Oil Painting
I’ve already written about how my gorgeous, generous friends gave me oil painting classes for my birthday here and here. I figured I’d better report on how things are going.
I LOVE IT.
This was my first setup, in a too-dark shot taken by my cell phone, which doesn’t capture even half the necessary composition, beauty, perspective, color, or light that made up these sunflowers.
This is my finished painting (and a detail is at the very top). See how I avoided those wicked stripes? Too hard!
In class, my makeshift palette box (glass from my fridge shelf that broke in a pizza box) stands near my borrowed easel. I try really hard not to knock stuff onto the floor. I have a new brush cleaning jar with a fancy coil thingy that’s supposed to keep my brushes in good shape. I used some old cadmium yellow light paint that my Nana had; I had to squeeze hard to get it out of the tube, then it squirted everywhere. So far, there’s little grace involved. Still, painting is challenging and thought-provoking in the most delicious way.
Here is my second painting in progress; the photo was taken at the end of the third class. I had too much solvent on my canvas by the middle of this class, so my paint wouldn’t stick properly, especially on the vase. I was still working out my background color. During the second session working on this painting (fourth class), that wasn’t the case and I was able to finish it.
This is what the studio looks like. There’s my second (silk flower) setup in the lower middle.
My teacher and my classmates are very supportive and said kind things. I’m very happy with this painting, all things considered! Can’t wait to do more. I think my brain is growing and my eyes are seeing more.
August 13, 2011 at 3:42 pm
Sara,
Your paintings are beautiful! Thanks for sharing them.
August 13, 2011 at 5:29 pm
Thank you, Cathy! It’s such a thrill to paint!
January 31, 2013 at 7:47 am
Nice paintings Sara. Glad you liked the workshop, they’re so much fun 🙂