Tag Archives: Oil Paintings

Golden Sunflowers

Posted on by

Golden Sunflowers – 9×12 Oil Painting on Gessoed Board

Golden Sunflowers, Oil Painting by Winifred

I will never get enough of painting sunflowers and painting them is such a great way to test new product performance – in this case texture. I have begun to experiment with oil paint mediums – making my own. I add these products to oil paint to change the physical characteristics and the feel of the paint on the canvas or board. I created the rich thick translucent impasto product, to my paint to create the impasto sunflowers. Impasto can be created with paint only but these mediums extend the paint and vary it in other ways which I prefer. There are many minerals and mix in so many potential combinations to create different results. I can put my products into an empty tube, label it and have it available whenever I want to use it. I try to both paint, study and experiment everyday. Loving it!
 

 try to both paint, study and experiment everyday.

Related Images:

WW Haitian Girl Winifred Whitfield Still life WW Red Tree WW Fall Maple WW mom-child WW Portrait S ww-portrait-A

Shallot-Grapes-Small Onion

Posted on by

“Shallot, Grapes, Small Onion” Three 4×6 oil painting (triptych) on board

Oil Painting Triptych by Winifred

Greetings!

I have a frame – not this frame, but a real frame which required three 4×6 paintings. I had never painted that small before. I started with 8×10’s and went larger. I wouldn’t have been able to take myself seriously in the beginning if I created such small paintings. Now I feel free to do whatever I need to do. I created these because of the frame I have and I like them. The small onion was painted first, the shallot next and finally more grapes – this time with a stem. Simple little paintings, each of which can stand on it’s on but are strong together.

I had to make an emergency food run the other night when I realized I was out of almonds!! No matter how much food is in the refrigerator, if I have no almonds, I am out of food!! I had already painted the small onion and wanted some other more interesting fruit or veggie with a stem or leaf on it.

I began to browse  the fruit and veggie area and saw shallot (top). It had so much delicate flaking skin and stem.  I thought it would make an interesting painting. I knew I would have to be very careful to get it home intact. I enjoyed painting the shallot, attempting to capture it’s unusual coloring and delicate outer skins.

I took home grapes as well. I love to paint grapes. This time the painting is from real grapes. There is a certain way to paint grapes if they are to be accurate. Painting grapes is similar to painting the iris of the eye. There is a highlight, but also a reflection opposite the highlight, as with the eye, because most grapes are translucent. I am able to use artificial grapes if necessary because I understand how they reflect light, and can simply paint it correctly. It was very nice, however, to have real grapes in order to actually see the light at work and experience and better paint the grapes translucency – particularly the grapes closest to the light.

When dry, I will frame the 3 together. I have considered replacing the lone onion with something a bit more complex but together I think they are fine. Should I leave it or replace it? Not sure yet. Please enjoy. Winifred

 

Related Images:

WW Haitian Girl Winifred Whitfield Still life WW Red Tree WW Fall Maple WW mom-child WW Portrait S ww-portrait-A

Yellow Flowers

Posted on by

Yellow Flowers – 9×12 Oil on Gessoed Board

Yellow Flowers with Vine Oil Painting by Winifred

I had a different painting in mind when I started – the sketch below makes that pretty clear.  The change was even more radical than is apparent.  I set up a vase of flowers which had two yellow, three red and three deep purple flowers in it! 

After I completed my sketch, I ruffed in the shadows, and  began extending the energetic brushstrokes to the edges.  I decided it looked like foliage and kept it.

I added highlights and shadows using dancing brushstrokes to the lower background and foreground.  It started to come together. Some how, I didn’t want all the colors in the vase.  I decided on yellow flowers only.  I added my yellow flower  along with a bit of hue changes in the same  brushstroke style I’d been using throughout.  I then began to focus these strokes to giving abstract definition of flower structure.

I liked the painting at this point and could have left it but I wanted a greater sense of dimension which I would only get by affecting the hues and tones of shadows and highlights.  Below, I have added purple, and muted dark blue glazes to various areas along with impasto to pop the highlights and a twining vine. With that, I could call it good.  I will know after I look at it over time.  I can always make some changes if necessary. Hope you enjoy! Winifred

 

 

Yellow Flowers Oil Painting by Winifred

Related Images:

WW Haitian Girl Winifred Whitfield Still life WW Red Tree WW Fall Maple WW mom-child WW Portrait S ww-portrait-A