Sunday, January 5, 2014

A Time to Enjoy 8" X 8" Oil on canvasboard

                                                                               
This oil painting took me awhile to complete. I had to wipe off after a couple of sessions because I thought the color should be different or the texture could be more pronounced. This, in my opinion goes back to pre-planning, or in my case, the lack of it. Why do I do this? Mostly, it's because I'm just too anxious to pick up the brush and begin applying paint. I know better. I really do. Values don't give me too much trouble, but when it comes to color a small color sketch would really save time and frustration, I'm sure. Is January 5th too late to make a New Year's resolution?

Robin Weiss, a painter from Washington state whose work I just love, begins with a monochromatic underpainting  in diluted oil paint.  He uses a burnt sienna/transparent red oxide-ish color. This is a big help with values and because some of it is left showing through the top layers, it adds additional interest when completed. I don't know if he makes a color sketch as well, but his finished colors are always rich and clean.

What excited me about this painting was using a large brush to apply color in the woman's shirt and the water. I've been trying to create a "looser" approach to paint application, and I was happy with the outcome in those areas. Yay!

Click HERE to go to auction page at DailyPaintworks.





18 comments:

  1. JaneJanuary 6, 2014 at 1:50 AM

    It's awesome Carol, really beautiful. Great work on her shirt and love the expression you achieved even though we can't see her eyes. xx

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    1. Carol FlattJanuary 6, 2014 at 11:46 AM

      Jane, thank you! You do such beautiful work with your portraits/figures, and I always am in awe when I see them. You motivate me to try harder!

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  2. Libby FifeJanuary 6, 2014 at 4:25 AM

    This one is really nice! And I can see the results of that larger brush. You've got a great range too of more definite lines and some blurred ones as well. Beautiful color also.

    I wouldn't worry about the wipe off too much. It's like thinking while you are working and what's wrong with that? Being open to lots of possibilities seems like a nice gift when you are plugging along:)

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    1. Carol FlattJanuary 8, 2014 at 12:31 PM

      I will look at wipe-offs like that, Libby. Well put! Thank you for your kind words!

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  3. hmuxoJanuary 7, 2014 at 5:18 AM

    Oh Carol, this portrait is beautiful... I love the way she holds her straw hat and the shadows underneath it....beautiful skin tones and folds in her shirt...All perfectly painted....

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    1. Carol FlattJanuary 8, 2014 at 12:33 PM

      Wow, Hilda. I feel ten feet tall with your comment. It was a challenge, but I am happy with the final results.

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  4. Shirley FachillaJanuary 7, 2014 at 5:55 PM

    So nice to see figurative work from you and such a successful one. Though you say you had great trouble with the colors, your final result colorwise is great.

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    1. Carol FlattJanuary 8, 2014 at 12:36 PM

      I'm really drawn to figures, Shirley, and want to improve in that area. You're a wonderful example of a highly-skilled figure artist!

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  5. Diana MarshallJanuary 8, 2014 at 2:32 AM

    Every painting is a challenge and we learn something with every one, much better than churning out the same ol', same ol' ! That's the joy of it, I think it's hard to paint loose and you have done a great job with this lady. Love her hat!

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    1. Carol FlattJanuary 8, 2014 at 12:40 PM

      Thanks so much, Diana. You're correct in saying that each painting has its own skills to learn. It's been hard for me to paint loosely, and with this subject's shirt, I felt one of those "Hooray!" moments.

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  6. juliefordoliver.blogspot.comJanuary 8, 2014 at 4:18 PM

    The light catching on the hat and face is quite wonderful, Carol. And her fingers holding the brim is totally awesome... I say awesome because I have a hard time painting hands so I do admire your ability..

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    1. Carol FlattJanuary 12, 2014 at 12:50 PM

      Thank you, Julie. The photo, one from WetCanvas Reference Library, was taken at a good time of day with wonderful light. The photographer certainly captured this woman well.

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  7. suzannepaintsJanuary 11, 2014 at 11:55 AM

    Like what you did here. Scraping is necessary from time to time...

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    1. Carol FlattJanuary 12, 2014 at 12:47 PM

      Boy, that is so true. And sometimes it works out better than what I had planned in the first place!

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  8. SUSAN NALLYJanuary 21, 2014 at 6:29 PM

    Lovely portrait--joyful colors expertly handled!

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    1. Carol FlattJanuary 22, 2014 at 7:08 AM

      What nice things to say, Susan. I'm delighted I found your beautiful work to enjoy and admire. Your subject manner really appeals to me!

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  9. Lorraine ShirkusJanuary 27, 2014 at 7:23 AM

    Beautiful, strong painting! I love the looseness you achieved in the shirt and that great shadow on her back from the hat. Her elbow looks like it's breaking the plane of the canvas . . . that angle and the bright color gives it so much strength.

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    1. Carol FlattJanuary 28, 2014 at 3:57 PM

      Lorraine, I always enjoy hearing from you as I respect you and your work so much! The "looseness" in the shirt just kind of happened really. My tendency was to "neatify" it, but I'm glad I held back. Thank you for your comments!

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