Oil Painting of Figure Back in Progress

This is what some of my paintings look like underneath. This is a

variation on a grisaille underpainting. I have talked about this before.

That word is based on the French for our word gray, gris, and refers to

a monochromatic underpainting or underdrawing. In this particular

case it isn't completely monochromatic, but as I was working on a toned

canvas, I was able to use just a lot of white and a bit of color to work up

my figure after drawing it in with a pencil.

Because I know that graphite has a tendency to migrate up through paint

layers (weird!!), I sprayed my drawing heavily with both a polymer and

Damar spray. I know I will be also using a lot of glazes and layers of Liquin

painting medium, so I am not that worried about it. I teach this method,

which is called the Indirect method, as opposed to the Direct method

(think Van Gogh and John Singer Sargent - no pencils there, and no

underdrawings either), at the Art League School in Alexandria, Virginia,

where I live.

I am very happy with the way this painting is starting out, and have a

pretty good idea about how the color harmony is going to proceed at this

point. Now, I just have to force myself to stop working in gouache........

Thanks for visiting today.

Imaginary Landscape #4 and a Page of Gouache Studies

I 'm glad that they let you format where the pictures go in this thing, I certainly

wouldn't want one picture sitting right on top of the others.

The smaller pictures are not as small as they appear, and are more distinct in reality. I

had a lot of fun doing them . Both pieces were done on Fredrix Watercolor Canvas. I just

can't get enough of working on this substance. It is just the greatest.

I know I have to start working in oils in a few days, to fulfill some commitments I have

made (you have to earn that money!), so I will really savor my last few days of working

in gouache and watercolor - a truly wonderful combination. Everyone should try it.

If you are at all afraid of watercolor -- try gouache! - there's no such thing as a mistake

in gouache, because you can cover everything up!

Happy painting!!

Imaginary Landscape #3

This is another watercolor and gouache piece, done in class as a demo for my students

yesterday. I was lucky it came out so well. That doesn't always happen!!

This was done on a wonderful new product which I just love! Fredrix Watercolor Canvas.

I had been painting on it already in oils, because it has a lovely smooth, delicate surface,

and I had been using mostly paper and panels, because I Hate canvas generally!! But this

stuff is very different.

But, for watercolor, and gouache, it's absolute revelation! You can lift, wipe back, lay

washes, remove whole areas of color - you name it, it's more like working with oils

practically when you work on this product. I've been having so much fun, I can't wait

to get up in the morning! Of course all days aren't successful ones, but one can always

try, and always hope! I'm planning on filling this whole sketchbook with these landscapes,

exectued entirely with brush, and having a feeling of being partially imagined. I've got

13 to go. The paper in the book is Canson watercolor.

I usually begin by covering my picture area with Winsor and Newton Lifting Preparation,

because right now I like to paint skies, and it is enormously helpful. Of course this isn't

necessary on the Fredrix Watercolor Canvas, but I sometimes do it anyway.

So much fun.

Thanks for visiting.

Imaginary Landscape #2

This is another example of a completely painted gouache landscape that I made for my

new class today. I was pretty happy with it, although I don't think it really comes across

very well in the photograph. I just love working in gouache. It is so forgiving. I even did

a decent demo in class in it today. Demos are ususally problematical for me, but I find this

medium very "friendly" and also intuitive.

I almost feel like it's "guiding' me to do the right
thing in a piece.

I could do this for twenty-four hours a day.

Imaginary Landscape #1

I was making some examples for my students in a gouache class that is going to begin

tomorrow, and I wanted to create an example of one done entirely with a brush - no

pencil lines at all.

This is what I came up with.

It isn't very big, but I like the colors, and

the composition. I feel the contrast is rather dynamic, and I wouldn't mind being in that

place, either.

Thanks for visiting.