When the muse grabs you by the arm, sometimes it's tempting not to follow but when we do, boy is it worth it! One of the best feelings in the world!!!
I havn't done any of what I would call, serious painting for around three years now. I felt that I needed to take my work somewhere else but had no idea where so I concentrated on drawing and experimenting with other media. It was enjoyable and I feel that I learned a lot, but it wasn't challenging me enough. Shortly after the New Year, ideas began to flow and I did some studies in mixed media whilst doing my day of voluntary work at ArtBox; I felt they were successfull and determined that I would make large images in oils. I finally started last week!
Wasn't completely pleased with last weeks attempt so dedcided to takea slightly different approach, not allowing the paint to seduce me by the pretty patterns that it makes and taking a far more considered approach.inning them down, transferring them to a jar
Before I begin a new painting, which always fills me with terror, (they say do something that scares you every day!) I spend time mixing up colours that I think I will need, thinning them down, transferring the paint to a jar before making it into a liquid glaze.
I havn't done any of what I would call, serious painting for around three years now. I felt that I needed to take my work somewhere else but had no idea where so I concentrated on drawing and experimenting with other media. It was enjoyable and I feel that I learned a lot, but it wasn't challenging me enough. Shortly after the New Year, ideas began to flow and I did some studies in mixed media whilst doing my day of voluntary work at ArtBox; I felt they were successfull and determined that I would make large images in oils. I finally started last week!
Wasn't completely pleased with last weeks attempt so dedcided to takea slightly different approach, not allowing the paint to seduce me by the pretty patterns that it makes and taking a far more considered approach.inning them down, transferring them to a jar
Before I begin a new painting, which always fills me with terror, (they say do something that scares you every day!) I spend time mixing up colours that I think I will need, thinning them down, transferring the paint to a jar before making it into a liquid glaze.
I spent four hours doing this yesterday! It's good practise and although time consuming, very satisfying. I pride myself on being able to mix most colours pretty accurately; a sill learned over long years. However, there are colours which I do find challenging and I am beginning to think that some colours are best bought. Working with glazes, the pigments need to be transparent and sometimes it is necessary to use an opaque pigment in order to mix the colour I need which means the resulting colour will be opaque and although it is still possible to make into a glaze, it won't be as luminous as a transparent colour that you might be able to buy in a tube.
My hands usually end up looking something like this!!
Finally, I was able to start painting! I ended up totally covered in paint and pigment but VERY happy! :-) First 3 stages of yesterdays' work:
Finally, I was able to start painting! I ended up totally covered in paint and pigment but VERY happy! :-) First 3 stages of yesterdays' work: