Tag Archives: Winifred Whitfield Oil Paintings

Roses are Red

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Roses and Daisies 9×12 Impasto Oil Painting on Panel by Winifred

I wanted you to see I can paint other than sunflowers. I picked these flowers from my garden. The rose is a carpet rose, in case you know them. They’re not fussy! They will grow in almost any soil and with minimum care. They only want sun. Given that, they flourish. There are several hundred blooms during late June and July and a new flourish of these flowers in late August and September. Combining a few stems of the roses with fresh daisies made a lovely casual bouquet. I very often paint from photographs. This time I had both the fresh bouquet and a photograph to draw upon.

A Single Red Rose 8×10 oil painting on linen covered panel by Winifred

It’s been an enjoyable couple of weeks painting roses, which started with this one. The texture of the linen and the impressionist brushstrokes combine beautifully, I think, with the smoother impasto of the single red rose. I will switch to pink roses next time. The new painting has been designed – and awaits my attention. It will be a larger painting – probably 16×20. Today, I cleaned and reorganized my studio and I’m ready to go. I hope you enjoy the roses. Winifred

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Bunch of Paintings

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It’s been a while – once again, so I’m going to catch you up. There are several more but you’ll see them later.

Weather in Murano 12×16 Oil Painting by Winifred
Turquoise Pitcher and Citrus – 9×12 Oil Painting by Winifred
Hydrangeas and Daisies 11×14 Oil Painting by Winifred Whitfield
Vintage Pitcher 12×16 Oil Painting by Winifred Whitfield
Bowl with Two Apples 9×12 Oil Painting by Winifred Whitfield

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Paintings Coming 2019

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HAPPY NEW YEAR!! I’ll make new strides in 2019. No playing it safe – such as with my tomatoes. Painting this was not easy for sure. Each color and tonal variation had to be mixed separately. Oil paints don’t easily blend together and you can see the color variations are many. However, though tedious, I purchased 3 tomatoes and had them to look at. Basically, I painted what I saw – realism.

Winifred Whitfield Paints Ripe Juicy Tomatoes -8×8 Oil Painting

Just imagine, however, you set up a still life, below, but you chose to completely alter the color, textures and even some content – more abstract, more impressionistic. This makes the painting even more complex though giving one the opportunity to stretch the imagination, completely personalizing the style mood, color texture all. I’m will do more if this, attempt to stretch my capability with each and every painting. I hope you will enjoy.

12×16 still life oil painting with oranges by Winifred

There will be times when I work very seriously, but I also believe in play. Below, you can see play!! Grapes, pear and a shadow. This was fun. Thank you for sharing my painting journey and hope you will continue into the future. Wishing you and your family the best in 2019. Winifred

Grapes, Pear and Shadow oil painting by Winifred

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Lots of Foliage

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The common denominator in my paintings this week is primarily foliage. For sure it is not painting style!! That’s fun for me, painting one way and then another as well as experimenting. I will feature 4 paintings in this post – though I may delete one or more as time goes on.

The Old Burl Clock by Winifred – 12×12 Oil Painting

Ever since I can remember this clock has been in my Godmother’s home. Finally she gave it to me. I consider it a treasure. It doesn’t work. There is no glass front and the numbers are worn off. It does have hands. I decided to paint it. I put it off for a long time because of the ornamentation but alas, it was “time”. I wanted to increase it’s creativity and the very moment I had that thought – limes and ivy popped into mind – so here it is!

Foliage and Brass Oil Painting by Winifred

The Geranium: This summer I purchased a 4 inch deep purple and fuchsia Geranium, which I really enjoyed. I wanted to have it again next year and looked up how I might over winter it. It’s easy – just bring in inside, cut it back a bit and place it in a sunny window. It’s thriving. It has no flowers at this time but it’s very green and happy. I brought it into my studio and along with a few other items, this is the resulting painting. It wasn’t important to me for it to become identifiable as a Geranium – only foliage and color.

Foliage and Vines Oil Painting by Winifred

The painting above is an experiment. It’s important for me to not be “safe” in painting all the time. So the bazaar and even the failures come with the process. Sometimes I view them as interesting – other times – just plain weird!!

Tiny White Flowers by Winifred

Tiny White Flowers: I really don’t cherish looking at one of my paintings and thinking of it as “sweet” or “cute” and that’s what we have here. I’m not sure how that happened. I didn’t think of it as such before I added the white flowers but it needed something. I enjoyed the Van Gogh like brush strokes throughout as well as the color and impasto effect and design. There is nothing wrong with it technically, in fact there’s a lot great about it. I’m the only real problem and I am sure there is someone for whom this painting will be just right. ENJOY YOUR HOLIDAYS! I will have much more to show you in the NEW YEAR!!!

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Commissioned Oil Painted Portraits – 1

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 I have not posted for more than 2 months. My previous weekly postings fell away. I will do better. One reason for my absence is the amount of effort and focus I was directing to the series of  commissioned portraits I’ve been working on, as you will begin to see here.  I hope to do better and to keep you more up to date with my work. This is quite a colorful group of oil paintings.

Girl with Floral Vines – Oil Paint on Linen Panel, 12×16, by Winifred Whitfield

 

 The styles of my paintings are quite varied.  I allow the person, the image to dictate the ultimate outcome. The painting thus evolves intuitively.  I am often surprised by the journey and the outcome. I’ve been fortunate that I’ve been given free rein in creating these portraits. No direction was given. This allows me to be at my most creative. The inspiration for the floral vine came from floral elements in the families marble table

 

 

 

Girl with Colorful Sky, 12×16 oil painting by Winifred Whitfield

 

I enjoy this rich and colorful sky.  It was breezy when I photographed this young lady. At times her hair was whipping all about her face.  I ask that she just relax and let it happen.  There is always the perfect moment and perfect movement, hence the floating wisp of her hair helping to bring this painting to life. There was not a hint of a sunset –  in fact, yet it appeared in the painting.

 

 

 

12×16 Oil Painting on Panel, ” Little Boy with Hand in His Hair” by Winifred Whitfield

 

 

This is the most colorful oil portrait I’ve ever painted. The family loves intense vivid color.  I thought it would please them and it did.  Freehand painting a patterned background was a bit scary but I love patterns and felt confident I could do it. I am pleased. It’s pretty amazing that with all the color and pattern in the background, your eyes still go right to his eyes.

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The Violinist

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The Violinist  – 12×16 Oil on Gesso Panel

12×16 Portrait Oil Painting by Winifred

She “grooved” and swayed to her unique style of music. Dramatically, she lowered her head then tossed her thick black hair backwards. She played the violin using the bow but sometimes she just strummed it. 

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Three Vases Still Life

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Three Vases Still Life – Oil on Linen Panel 12×12 

Three Vases Oil Painting by Winifred

I’m always amazed at how much I enjoy monotone paintings and the depth which can be created in the process.   This combined with dramatic light, loose strokes and thick paint seeks to bring this painting alive.  I hope you enjoy. Winifred

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Portrait Painting of Girl

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Portrait of a Girl – 9×12 Oil on Gessoed Board 

I think portraits are the most challenging images to paint – even using a reference photo.  As you can see below, I create a very loose sketch initially and then work into the detail. I also always want to bring some level of artistic expression and creativity to the painting rather that to just to paint what I see. This can be challenging to envision, and a bit frightening to execute. I have to let go and take chances.  I consider it better to try and screw up than to play it safe.

Below – Loose Tonal Value Portrait Sketch

Below – Starting to Add Color

I  always like this stage of a painting.

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