A Quiet Moment At The Met, work in progress (click on image for larger view)
Susan, Painting
This is a blog about painting: specifically, representational fine art, generally, using oil paint. I think a lot about what I'm doing, and those thoughts about subject matter, technique, influences, frustrations and delights all show up here. It's all about the journey.
Monday, November 18, 2024
Not A Day For Painting
Cannot get my head in gear today. No decision that I make is right, I'm having trouble deciding which colors to use, and I have no patience for trying to finesse paint strokes.
Nonetheless, here's today's attempt at work:
Rose Bouquet, work in progress (click on image for larger view)
Saturday, November 16, 2024
Some Paintings Just Beg To Be Worked On
These two beckoned to me today. Similar palettes made it easy to make progress.
A Street In Old Town, work in progress (click on image for larger view)
A Quiet Moment At The Met, work in progress (click on image for larger view)
Friday, November 15, 2024
The Blues
Progress on those areas I mentioned last time.
Radiant Sunrise, work in progress (click on image for larger view)Thursday, November 14, 2024
Working From Left To Right
I'm trying to build a sense of structure, weight, heaviness, in the brick structures. I think a couple of nice, deep glazes will be the way to go once I establish the buildings. Meanwhile, I'm working from left to right to avoid smearing.
In The Halls Of Morpheus, work in progress (click on image for larger view)
Wednesday, November 13, 2024
Yesterday and Today
The little sunrise is looking good; I just need to make the transitions between cloud colors softer.
Radiant Sunrise, work in progress (click on image for larger view)The floral's also coming along well:
Rose Bouquet, work in progress (click on image for larger view)Here's today's work:
A Street In Old Town, work in progress (click on image for larger view)El Centro, work in progress (click on image for larger view)
Tuesday, November 12, 2024
Pushing Forward
This is the only painting I've felt like working on lately, though I'm about to get back to the sunrise piece.
A Quiet Moment At The Met, work in progress (click on image for larger view)Friday, November 8, 2024
Again, Not Much To Show For it...
Today's meager amount of work:
A Quiet Moment At The Met, work in progress (click on image for larger view)
Wednesday, November 6, 2024
A Gin And Tonic Day
Did almost no painting. Worked on this and two others. Dividing Irises tomorrow.
A Quiet Moment At The Met, work in progress (click on image for larger view)
On A Roll
Yesterday was super productive!
A Quiet Moment At The Met, work in progress (click on image for larger view)Rose Bouquet, work in progress (click on image for larger view)
Ivy Arbor, work in progress (click on image for larger view)
A Street In Old Town, work in progress (click on image for larger view)
Annuals, work in progress (click on image for larger view)
Tuesday, November 5, 2024
Monday, November 4, 2024
Painting, Painting, and More Painting
Quite a workday.
That tube of Italian Earth did show up, and I used it in the mix for the table color. It's a little warmer than the sample online (I don't know why I'm surprised with a name like Italian Earth) but then while rummaging around in the box of browns, I found the ideal color. It's a neutral brown, in a crumpled, half-used tube so squished I had to go online to try to find the name: Bellini Raw Sienna.
Rose Bouquet, work in progress (click on image for larger view)
Apparently, Bellini Co. has gone out of business, so I won't be able to get a replacement when it runs out. I shall have to be frugal!
Next: I still really like this one. I put a little detail in the water and worked on the sky.
Radiant Sunrise, work in progress (click on image for larger view)
Following that, I took a break, then used both a flat brush and a rigger on the windowsill area for about 45 minutes. Most non-artists would be surprised, I think, to hear that it could take that long to do such a small area, but the magic happens when you pay attention to how the light changes color ever so subtly across the sill.
I Am Bad When It Comes To Perspective
Perspective is the bane of my existence; I can never get it right. But Morpheus isn't going to allow me to get away with eyeballing it, so I found the vanishing point and then drew in a few tentative lines in pale yellow. You won't see much in the image below, but it's a starting point. All those brick lines have got to work together.
In The Halls Of Morpheus, work in progress (click on image for larger view)