This painting was challenging and enjoyable. I couldn’t think of a good or clever name for it. This is the same young lady with all the curls I painted and posted a couple weeks ago. In the end I cropped my painting because I had an issue with her hand which was not right in the reference photo and I just couldn’t correct it. That’s fine – as paintings get cropped all the time. Not a lot to talk about today – probably a good thing. Have a great weekend. Winifred
She’s my neighbor and for the past two years, since she was 4 years old, we’ve explored crayon, watercolor, colored pencils, pastels, paper cut outs, and now her latest fascination – clay. Initially, I thought I would “teach” her but I quickly found out I had no idea how to do that. Instead we just play – mostly I watch her. She’s pretty happy if I just give her 100% percent of my attention during our half hour or max hour together once or. twice per week. I’ve seen so much progress. She is totally focused on the activity of the day and happy to take the day’s activity home with her.
She has learned that I don’t like to do smiling photos and she has no problem with this. Normally her hair is in braids or one or two pony tails, hence and on the day she arrived with her hair down in curls I decided to photograph her. I could complain about some of the colors as they shifted in the photograph of the painting – but what’s the point.
Today, I began cutting back my strawberry plants and adding the foliage to my compost pile. I say I’m tired of gardening but yesterday I found myself buying large bags of container soil to transplant my many kale plants in another week or so. Cabbage worms decimated my many kale plants a couple years ago. It was so depressing I haven’t tried since. This fall I will. Have a wonderful remainder of your weekend. Winifred
I took a break from painting portraits the past few weeks to paint still lifes. I’m so glad I did. It made this stylistic shift in my portrait painting much easier. I looked at the original version of this painting this morning – fresh eyes. It had a solid blue background with a deep shadow on the left.These attributes were reflected in the reference photo I took recently – but it wasn’t working. Her name is Cinnamon. She’s a pretty girl with beautiful cinnamon curls. But overall the entire painting was just normal – quite boring I thought. The only thing I was happy about was her face. I had avoided over blending her face – it was painterly, but I needed to do more. I made paint mixtures of orange/gold and burnt sienna and started creating big, loose swirls of curls, alternating the colors and moving all over her head. Can you imagine my fear! However, I liked the effect right away. Energy was emerging. Then I envisioned adding green and gold as background colors rather than just blue. I mottled in the new colors. The painting was transformed. I enhanced the highlights of the face and it was basically done – for now. Abstracting portrait elements for some reason is scary for me but it’s my intention to move beyond my fear. As days go by I will likely make more changes. That’s what usually happens. Thank you for looking. Winifred
I’m going to explain what I’ve been doing. It’s been fun. I can’t use solvents in my studio and the use of solvent in oil painting is part of the traditional painting process. It’s used for brush cleaning, to create a thin wash to work out the values of the painting or to paint the first layer with a thin wash of color and to thin oil paint throughout to one’s desired consistency. Mixed with oil paint, the paint dries faster. Sometimes a solid layer of the mid color of the painting is applied overall to the surface and shapes are wiped out to create initial shapes in the painting.
for these reasons, I feel a little handicapped in not being able to use solvent. Many people can’t use it. There can be an allergic reaction which causes head aches, nausea or whatever. The adverse reaction can develop over time. Some of these products are odorless – which I think is a terrible thing. You can’t even tell if solvent is building up in the studio. Without going too far into this. I heard someone mention an alternative. The suggestion came from a very experienced oil painter who post lots of technical info on YouTube. He said †hat for quite a while now, he has used a watercolor wash as a background or first painting layer. Originally he used Acrylic. It “dries” quickly, but the fact is it should cure for 1 to 2 days before painting on it in oil, so he changed to watercolor. So, I decided to try watercolor A normal person would likely have tested this process using watercolor from a set they may have at home, or might purchase inexpensively on Amazon. Not being a normal person, I decided I would make a set of watercolor colors – specific to what I might use for subdued background colors. I probably looked at 30 YouTube videos to learn how to make a watercolor binder. The process is more complicated and requires more ingredients than in making oil paint which I’ve made for years. The other thing is that after grinding the watercolor it has to dry which can take 2 to 3 days curing before using the product. I guess you don’t have. to let it dry but its harder to control the amount on the brush if it’s wet. I initially thought I would make 3 colors. however, I made 12. I couldn’t help it. I had the pigments already and in fact, I had all the ingredients I needed – gum Arabic, glycerin, honey, and clove oil. There are many recipes which can affect the functionality and artistry of watercolor. It’s been fun to learn about which is why I couldn’t get a painting done last week. I spent days studying, and days making the watercolor. I could have gone a much simpler route but I really enjoy making stuff. For my purpose they’re fine. Whether or not they’re really any good – I have no ideabut they will work for me.
Then I selected a painting to test my new watercolor as a background and an initial wash.The painting was interesting to copy. It’s not really a copy but I certainly copied many of the elements from the painters work. I like the fact that I used bristle brushes only. I don’t think I’ve ever done that before. In addition to creating texture which I love, it keeps all the edges soft. I’ll have to try that with a portrait. Actually, I did use a small sable for those delicate little champagne grapes. I then added a border and allowed a couple pieces of fruit to roll out the frame – something I like to do – most often with grapes.
Professional WC is most often in very small containers. My watercolors are large allowing me to insert a large brush into the containers for large strokes rather than small sable brushes most often used in WC painting. Notice my name is not on the painting. I don’t think the artist would like his name on it either. Well, that’s my story. Have a great weekend. Winifred
This is the second time I’ve painted a group of “three tomatoes. I waited until I was finished with the painting above before I looked back on the painting (below) created 5 years ago or so in order that it not influence me. I remembered my first tomato painting, below, was very blended and pretty realistic. I worked hard to make sure this latest painting (above) was more textured and loose. It was taken outdoors with a blue sky shining on them giving the cool highlights and creating significant contrast. Evergreens, form the background.
Neither painting was easy. I remember how difficult it was to blend the slight shifts in gradients in the first painting, below. This latest painting, the one above, should have been easier and it probably would have been had I not worked so hard to be true to the many shapes, ridges and color variations of the heirloom tomatoes. It has much deeper in color, more burgundy with green variations.
I like both paintings for different reasons. I definitely like the background and tabletop of the painting above. Choosing a favorite is always complicated. Have a great week. Winifred
I created this painting throughout the days of the Democratic National Convention. On each of those days, I went to my studio well before the convention started and ended my painting day well after the convention ended each day. I painted a fifth day as well. I like Kamala Harris. I think shell provide honest, legal and compassionate governance and I will certainly vote for her. This painting, as with all others, have many hours involved in the creation. I’m not a fast painter and for me each and every element requires consideration . If I were to do it again – which I won’t, I would do some things differently. I had gotten pretty far with the painting – nearly finished actually, when I stepped back and saw a big compositional error. The issue was too big to ignore, too big “not to see”. When that happens it’s a big job to make the correction, but I did so. I enjoy these shapes and colors. I always enjoy painting grapes. I used real fruit when photographing this still life set up. I couldn’t get the digital image to look like the painting today and I tried for way too long. The grapes in particular are problematic because of all the choppy little colors on the black grapes in particular. On the painting they are smoother, lower contrast and it looks nice. I tried many things to remedy and eventually gave up. I’m sure there’s a way but I’m tired.
It’s cool and rainy today and the same is predicted for the coming week. To reminisces: August, is a time in the Western part of Washington state, when there are many weddings scheduled – or at least that use to be the case – you could count on August to be sunny, warm and rain-less. It was September or October before the rain might come – but the weather has changed so much. Many weddings use to take place in my gardens – gardens which I created. Before painting with oil, I painted with flowers, shrubs and trees. I’m glad I don’t have to be concerned about that anymore. I was always the self selected photographer for weddings in my gardens as well. After 2 years of my wedding venue and wedding photography activities, I quit the entire operation. The gardens and my photography remained in demand but can you imagine all of this activity at your home each weekend of the summer? But, it’s pretty fun to look back on the photos. The great thing about hosting this activity is some of the long time friends which remain. I sold this property in 2010.
Above photos, are three of the many places a bride could choose as her background.
Well, that’s it for my trip down memory lane which started with me thinking about cool weather and rain in August. Have a great weekend. GO KAMALA!! Winifred
Unlike with most flowers, I’ve always enjoyed the many phases of life of the sunflower and I have paintings which reflect this. However, I didn’t have a painting quite like this. While going through my files this past week, I came upon this reference photo – I knew instantly I had to paint it. I’m not sure you can tell exactly what it is. It’s actually two large overlapping sunflower heads. All the petals have fallen off and it’s large sunflower seeds have begun to dry. I love the “curls” and the way the light is hitting the dramatic shapes. At 16 x12 , this painting is relatively large and has tremendous visual impact and presence.
I hope you enjoy it. Have a wonderful weekend. Winifred
I keep a folder on my computer titled “still lifes to paint”. This image has been in that folder since 2018. I set ip the still life and photographed it. I really like the image. I love the rough looking vase ( I guess it’s a vase) against the multi colored silk scarf over the shinny gold cloth. In no way did I feel I could paint it however. Besides, I found the digital file so pretty, I thought there was nothing I could bring to it anyway. And so, for all these years it sat. Every time I’ve come across it, however, I react to it in an admiring fashion. This week I decided I would try it. Afterall, I’ve been practicing for 7 years now. Unlike with painting roses, I actually enjoyed the process – I wasn’t miserable the whole time. Do you wonder what those orange objects are? I’m really not sure. I tried to make them resemble fruit or vegetables moreso than they did when I took them out of the bag of plastic objects I acquired from Goodwill long ago. Some objects in that bag actually looked like apples or oranges, others were not identifiable. They were shapes, with color and that’s all I really cared about.
You won’t believe what I’ve chosen to paint the coming week. I ‘m going back to misery painting roses. I keep thinking it’s got to get easier at some point. I took photos today and I’ve made my selection, guaranteeing you’ll see another “rose painting” in a week or two. The photo is pretty cute. Bye for now. Thank you for looking. Winifred
I didn’t do a new painting this week. I continued to work on a previous painting or was otherwise busy. So, I decided allow you to view a previous painting from my past. I think i painted this in 2018 before I started this blog about seven months after I began oil painting. It is relatively large at 12×16. For sure it’s not perfect but I’m surprised I would actually tackle this level of complexity so early. I did this quite a lot in the beginning. I set up still lifes regularly, photographed them and painted. I played with paint mixtures I mixed and modified oil paint, I made panels to paint on. I was so driven. In this painting the challenge was to paint metals, drapes and fruit. When I look at this painting, I am pleased, but I still find painting roses more difficult.
Below, I put in more time on the painting I posted last week. This is the latest version.
There are so many ways a painting can be expressed. Sometimes, it takes a while for ones vision to evolve. When I posted last week, I had no intention of painting more or differently. However, the next day, when I viewed the painting I decided to put it back on my easel. I didn’t have a full game plan but I wanted “more”. For the most part I just viewed and reacted. I started to use thicker paint, more color and made some adjustments to the values. I added foliage and repainted and smoothed much of the background. I’ll add the original below to make this easier for you. At first it was fine – overnight it wasn’t!
The greatest difference is in the vibrancy of the flowers and the thickness of the paint. Flowers don’t have to be vibrant. They can be subdued. In fact the flowers I was panting weren’t so colorful but I am happier with them now. Overall, the redo is less tentative and I’m glad I did the additional work. Thank you for looking and have a great weekend. Winifred
This is the first year I’ve selected multiple flowers from my garden, in a bouquet to paint. I kept them in the refrigerator most of the time and pulled them out only when I had a reason to refer to them, for example if I wanted to change the angle of a flower. I’m amazed at how long they’re lasting. If I kept them out continuously, they wouldn’t last long at all. I never imagined I would cut roses to paint, though that was the reason for the purchase of the rose bush. I continue to find painting roses intimidating and it continues to be my wishful thinking that I’ll become more competent in doing so. At the same time, I know how many I’ve already painted 60 or 70 or more, and it’s still a real struggle. I think we’ve had that discussion. Daisies and sun flowers aren’t so difficult. There is a way of painting them which I grasp and even enjoy – not so with roses or even the petunias. The next major challenge was trying to get a good image of the painting. My methods have become much more sophisticated and my images have improved, but the fact is, the more distinct the color or brushwork variation in the painting (as opposed to smooth gradients), the harder it is to get a good image – no matter what. Look at the vase, for example, the smooth gradients, as opposed to the flowers petals. I had to do so much manipulation of the image even to get the flowers the least bit acceptable and they’re still not the same as in the painting. I had to do nothing to the vase because of it’s smooth gradient. I really don’t mind painting challenges. I do mind the photography challenges. So much time is wasted. I’ve already started to photograph my next still life. I have about 40 images so far and still none are exactly what I want.
It’s cooler now – 70 degrees was the high today – and yes, I’m happy about Kamala. Have a great week. Winifred