Oil Paintings in Progress

Tonight was a 'work on all the other paintings I've started' and I ended up going back and forth between two paintings that have been sitting on my easel (or on my wall) drying. This first one, started in the summer has received another layer of paint on the boat and I've started putting in the details into the hull. Its slow going, but that's okay. I'm a slow painting.



Gisbson's Landing, work in progress
9" x 11" oil on canvas
© 2008


The other paintings that I was working on tonight was started last month and is based of one of my photographs. It will be similar in style to my last apple/water painting, only this time it will be bigger. I'm also trying out a more detailed griselle before going onto the colour layers.



Apple Splash, work in progress
11" x 14" oil on canvas
© 2008


Sorry about the glare off these paintings.... the paint is still very wet and my daylight bulb is horrible for being difficult to photograph under.

Quote of the day: Very little is needed to make a happy life. It is all within yourself, in your way of thinking. -- Marcus Aurelius (121 - 180), Roman emperor and philosopher

Autumn Chickadee, a work in progress

Continuing on my theme of chickadees and autumn, I've started working on this little guy tonight. I've got a ways to go yet, especially on the background. Lots of colours, leaves, and textures are still left to be painted.



"Autumn Chickadee"
3" x 5" watercolour
© 2008

Pit Stop

I finished this guy tonight... taking lots of time to glaze the background. So many different colours in it... all glazed together: purple, yellow, green, gold, and blue. It really felt good to bring the painting size up a bit. I was able to work with the details in the flower much more easily and with much less stress. There is definitely going to be more watercolour paintings on this size paper.



Pit Stop
4" x 5" watercolour
© 2008

untitled chickadee, Work in Progress

I was hoping to finish this guy tonight, I'm almost done... but not quite. Its been a while since I've worked on larger watercolour paintings, and I do have to say that it is quite fun. I have more space to add the details to the painting that I just can't always do on a smaller scale. It also allows me to experiment and practice. In this case, with flowers. Flowers have been frustrated me on the smaller scale lately, so, by going larger for a little while, I can practice getting the details right that make a flower a flower.



untitled, work in progress
4" x 5" watercolour
© 2008

Fall Perch

Another colourful autumn painting from me tonight. Lots of fun again with this one... and even a touch of shimmer in the background.



"Fall Perch"
2.5" x 3.5" watercolour
© 2008

Splash of Colour

Sometimes it is necessary to just go wild with colour... and I suppose this is the result. I'm starting to see more and more trees turning colours out here. I can't wait until the full colours come out... its like a second spring.



"Splash of Colour"
2.5" x 3.5" watercolour
© 2008

Sunny Days a Coming

This guy has been keeping me busy the last couple days, a bit larger than usual which allowed me to get more detail in the eye and in the body. Lots of fun! I also loved painting the water drops on the leaves. My one weak spot, and something I really need to practice drawing, are the little toes on these guys. It is hit and miss with me when it comes to them. I tend to do them better in oil paint as I can go over it a few times until I get it just perfect. Watercolour is not that forgiving (though, I could invest in a tube of opaque watercolour for times like this).



"Sunny Days a Coming"
4" x 6" watercolour
© 2008

Flower Days

September, so far, has been a pretty slow month for me... I've been working on some larger paintings so I haven't been posting quite as much. I finished this little guy this morning, though he has been on my easel for a couple of days. I wanted to try some softer, more subtle colours... and I think I accomplished that.



"Flower Days"
2.5" x 3.5" watercolour
© 2008

Her Royal Highness, Finished!

I put the final touches on this kitty tonight... though, obtaining a decent picture of it proved very difficult. I'll take some better pictures (with close up details) tomorrow when I have some daylight.


Her Royal Highness
6" x 6" oil on stretched canvas
© 2008


edit: I've updated the picture with one taken with daylight.

Splash!

As promised... here are a couple of my favourite pictures that I've taken recently(and at least one is a reference for a future oil painting....). These two are the favourites from over 800 photographs I took... sheesh... I am so happy that I don't have to pay developing fees for these. The trick, I found, to get these pictures is to ensure you have your flash set on, the macro setting used, and lots and lots of patience. Oh, and in case anyone is curious.... I'm using a Canon Elph Powershot SD1000 (a very fun toy!).



"Splash 1"
digital photograph
© 2008


I've already started drawing out the above photographs onto canvas paper. I'm planning on a series of paintings similar to "Frozen in Time", but larger. I really like the way the apple painting looks matted and framed (seen in the background of this photograph). I've got the matting ready but still looking for a good frame to complement the painting. I'll post updates of this painting as I get work done on it.



"Splash 2"
digital photograph
© 2008

Blue and Red

I took a trip up the coast the last couple days to get out of the city and enjoy a little of the 'island way of life'. Sometimes it is a good thing to take a break and catch your breath. I got some painting done (see the little guy below) and I took lots of pictures which I know some will end up as paintings in the future. I've been discovering more of the functions on my camera and I am starting to have lots of fun with it. My favourite function right now: the white balance on the manual setting. My goodness, it sure made some of my ocean photos look so much better! I've also been playing with the macro setting and my flash. I'll post some of those pictures tomorrow once I've had a chance to pick my favourites.



"Blue and Red"
2.5" x 3.5" watercolour
© 2008

Her Royal Highness

I'm almost done this one... just have the whiskers left which will be added when the paint is a little bit more dry. The paint is still wet in this pic and I'll post a better scan of it when it is dry. This painting was fun and frustrating at the same time. The repeated strokes of paint for the fur was very relaxing to paint. At the end, though, when I was close to being done... the slow repetitive motion became frustrating. Patience... still working on that sometimes.


Her Royal Highness
6" x 6" oil on stretched canvas
© 2008