:00

Kimono in blue

2009-12-11T22:37:00.000-06:00

Pastel on paper.

Western eyes and Eastern depth meet and combine.

We see so much and see so little.

Everything has meaning.

Kimono (Purity)

2009-12-06T21:52:00.000-06:00

My charcoal study for a Kimono series, based on the concept of Shabui.  While this doesn't translate well, it deals with the paring down of things to their essence.  Purity.

As always your thoughts and insights are welcomed.

-Painter

Blue Ribbon

2009-12-02T21:32:00.000-06:00

Oil on canvas.

Photographing Oil Paintings

2009-11-23T22:11:00.000-06:00

"It looks so much better in real life" is a common response when viewers see an oil painting at perhaps a museum after only seeing it on the web.

Why? Oil paintings frequently have layers that allow the viewer to see through layers of paint (glazes). So like our skin which is translucent, so paintings show depth of skin or eyes or hair.

Colors also in in a painting are rarely flat. By combing layers of colors by glazing and scumbling (Scumbling is painting thin layers of opaque light colour over dark colors) the artist pushes past photography. That said, there are some wonderful specialists in shooting art work. (Alas, I am not)

Painters also use impasto (thickly applied paint) to build up areas into 3D. Rembrandt was famous for this. Notice how this painting of mine looks different in raking light.

Enjoy.

Come swing again

2009-11-20T21:13:00.000-06:00

Mermaid oil on canvas

2009-11-18T21:50:00.002-06:00

Do you believe in mermaids?
Meermadchen, Meermadchen
                             Where are you?
Meermadchen
                    Meermadchen
                                     Where are you?
My fantasy
              My love
                          Where are you?
My heart
             My Spark
Meermadchen
                Meermadchen
                               Where are you?
                                           -LaRue

Don't let your dreams sleep.

Duet

2009-11-14T21:44:00.000-06:00

Tone Poem

2009-11-14T21:39:00.000-06:00

Graphite on paper. This may one day be worked into a oil painting.

Between dreams & daylight: needle & thread

2009-10-30T21:38:00.000-05:00

Between dreams & daylight: needle & thread

needle & thread

2009-10-30T21:31:00.000-05:00

In progress, oil on canvas underpainting.
Updates forthcoming.

Your thoughts are welcomed.

Thomas Groth 'blue ribbon' Painting Oil, 2009 - Premiere Artist Portfolio at absolutearts.com

2009-10-26T12:02:00.000-05:00

Thomas Groth 'blue ribbon' Painting Oil, 2009 - Premiere Artist Portfolio at absolutearts.com

2009-10-23T22:20:00.000-05:00

2009-10-23T22:14:00.000-05:00

J.W. Waterhouse

2009-10-23T22:12:00.002-05:00

I've been studying Waterhouse's work since 1968. Most are familiar with his paintings but the paintings are all based on exceptional draughtsmanship. One may have a "song to sing" but without the skills to sing it it remains a mere shadow of what it could be. Here are some drawings by Mr. Waterhouse. Also is a shot of some of my initial drawings (cartoons they are called) that were transformed into oil paintings. Cheers, tg

Japanese Tea Ceremony

2009-10-19T14:58:00.000-05:00

oil on canvas

Beauty

2009-10-17T21:18:00.000-05:00

http://www.absolutearts.com/portfolios/t/tgroth/

Wildflower- ecu

2009-10-11T21:30:00.000-05:00

starbucks

2009-10-11T21:28:00.000-05:00

work in progress

2009-10-11T21:23:00.000-05:00

Suite for unaccompanied cello (angel)

2009-10-04T21:59:00.000-05:00

2009-10-01T21:43:00.000-05:00

"Less is more"

Mermaid oil on canvas painted 2009

2009-10-01T21:24:00.004-05:00

Welcome to a place of quiet light.

2009-09-30T13:34:00.000-05:00

You've found a place that is just the opposite of a fast forward world. Here are images that bid one to stop, breath and spend some time. Press "pause." Every few days I'll post a painting of mine. Please add your own poems, art, photographs, thoughts.

"To live simply takes a complicated heart." -larue