My first pastel was a study for this oil. Once again painted with a limited palette- split complementary. I must say limiting a palette is easier in oil. You simply chose 4 tubes and make the colors from there. In pastel the sirens from the box constantly call me to their rocks.
Have you ever painted on wood? I think love it. I used a piece of birch that the lumber store gave me. I gessoed it with many layers. I like the way the solid surface takes paint.... a whole different response from bouncy, stretched linen.
Now a quote from the famous and wonderful Richard McKinley:
"I prefer suggestion to command; hinting, rather than in your face. Evoke little by little."
How wonderful!
22 comments:
A gem. Don't you love mixing! Yes, I paint mostly on panels. It started in the knife painting days when I sliced through canvas accidentally during an agressive session. My big pieces are still on canvas but it has been suggested I try wood. Probably will someday....
Hi Loriann,
I much prefer wood to canvas, even when canvas is mounted to panels. There is something about the solidity and the natural striations, which show through to the finished painting. Last year when I began experimenting with oils and glazes I began using Ply. I use a coat of Golden Gac 100 on both sides to seal it and stop warping, then gesso two or three coats of acrylic gesso on one side. If you feel adventurous you can also make surface texture with an old gesso brush to enhance the final composition. I’ll post one of my oil on ply paintings next week on my blog. If you want to practise and mess around thin Luan ply is fine too for small paintings……I use Gac 100 on that also.
Maggie
I compared this painting with the one on BFK from Wednesday and, though both are the same beautiful snowy scene, I much prefer this one on wood. Granted, the pastel was a study, but the color and balance on this is more pleasing. There's something so much more solid and substantial about it. Hope it felt as good to paint it as it is to see it.
Thanks Brian! Yes, I love mixing. I had forgotten how intoxicating it can be. And I can picture you aggressively attacking the canvas..funny! How intense!
Try wood..I think I am in love. I will still need alternate my surfaces to use all the linen I have stretched. Who knows what will happen?
Hi Maggie, Yes I understand the draw to wood. SO SOLID. So far I have just gessoed it. The guys gave me birch and so AC. I am definitely thinking of trying so surface texture. Right now I have played with suggesting it with paint. What is Golden Gac100? What is thin Luan ply?
I will check out your site next week for a peek at your latest. How is the shop/gallery going?
Hi Sam!
That is interesting that you prefer the oil on wood... I did too. I wasn't sure if it was the blush of new love. My husband and sister looked and said you will still use pastels, right? It's funny you really do need to listen to what's inside or else it's like being a car without a driver. Sometimes I wish I could be a recluse and just paint and hear no one. (I would just need an occasional starbucks soy chai) I don't think that is happening so I learn to tune down..if you know what I mean (not out but down.) And yes it was euphoric to paint it...just flowed.
it's still is just a whispering image
and gorgeous colors and brush strokes.
would be interesting to see snowpocalypse
painted on birch. i still prefer snowpocalypse.
probably colors.
to clarify...snopocalypse, feb 5
Thanks PB!! Your thoughts always mean alot to me and I have been missing you!
Snowpocalypse was definitely a different palette... much more unplanned,just felt. Hey maybe I should stop thinking...hmmmmmm-b
b never stop thinking
just remember when to pause.
believe me, i miss being here too.
PB..ok I will think,sometimes. And you will be back soon! How is your shoulder doing? Sleeping at all? Take care!-b
Hello Loriann,
Luan Plywood is a cheap grade of Mahogany plywood available in 1/8" and ¼" 4x8 pieces. An artist friend of mine form KW in Florida used to paint on this with acrylic and I just loved her small paintings. Not sure how archival it is, but it is fine for small work if it is sealed properly. Although Marine grade birch ply is top notch stuff, I believe (lol),,,,,
Here is the link to Gac 100. http://www.goldenpaints.com/technicaldata/gac100s.php
Lots of artists use this as an archival (non yellowing) sealer on panels before gesso. It’s much thinner than acrylic mediums, and can be used for acrylic glazing as well.
Have you tired Colourfix primer on Gator board for your pastels? Several companies manufacture primed Gatorboard for pastel artists, including RIcheson. There is another product by Golden called absorbent ground, which can be applied to Gatorfoam and takes layers of pastel and spray diluted acrylic medium very well.
If you look on this blog, Jan talked about her process a few months ago. It’s fun and interesting if you are in the mood for experimenting!
http://petstoposies.blogspot.com/2009/10/pastel-glassless-framing-instructions.html
Maggie
If you were here, I could hook you up with a vast supply of plywood and I'd deliver soy chai lattes too!
Hi Molly, I guess I was lucky when they gave me some birch, eh? I will check out the Gac..thanks for the link.
I have tried the colorfix stuff and golden's absorbent ground. I prefer to make my own with marble dust and gesso or acrylic medium on gatorboard. I also bought a lot of Lascaux when it was on sale...love the stuff! (it's normally so pricey!)
So much to do and experiment!
Have fun!
Hey Leah!
So.....you have a vast supply of wood and soy chai. Sounds very appealing. I'll see what I can do.
I'm curious what four colors you used. I like a limited palette also but need 3 warm primaries and 3 cool primaries plus zinc white. That is assuming there is some form of sunlight. Grey days I can get away with 3 cool primaries. Interested in your input.B
Hi Brian,
If I remember correctly I used burnt sienna, quid magenta, utltramarine blue and viridian. (A speck of cobalt blue may have slid in, but I am not sure) Of course white (permalba)... but I never count it as a color. Does that make sense? L
Love your "sirens calling from the box." In oils I have to fight almost the opposite tendency: reluctance to put out more paint toward the end of the painting. It's always best if I squeeze out lots from the get-go. Then I've overcome any lurking fear of wasting paint.
Karen, I can already understand that tendency inspired by frugality. I might fall victim to it as well..I will heed your advice! thanks.
A beautiful painting, Loriann - very Whistleresque!
Wow! Thanks Brian!
Wow, this one is right up there with handful of all-time favorites. Like, top three. Top one, maybe.
Hi Jala! Up there with the top 3 favorites..wow! It has the atmosphere I long to create... sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. More consistency is my aim:-) ha!
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