EXPERIMENTING - Part 2

  

                     

       

My lovely cat, Bijou, again

I liked the result in pastel, so figured I'd try the same idea in oil.

#1 - top left: I did an under-painting in pale green, and tried some 

colors in the other areas,

#2 - top right: Painted the cat, but too dark, I think. Should have matched

the value of the under-painting which is now showing up

just as whitish spots, so ....

#3 - bottom left: ... I covered up the under-painting completely. Well, that's 

better, but it lacks the punch of the pastel version. So ....

#4 - bottom right: .... proceeding with the advice & encouragement of my 

friend Linda, I made a really thin wash of sap green and painted 

it over everything, but the cat. Better - at least it looks like it

all belongs together now. 

Result: I learned something new. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge

I just signed up for the September 30 Paintings in 30 Days challenge

 at https://www.saetastudio.com/30-in-30.html.

 I think this must be the 4th or 5th time for me. I feel I've been totally lazy 

about painting this summer and the September challenge really helps to get me 

in the painting groove. So, here we go again!

D'Anjou Pears - Another Series?

D'Anjou #2

SOLD

6 x 6 inch palette knife oil on Arches paper, 

mounted on Crescent mat board.

Ah! Another pear. I guess the series is really underway. 

I really like the blush of pink on this one.

D'Anjou Pears - Another Series?

D'Anjou #1

SOLD

Palette knife oil painting on 6 x 6 inch Arches paper

for oils, mounted on Crescent mat board.

It appears I may be starting another series. I'm not sure how

far I'll go with it, but it is so much fun to paint these

small pieces, playing with color and technique.

Sometimes, I just can't help myself!

Bobcat Sketch

Bobcat

Approx. 8 x 10 inches, water-soluble graphite

on Pentalic 130# paper

Summers in Tucson lead to an almost overwhelming urge to take naps. 

In an effort to counteract that, twice a month I've been involved with

a workshop geared to keep my art practice alive. The above sketch 

was done during the workshop. I'd forgotten how much I enjoyed 

using these Art Graf water-soluble graphite pencils.

I'm not sure whether I'll actually finish this, as I 

sort of like it just as it is.

EXPERIMENTING

BIJOU

Bijou is my Russian Blue companion, and is always ready to have her 

photo taken, or a sketch drawn. I decided to experiment with this drawing. 

Step 1 - top left. I sketched her from a photo, then attempted to create

some texture in parts of the drawing by placing a piece of scrap metal screen

under the 130# paper and rubbing over it with Stockmar white beeswax. Next, I thinned

down some acrylic and did a green wash over the whole image.

Step 2 - top right. Using charcoal, I created, more or less, a value map of the cat,

then painted over everything with Golden acrylic ground for pastels as some grit

was needed to hold the pastel.

Step 3 - bottom left. Adding pastel. Hmmm. Not as happy with this as the texture

I had created in Step 1 pretty much disappeared. Maybe added pastel with too 

heavy a hand? What next?

Step 4 - bottom right. I added green to her eyes - which, indeed, are a lovely green.

I think I'm done with this particular experiment, and am, somewhat, happy with 

the result. I like the fact that I played with color, though my intent was to be much looser and free-er with the entire piece - always a struggle. I'll try another with lighter-weight paper, lighter hand with pastels, and see what transpires.

STARTING OVER, Minneola #6

Minneola #6

SOLD

The last of this current series, though definitely not the last, 

as I have too much fun painting them.

Palette knife oil on 6 x 6 inch Arches paper for oils, mounted

on Crescent mat board.