During this lockdown I needed a project so I decided to get out the oil paints that have been sitting on a shelf for 18 years. I had hoped to dive in but it's turned out to be more like dipping my toes gingerly. It takes so much set up and I don't really have a dedicated space so I have to protect the floor and surroundings. It's interesting to feel like a real beginner. It's hard to stay motivated when the results are so much different than my expectations.
And I'm floundering a bit with where to go with it - Where do I start? How do I set up my pallette? Representational or abstract? I'm trying it all out but my resistance is amazing. As I told a friend it's like climbing a mountain in a blizzard. And the drying process--I'm impatient with watercolor--it takes days for layers to dry. After so much drawing on location, painting from photos feels weird, but it's a start.
Here's my studio set up:
Here are some of my first attempts.
|
Detail of above. This is what I love about oil. All the layers you can do. |
|
Kind of cheesy subject matter but I wanted some darks agains lights. |
|
Detail of Above. |
|
Detail of Above. Loving pushing paint around. |
|
Value and composition. |