Thoughtful

Thoughtful
Acrylic on masonite, 6x6
purchase here

Now that the season is becoming so busy, I am going to try to finish my painting early in the morning, before going to the gym.  So, getting up earlier than usual for just this reason, I found a few chores leaching into that time!  I still was able to lay paint - but I couldn’t finish before heading to Zumba.  It is VERY, VERY hard to stop painting when I am “in the zone”!  I did toy with the thought of missing the class........but decided against it.  The gym is also a habit I never break - unless I’m out of town painting.  I will just have to get up earlier, to ensure plenty of time to paint.  I have been painting so much in acrylics that I am actually going to have to get a new tube of titanium white!  These portraits are so rewarding to do, and I like pushing them towards impressionism or realism - whatever my mood of the day dictates.  I really do like using the Mars Black, it gives a vintage black and white feel to these paintings.  Thank you, Barb, for letting me paint your grand-daughter!!  Painting number 1053 in 1053 days.

Pondering - Grisaille

Pondering - Grisaille
Oil on wood panel, 9x12
sold

Inspired by another artist, I am switching gears today and painting a grisaille.  Using transparent red oxide as my only paint, I sketch on with my brush, thinning down with only safflower oil.  Wiping away for lighter areas, adding paint for the darker ones, the image emerges.  I am very tempted to add a warm, pale yellow to these highlights, but I resist temptation.  Trying to stay loose with my strokes, I really do just blend out unconsciously!  All those years of graphite work, I guess!  I had every intention of leaving unpainted areas where the strokes clearly marked the wood, but alas....my brush would not cooperate.  Perhaps I'll do a couple others this month, after all, practice makes perfect - or so I have heard all my life.  I really like the red oxide, it is so earthy and moody, as if the only lighting is candlelight.  I already see areas that I would touch again with the brush, but as I have two basketballs games tonight, and a meeting following. I must let this rest for now.  Painting number 738 in 738 days, and Day 7 in the 30 Day Painting Challenge.