Cloud study in oils

Still experimenting with oils. I'm using Winsor & Newton Artisan Water Mixable Oils and canvas paper for this study.

Did a couple of quick sky/cloud studies with the purpose of:

1) Using a bright underpainting to see its effect
2) Practicing color mixing and brushwork
3) Seeing how long it takes to dry. I painted this on Sunday, today is Tuesday and parts of it are still very much wet! Yikes! I'm used to cp's..... dry before they even go on! :-)

I also unearthed my French easel from years of storage because I don't like painting with oils on a table top surface. It seems to be easier to see the original in terms of shape and value when I have a little distance from it. Plus, since I'm standing I can back away from the painting and use more arm and shoulder motion with a long handled brush - lets me do lighter strokes more easily.

I'm going to give my latest cp work a try on the easel and see how that works out. Will keep you posted!

Out of my comfort zone....

(Artisan oils on 9 x 12 canvas paper)

I mean waaaay out!

After attempting this street scene from San Francisco for the February Virtual Paintout I was reminded of why I've never been drawn to urban scenes. But that's the reason I chose a busy scene like this... to get me out of my comfort zone. How else will I learn?

My main goal with this was to (1) paint loose, fast and avoid detail, and (2) get some practice in simplifying a cluttered scene. Between deciding what to put in and what to leave out and using oils again after using mostly colored pencils, I'm sure I either have less hair or more gray hair. Plus, I got a colorful reminder that when you inadvertently lean your hand on an oil painting... the canvas isn't the only thing with paint on it.

I'm not happy with the finished painting, but I am glad that I finished it though tempted to toss it when I was struggling. I decided it might help if the painting was cropped, and after experimenting I narrowed it down to the top two crops you see, finally settling on the version at the beginning of this post.

I posted a couple of quick WIPs and just below them is the original photo I worked from. There are also two photos of my resident muse, Bailey, who you can tell from the first pic is not the least interested in doing his job and lending me any inspiration. In the second pic (after I disturbed his nap and got him to look at me and the camera) I got so tickled at the disgusted expression on his face that I just had to share it with you. Sorry Bail!

After this little venture I'll be happy to get back to rural landscapes, people and pets!

Too cute not to share!

I asked the Lord to tell me

Why my house is such a mess.

He asked if I'd been 'computering',

And I had to answer 'yes.'

He told me to get off my fanny,

And tidy up the house.

And so I started cleaning up...

The smudges off my mouse.

I wiped and shined the topside.

That really did the trick....

I was just admiring my good work.

I didn't mean to 'click.'

But click, I did, and oops - I found

A real absorbing site

That I got SO way into it -

I was into it all night.


Nothing's changed except my mouse.

It's very, very shiny.

I guess my house will stay a mess.....

While I sit here on my hiney.

~ Anon.

______________________________

This poem came to me via email and it was so cute I just had to post it! Enjoy!

A few more pics from the ice storm this past weekend

After I posted the pics of the ice storm, I got much better pics the next day because the sun came out (which melted all the lovely ice by the end of the day) and I just wanted to share a few of my favorites.