Another Year at 'The Arnold'

I painted in Columbus over the weekend at The Art at the Arnold, a painting competition held in conjunction with The Arnold Classic, the annual body-building and Sports Festival. This year I painted a young man who won a trophy in the physique competition last year and I asked him if I could take his picture with his trophy. 

The first day is spent painting from the live model and the second day competitors have 8 hours to complete a piece and submit it for judging.

Art at the Arnold 2015

I attended a painting competition a few weeks ago in Columbus, OH. Art at the Arnold is sponsored by the Arnold Sports Festival, an extravaganza of sporting competitions that began as a body building competition in 1989. The event has grown to the point where it now includes sports as varied as ball room dancing and cheer leading. I found it interesting that this year chess and horseback riding were added to the list for the children's expo.

Two years ago I was able to meet Arnold for a few minutes, but with all the new events that are added every year, his time grows more valuable and he didn't visit the artist's stage this year.

I tackled a difficult subject: four gymnasts watching their competitors. I used a photograph I took of some young gymnasts. I had six hours to complete it so I kept it very loose and tried to focus on their expressions. Needless to say, I didn't win, but I enjoyed the experience very much.

With another six hours of work at home, my painting acquired a more finished look and I'm happy with it.

I've decided that my paintings of people need to tell a story, so they are becoming a bit larger and more involved than ones I've done in the past.

Up Next

16 x 20 oil on linen

Dancers

When I attended the Art at the Arnold Competition in March I took some pictures and video of the ballroom dancing competitions. The couples who competed were mesmerizing to watch. I didn't know the difference between a samba or a waltz but it was all fascinating. I combined a couple of pictures to create this scene and used a lot of inventive color to keep it interesting.

16" x 20" oil on canvas

Best Friends

The second day of the Arnold Expo was a long one. Artists were required to be 'on stage' all day and we were to work on the piece we started the first day or start another one. I had a wonderful photograph of Allia and Janea, who are best friends in the WGP Spirit group that was competing over the weekend. The trouble was I didn't have a canvas with me so I decided to use charcoal and do a drawing. The drawing turned out great- both girls look happy and I wish one of the others would have purchased it, BUT although they loved it they could not afford to.

This is basically a three color drawing: black soft charcoal, with white conte and a cool gray conte crayon for accents.