Studio Still Life

I couldn't find a reference photo that inspired me, so decided to setup a still life. I used a fabric bin, on its side, to be able to control the light on my setup. I planned on only using the south light coming in my studio window as my light source. The sky today was overcast but the snow cover gave a nice soft light. The photos below are actually brighter than actual because the iPad adjusted the lighting in the photos. Later, the lighting from the window caused some problems.

The inside of the bin was an apple green, which I didn't like, so I cut some mat black board to line the bin. I used a nice silky fabric for the floor, but actually didn't use the pattern or color of this fabric in the end, instead choosing the complementary color of blue.

I also needed to decide which angle would make the most pleasing painting. I propped up the setup onseveral boxes until it was closer to eye level.

I was working on a 6x6 piece of UArt 500 grit pastel paper. Process shots are below. I didn't finish this because I realized after about an hour into the painting, that because I am left handed, and my window and light source was on my left and the light was fading at 4pm - I was having difficulties seeing where I was placing my marks, and trouble seeing the correct colors. Although it is unfinished, it was a good exercise.

 

 

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Another Storm Day

We've been having a challenging winter. Today I went out early to see how bad the roads were and to get gas in the car and some groceries. I had a rough time just driving 2 miles to the store due to the snow. The amount wasn't much, but it was really icy underneath and blustery winds made it drift. I made it back home and decided to cancel my afternoon plans and stay home.

I got into the studio and didn't have much of a plan, but picked up a coated board I made awhile back. I think this was coated with Art Spectrum clear. I still had a snow scene photo on my table, so just played around with that on this board. I put hard pastels down in wild colors for an under painting which I melted with Gamsol. Process shots below:

 

 

 

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Studio Work: Winter's Arrival

I finally got out the oil paints, after many months and was able to paint a painting! I had doubts that my oil painting skills were gone but I like how this one turned out.

Seems like most of the painters I follow online are doing winter scenes, so I had to give it a shot.

"Winter's Arrival", 8 x 10", oil on hardboard

Below are process shots. I began my sketch with a too-yellow tone, and wiped it out, and started over. In the end, that yellow may have helped.

The Chicken and the Cow

I did a quick painting on the black surface I prepared a week or so ago. I'm not sure I like the feel of the grit mixture on the hard board. When I have used this mixture on a more flexible surface, I like the results much better. 

"The Chicken and the Cow", 8x10, pastel on black gesso pumice hardboard

Here are process shots below:

Recycling Bad Paintings

I'm experimenting with recycling some of my older bad oil paintings which are on hardboard into pastel surfaces. I decided to try covering up the paintings with my homemade pastel grit recipe. I had enough of my clear recipe and the black recipe to coat two boards with two layers.

I covered the lower left with the black and the right hand panel with the clear.

Here is the clear panel (upside down), along side a thumbnail. The thumbnail is older and I really don't remember what the reference was. So since I was experimenting, I thought this would be a good beginning for this pastel painting.

 Work in progress:

 Here is the palette I used:

And the final painting - I'm not sure I liked the feeling of this recipe on this hard surface. Soon, I will try the black panel for another painting and will post it here then.

Paint and Pizza

Today our painting group got together for painting and a pizza party to celebrate the holidays. I had stopped at the thrift store this week, looking for some interesting things to add to our still life. I found a couple brass pieces - a teapot and Turkish coffee ladle (cezve). The cezve is to the left of the pot below. I didn't add it to my painting though. I brought a piece of batik fabric also.

We got started a bit later than normal as the art center guy was late opening the door, and I was in charge of ordering/serving the pizzas, so I didn't spend too much time on my painting.

"Brass Teapot",  6x9, pastel on Belgium mist Wallis sanded paper

 

Cabin Fever Remedy

It's been COLD and SNOWY in Ohio for several weeks, much like the rest of the country. I've been hurrying home from work each night and hunkering down in front of the TV. Generally in the winter, I don't like to get up early on Saturday to meet the group at the arts center for the morning painting session, but this week, I'd had enough of being home and decided to go. We had several inches of snow in the morning and the forecast was for either more snow or rain. Luckily, by the time we finished, it was just rain.

We either work from our own photos or someone sets up a still life. I decided to bring simple tools today and work on my drawing skills. I brought some tan paper and a tiny box of Conte crayons. This was fun and was nice to be with my artist friends again.

 Here is mine:

 And some of the group and their pieces:

I had the funniest dream this morning. I dreamed it was the first day in spring of the plein air season! I was very unorganized and couldn't find all my gear. I couldn't find any painting panels and my oil painting brushes were stiff with paint from last year! One of the gals said, "Come on! We have to hurry, the light is changing!" I messed around for over an hour and a half. Finally, someone had setup my easel and told me to work on the painting that was there. I did not recognize it at all, but was told to finish it! By the time I was finished I had transformed it from a landscape to an interior view of an old parlor! - ha!

Yes, I have some complex dreams often. I think after that dream, I decided I needed to work simply today!