Thursday, March 17, 2011

Sam sparked an idea

1st layer
underpainting
Full spectrum and beautiful grays- that's what Sam, a Maine native, said. (Check out her blog here.) 
This is her comment on yesterday's post, "There's something about the shore in that part of the world that's less about color and all about value. These grays are full-spectrum and beautiful." So it didn't take long to think about working to glaze those full- spectrum grays. Above see the underpainting and the first layer of thin glaze. Seeing the beauty of grays is something Whistler did oh so well. With his thin "sauces" he made beauty and light with gray. So I look to him.... as I so frequently do.
Nocturne in Blue and Silver, James McNeil Whistler

12 comments:

Nika said...

Oh, I love the result of this glazing - the grainy and earthy and yet transparent effect.
Speaking of glazing, I remember a few months ago you were talking about "getting off" Liquine that is so perfect for glazing and so dangerous to inhale. I've been thinking of that too. I found a good, nontoxic alternative to it that I've been using for the past month, it's called Quick Drying Extender Gel, made by Weber. (I'm not affiliated with them, etc.)
So far the results are good and no smell in the studio.

Lisa Le Quelenec said...

Yuuuuummmmmmm.....burnt sienna and cobalt? The colours make me think of Turner. I like the translation between charcoal and oil.

SamArtDog said...

I love to see your paintings develop. Your touch and your palette are as light as a feather. Perhaps someday gray will whisper across my noisy palette, though it's no doubt happier on yours. You offer a much more peaceful place.

Thanks for the nod.

Pam Holnback said...

Incredible grays and glazes. Keep on looking. What a great one to look to. (Is that ending a sentence w/ a preposition!?)

Double "D" said...

Another home run!
Pb

Kim McCutcheon said...

I love the grays. Something about that texture lights up a peaceful feeling in me. When I'm looking at art, I'm always trying to feel it too and you've captured that ineffable feeling here.

loriann signori said...

Hi Nika!
Your new glazing medium sounds good..what is the consistency like? How quickly does it dry? I have been really liking my M Graham Walnut Oil Alkyd medium. It has a wonderful finish, but it takes 2 days to dry.

loriann signori said...

Hi Lisa, Thanks! Surprise.... I used Transparent Earth Red, manganese blue, quin violet, ultra marine blue- all transparent, plus the magical Radiant turquoise-opaque. (yum)


Hi Sam, thanks for the inspiration. As for noisy palettes, long ago my palette was far noisier. The longer I paint the more I LOVE grays. They are the best dance partners..

loriann signori said...

Hi Pam,
Thanks about my gray palette! It's amazing how beautiful grays are. As for prepositions..I have the same pet peeve, although I still will end a sentence that way if it feels too weird to reorganize. So much for grammar..sometimes.

Hi PB,
Homerun or goal...I just keep shooting! Thanks for stopping by!

Thanks Kim...from one gray lover to another-cheers!

Nika said...

Hi Loriann,
Sorry I'm a bit late to reply. Weber medium comes out from a tube in a thick marmalade consistency but when you touch it with a brush, it becomes more liquid, similar to Liquine. It dries in one day, I work in fairly thin layers.
It's a little pricey but a little goes a long way. I got mine online from Dick Blick. ( I swear I'm not selling this stuff:)
What about Walnut Oil medium, does it have any smell?

loriann signori said...

Hi Nika, I did more research. M Graham's walnut oil alkyd medium is the only one that has no solvents like Liquin and Galkyd do and is non-toxic. (Check and see about weber) No dangerous fumes for my lungs...means happy me. I guess I will simply have to wait. Thanks for sharing your info!

Nika said...

Thanks, it sounds good, non-toxic is a big draw for me. i'll give it a try when the weber medium runs out.