Project 2277: New Nude of Juan Pablo

This version of my Studio Journal in-progress reports is for Premium Content subscribers. This page gets the updates first, and includes materials not available in the Public and Members-Only versions (like timelapse videos). As a paid subscriber, you also have the option of putting your name on a list of those who will be notified first, and have first options to purchase, when a Project becomes a finished work of art.

ABOUT THE “MAKE A COMMENT” BUTTON: That button is there for everybody! Don’t feel you have to be an art expert or somehow “qualified” to make a comment. I want to hear from you, and if you’re a fan of my art, you’re qualified to make a comment. Thanks in advance for clicking that comment button and checking in with me. I appreciate it!

The updates below are in reverse chronological order, so the most recent is on top. To start from the beginning, go to the bottom of the page.

Report 4

Project 2277: The Painting is Complete!

February 6, 2026

The artwork is complete! Thanks for following the creation process of “Juan Pablo Eats an Orange.” The finished work has just been added to the Collector Preview Gallery. As a subscriber to the Simonson website you have access to this gallery and a limited-time option to purchase this artwork -– just click on the button below.

 

 

 

 

 

Collector Preview Gallery
Report 3

Project 2277: Second and Final Painting Session

February 4, 2026

The second session is all about completing the body, without overworking it. I’m paying special attention to keeping some of the edges soft, sometimes even letting strokes of one color go into the area of another color. There’s a fine line with this kind of thing, but I think I walked it pretty well with this painting. And the painting is finished!

Report 2

Project 2277: First Painting Session

February 3, 2026

After doing a pencil underdrawing on the canvas, I covered it with an acrylic wash. Then, since the background color is such an important part of this painting, I put that in very early, so I can be sure the colors I use in the body work with it. Once I’ve got the background laid in, then I start working into the body. One of the things I’m going for in this painting is softer edges. I have a tendency to make all my edges hard and clearly defined, and the truth is, variation in the hardness of edges, from very hard to almost completely “lost,” can make a huge difference in the overall impact of the painting. We’ll see how I do with this one.

Report 1

Project 2277: New Nude of Juan Pablo

February 2, 2026

I wanted to do a nude, and something simple, so I looked through photos from some of my recent shoots and came across an image I liked of Juan Pablo holding a couple of orange slices. To make this simple standing figure even simpler, I removed the background in Photoshop and substituted a bright pink/magenta field as background. I think this will make a nice painting, so tomorrow I’ll transfer the image to canvas and start work on it.