Water Lilly WIP 2nd layer of color

Remember that Bill Murray movie "Groundhog Day" where he wakes up and repeats the same thing time and time again... I am kinda starting to feel that way about this painting. All in all I am enjoying learning something new and all that but it is starting to feel repetitive and that I am not so crazy about.... but I will continue. Not sure how many layers there will be ... I guess when ever I feel like it is finished....

Water Lilly WIP

OK... so this is the first layer of color.... this is soooo different from the way I have always painted and I am having a hard time determining just how detailed I need to be on each layer... but it is progress and I am enjoying doing it very much... the idea is for the colors to intensify as the layers are added. I feel I am losing a lot of detail because I am blending so much.. but hopefully I am on the right track and it will all work out in the end.

Water Lilly WIP

I think this is all I am going to do as far as the grisaille layer goes.... this is a learning process for me so if I mess up... I mess up... well I am a bit of a perfectionist so I hope I am not screwing up too badly. Once this dries throughly I will start the color glazing. I am enjoying this so far. The reason I wanted to try a painting using this method is because I think glass painted this way would look awesome.... so I am keeping my fingers crossed.

Water Lilly WIP

Second layer of the grisialle applied.... will probably do one more layer before starting the color glazing.

First of many layers....

This is the first layer of the newest painting. It is the exact opposite of the way I have always painted and I am struggling with applying my paint thinly. This layer is called grisialle pronounced "grizz- EYE" . I will be applying several layers of these tones to create the various values of the painting. Then I will be glazing thin layers of color over the values. I have to wait for each layer to dry before I can lay on the next. Like I said .. VERY different for me and really fun to be learning a whole new approach to painting. Too early to tell if I will ever paint this way again... stay tuned!

ps ... I have no clue how this is going to turn out!

Trying something new

From the very beginning of my art adventure I have painted wet on wet. I am now experimenting with a whole new way to paint.... in layers... letting each layer dry before applying the next. I have no idea if I will even like painting this way but it is something I want to try. So I am currently waiting for new supplies I have ordered before I begin. In the mean time I have been prepping a canvas by applying layers of gesso and sanding in between layers to get a smooth surface with no canvas thread showing... stay tuned. When I have something to show you I will post a wip... right now I have a bright white 20 x 20 smooth blank canvas!

the barn 20 x 20 oil on stretched canvas

I found a great buy at my local art supply shop of Windsor Newton canvas on sale... so I bought some. This is a new size for me to use and I like it. I have always enjoyed painting large so this is not too big (pain to ship) but large enough when framed to give the feel of a substantial piece of art ... as I told a friend the other day... sometimes bigger IS better!

I am off next week to visit family in TN so will not be posting for a little while. I have a new painting all ready to start when I get home... it is another in my marble series. The canvas is sketched and ready for paint ... check back in a few weeks.