Thursday, January 31, 2008

#8, #9 and #10 One-hour paintings

Oil #8, Lamy Safari penI am learning that I have a lot to learn about oil painting.


Each of these paintings are 5" x 7".
I thought my red Lamy Safari fountain pen would be a simple subject to paint, only to realize that I was concentrating on detail way too early, then when I photographed the pen I realized how important the brush strokes are in oil painting, all I see is glare because of the direction the stroke went. Anyway, I'm assuming that is the reason, because I see it when I look at the painting also.
#9 1-hour oil, wooden bird
#9 is a small wooden bird that I usually have sitting in my kitchen window. In this painting I forgot about the shaded side of the bird and didn't allow for the light that hit the birds head and part of his back. Only one of the issues with this one ... whats with the pink back ground. It was sitting on a white counter.

I was starting to be happier with #10, a fresh pear. Yet I didn't block in the shaded side like I wish I would have. And again with the brush strokes .... I eventually hope to paint in a painterly style, which has so much to do with brush storkes, yet when I'm painting I find I'm still thinking detail and color. Color mixing is not coming easy for me.
fresh pear #10 1-hour oil
The last day of the month and I've completed 10 1-hour paintings. I think so far I'm content with working at the goals I've set out to accomplish.

I am working on my mailing list even though I've had major computer problems and had to completely start over with my address list because most were lost when the computer crashed. (I may have learned the hard way to back up everything) I should have it pretty well set up in an Outlook program before long.

12 comments:

  1. Boy!! you are hard on yourself! I look at the work you do and I am amazed...I couldn't begin to "sketch" a bird, pear, the coastline. etc....and here you are concerned about the faults only you can see...I'll take em' any day!! CLee R

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  2. Boy!! you are hard on yourself! I look at the work you do and I am amazed...I couldn't begin to "sketch" a bird, pear, the coastline. etc....and here you are concerned about the faults only you can see...I'll take em' any day!! CLee R

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  3. apparently I wanted to emphasize my comment....it showed up twice.
    CLee r

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  4. Nancy!!! I agree with Clee --- hon, these are superb -- rich colors, painterly and smooth ... truly well well done!!!! Put them away for a few day s-- THEN look at them -- I think you're doing superiorly well!!

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  5. Thanks Carol Lee ... you made your point ! *wink.

    Lin, I think I would be happier with my oils if I would stop thinking of them as oils and just think of painting ... but who know's.... maybe not.

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  6. They are beautiful. My own experince is they get much better when you just paint and not think what was right and what was wrong immediately. Though You will do that analysis some day and it is good in long run. We all have a lot of things to learn,;0)

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  7. I love your 1 hour paintings and the discipline you have!

    I hope your computer problems are coming to an end.

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  8. These are all quite beautiful! But I'm really partial to the pear. There's something about paintings of pairs, second only to the human figure in my book.

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  9. I enjoy reading these posts, Nancy. It's like looking over your shoulder, while being in you head, as you take an extended class.

    Fascinating!

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  10. Indiaartist, Cynthia, Casey and W.J. ... thanks so much for stopping by. I appreciate your comments. I'm still having fun with the oils. I'm checking out a few books on oil painting from the local library and taking s few note. Only another 40 to go. *wink.

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  11. Good job Nancy! Keep it up. I respect your stick-to-itness. And that's what it really takes to improve in painting. Color mixing etc. didn't come easy for me either, but it is easier now. I swear if you put in the numbers/hours all these aspects will become easier and more natural. But I can't promise you'll any less hard on yourself. Don't be. You're doin great. :)

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  12. Very nice! I can see progress already. Isn't it an odd feeling being a beginner again, after being so accomplished at watercolor. It's like learning a new language through the immersion method!

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