Burt With Dolly Wood 16″ x 20″ 2008

One of the few times I’ve ever done a sketch before starting to paint. The only real idea here is that both parties are anatomically endowed and it should have something to do with music.

Empty canvas. One of the scariest parts of the process. Dolly and Burt models await interpretation.

Paint background. Wood floor like there would be in a 70’s Nashville bar and maybe a shimmery curtain.

A too tall Dolly but I’ve kind of gotten the body shape and hair and the guitar is ridiculous in the most perfect sense.

Body shapes look usable.

Forgot to photograph first pass at Burt that made him look like Andre The Giant so here he is as I attempt to wash and scrape him off the canvas so I can try again.

Start filling in facial features.

…making a picture perfect Dolly.

Paint out bottom of Dolly’s legs hacking an inch and a half off her height and add rhinestones to shoes.

Add rhinestones to Dolly’s hair and dress.

Add pearls to make the dress fancier.

So I use transfer paper…

…and draw an impression on another piece of leather…

…and get some leather to cut out for pants. But I forget that more anatomically impressive wood ball means that I will need a wider groin area than I originally traced.

Decide Burt should have leather pants as paint is too thick to scrape off without ruining canvas so I trace him from the waist down…

…to accommodate the bigger ball…

…and cut it out…

Lump of paint endowment looks like a 150 year old man. And stays soft and mushy.

Black paint was old and lumpy and Burt’s entire lower torso looks too gross, like his skeletal structure is clinging to spandex.

So I replace it with a wood ball.

Nice view of ball.

Add spurs to boots made out of rhinestones settings and wire.

Very impressive!

…resulting in a perfect fit.

Add gold chain and more chest, back and arm hair for realistic follicular activity.

Give Burt a cigarette made out of a chopstick and steel wool.

Add disco ball. Hate white paint mirrors…

…so pull apart one of my disco balls and add lifelike quality to ball…

…to give a sense of entertainers being onstage.