This oil portrait is much larger than life and presents a new challenge. I'm still working on it and thinking about it, but I feel it is going in a good direction.
I'm trying out some new paints: M Graham, which are walnut-oil-based, rather than linseed-oil; they flow better and stink less. (I learned about these paints from reading another blog, rue Manuel bis, at caseytoussaint.wordpress.com.)
I'm also trying out using oil bars (I have a black and a white) and I'm liking what they can do in terms of mark-making. The oil bars were a suggestion of Anne Saitzyk's. I also was inspired to try them by looking at the blog My Journey With Art, at rjoynerartworks.blogspot.com (he paints in acrylics and uses crayons or a squeeze bottle to make his marks on paintings). (Both blogs I've mentioned are on my blog list, if you want to check them out.)
I like where this is going too, JS.
ReplyDeleteStinking paints? I hope it's not a "natural" stink!
Absolutely natural.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, it is possible for paint to be natural and nontoxic and still smell vile. Fortunately, unless you paint or live with a painter, you never have to experience this firsthand; by the time the painting is partially dry, it has lost this characteristic and all you're left with is the wonderful fatty nature of oil paint.
Linseed oil (which is the oil in most modern oil paints)does not smell good to me; walnut oil does.
Beautiful eyes, expression. I'm looking forward to following this through -- I'll learn a lot.
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ReplyDeleteThanks. I'm learning from this, too.
ReplyDeleteWonderful painting! I actually like it at this stage of development. I enlarged it, which allowed me to see your confident brushwork.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Shanna. One of the things I'm learning is that my one inch brushes are too small for this size painting. A two and, especially, a three inch brush (from the hardware store) are very useful at this size painting for making each stroke of the brush count.
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