A painting a week. Week 67

“A house in Ciolpani”.

Another week has gone. I am still on holiday. But, despite being constantly on the road, I still found some time for painting. The weather is beautiful, nearly summer, hence I was able again to paint outdoors.

On Sunday, I was at my brother’s house in Ciolpani, Romania, do I decided to paint his house for my weekly painting.

I painted it alla prima in four hours, almost continuous painting with few very short breaks. I used a relatively reduced palette and no medium.

So, here it is:

“A house in Ciolpani.”

Oil on linen.

30 X 40cm (12” X 16”)

A painting a week. Week 66

“View in Schlickenreith.”

Finally, we are on holiday. Lots of driving, but, so far the traffic was fine, hence we made good progress.

Second evening since we left home and we stopped in Perbersdorf, near Neuhofen an der Ybbs in North west Austria. Lovely place, but not enough time to visit (unfortunately).

Anyway, we looked around, we walked and we drove and we managed to find this little lane and around some trees there was a bench. And that was where we set up the easel.

This was my first plein air painting in a long time, nearly half a year. So, I was a bit nervous.

 I didn’t like how the painting was going, so whipped out as much as I could, cropped the view and started again on top. I was using an AMPERSAND board, which didn’t help much either, as I am not used to a board, I normally paint on linen canvas (stretched).

I used paints from Blue Ridge (mostly), with few exceptions, Italian Genuine Cassel being one of them.

I used a relatively reduced palette, as I’m used to, recently, two yellows, three blues, a red and two browns, plus white.

I didn’t use any medium, just turps and used thick paint with heavy brush strokes.

So, here it is:

“View in Schlickenreith.”

Oil on AMPERSAND panel.

20 X 25cm (8” X 10”).

A paintig a week. Week 65

“Blue vase with daffodils.”

I have had a great week for painting. Although it was a very busy and stressful week at work, always is before Easter or Christmas, I still managed to do two little still life paintings. First was an Easter painting, with two chocolate bunnies and some chocolate eggs. I painted it over the week, working on it in the evenings.

Then, for my weekly painting I have chosen another floral. And, what better choice than some more daffodils from the garden. This time I used a small blue vase for the set up. And for the composition, I added few little purple red flowers from the garden; don’t know what they are.

Because of Easter , I only managed to start it in the afternoon and painted it alla prima over few hours. I struggled a bit with this one, lack of concentration (I don’t know why), and, perhaps I got the background a bit to dark. I painted in dark room, using the B & W viewer for the values, but I could have done it s bit lighter. Anyway, I am happy with the result and feel better about it now then during painting it.

I used my usual reduced palette, just added some more yellows, I used four different yellows as opposed to the usual two.

So, here it is:

“Blue vase with daffodils.”

Oil on linen.

24 X 30cm (10” X 12”).

A painting a week. Week 64

“Daffodils and other flowers.”

Spring is finally here. And all the plants in the garden have survived the snow. Even the daffodils, which, initially I thought they were going to die, buried under the thick snow. But, the snow melted, quite quickly actually, hence everything returned to normal.

During the week, I painted another pineapple, I have three already. So, for the weekly painting, I decided to paint some daffodils, to celebrate their survival. I picked them from the garden and put them together with some crocuses, they survived the snow as well.

I did the painting on an old canvas I had, which was tinted with a pinkish colour a while ago, when I had some red, left over from another painting.

I did the under drawing with Italian Cassel, then I did the background in few layers of Italian Cassel with titanium white, with some transparent brown oxide for the final thick layer of paint. I did the light with just white and Italian Cassel. I painted the flowers with yellow ochre, initially, then I added some cadmium yellow medium and Naples yellow.

For the highlights I used white with some lemon yellow.

I, again, used the B & W viewer for the values.

So, here it is:

“Daffodils and other flowers.”

Oil on linen.

30 X 40cm (12” X 16”).

A painting a week. Week 63

“Freesias in a glass vase.”

Spring is in the air. Or, so I thought. The village is, again, covered in snow, for the second time this winter, and in March. Instead of warmer, drier weather, spring brought us snow and the coldest spell of the winter. All the daffodils and crocuses are under a thick white blanket. Anyway, I think is beautiful. But, thinking about the spring, I recently started painting more flowers. And after a positive feed back from my followers, I decided to do something special. My biggest weekly painting, at 50 X 60 cm (20” X 24”). And I have chosen a still life with flowers, some freesias, white, pale yellow and red, placed in a glass vase. And all the set up, sat on a colourful tea towel.

I painted the painting alla prima, started Saturday afternoon for about an hour. I, then worked for a while in the evening, but wasn’t happy with the result, so whipped out most of it.

Started again Sunday morning and worked in few sessions throughout the day. For the red, I used Alizarin crimson, combined with amethyst and green for darker tones and vermillion for the lighter ones. I used the B & W viewing filter for the values.

I didn’t use any medium, just paints and turps.

So, here it is:

“Freesias in a glass vase.”

Oil on linen.

50 X 60cm (20” X 24”).

A painting a week. Week 62

“The pineapple has been carved.”

All week I have been working at a still life involving a whole pineapple and a red apple. I finished it on Saturday and I am quite pleased with it. Well executed, better than my previous pineapple, done few years ago. But, with the composition, I played safe, perhaps a bit too predictable; at least that is how I feel that my style becomes. I have to start playing more with the subjects and the composition of my still life paintings. Hence, for my weekly painting I wanted to do something a bit different with my model for the week, the pineapple. I carved it, ate some and did a composition with the remaining pieces, including the top with the leaves. I created a bit of drama with the light and painted alla prima over few sessions on Sunday.

Started it in the morning and finished it in the evening, but with some breaks and having some friends coming by, so unable to paint few hours in the afternoon. This means that when I started I was working in natural light, and kept room quite dark and by the time I finished I was under artificial light, also kept to a minimum. I used again the B & W viewing filter for adjusting the values and used a limited palette again. I didn’t use medium, just paints and turpentine to thin them.

So, here it is:

“The pineapple has been carved.”

Oil on linen.

24 X 30cm (10” X 12”).

A painting a week. Week 61

“Tangerines and plums.”

What a week!!! It started with mild weather, spring coming and the garden filled with crocuses and other little flowers. And, now, the snow is melting rapidly, leaving large patches of green grass and half frozen herbs and plants. The two olives survived, lost lots of leaves, but seem to be OK. Most of herbaceous plants are more or less affected, we’ll see in few days if they will survive.

But, let’s start with the beginning. I put the easel up early this week and did the setup with tangerines and plums at the beginning of the week. My intention was to do alla prima over couple of days and finish the weekly painting before weekend. The thing it doesn’t always go with the plan, so winter strikes back, causing chaos all over the country. Myself got stranded in Weymouth for couple of days, staying at a hotel and long walk to and from work. Anyway, in the end everything came back to normal and I got back home and to the painting. I was tired at the end of the week, hence I completed the painting on Saturday afternoon, adding the finishing touches on Sunday morning.

The fruits made it to the end, drying and with the leaves contorted and battered and dehydrated. Before I got stranded, I managed to start the still life, putting all the main shapes, shadows and lights, but I had to adjust them when I started on Saturday.

I painted using the same techniques as with my last few paintings, using a limited palette and just turpentine to thin the paints, no medium at all.

For the values I used the B &W viewer; it is amazing. I painted in low light again, using the strong lights, only from time to time to help with adjusting the colours.

So, here it is:

“Tangerines and plums”

Oil on linen.

24 X 30cm (10” X 12”).

A painting a week. Week 60

“A bouquet of chrysanthemums.”

Flowers are beautiful subjects for a painting. Many great artists did lots of paintings with flowers. Some are more realistic, some impressionistic, abstract or even fauve. And I realised I didn’t do many still life paintings with flowers. Certainly none recently. As one of my friends noticed not so long ago, most of my still life paintings are of edible things, vegetables, fruits, cheeses and beverages. Hence, I decided to rectify this. For the start, I have chosen a little bouquet of chrysanthemums, yellow and white and I put them in a glass jar with a metal frame and a wooden hanger, probably a garden candle holder, which I bought a while ago from a gift shop at Kingston Lacy. Haven’t used it yet as a candle holder, but it looks quite good as a vase.

I painted alla prima over few hours, using a limited palette with three yellows, two browns, cobalt blue and white. I didn’t use medium, just turpentine to thin the paints. I used thicker paint than in my recent still life paintings, to show the brushstrokes more.

For the values I, again, used the B & W viewing filter. It is a great device and by using it I started to learn how to see better the values, without being distracted by the colours. I also painted it in a relatively dark environment, something I recently started doing.

So, this is my week 60 of the weekly paintings:

“A bouquet of chrysanthemums.”

Oil on linen.

24 X 30cm (10” X 12”).

A painting a week. Week 59

“St. Agur cheese, rose wine and a strawberry.”

 A very busy week at work, but I have survived. And I made myself some time for painting as well. During the week I did a study with a nautical theme still life, a wooden boat, a compass and some seashells.

I didn’t know what to do for my weekly challenge. But inspiration came on Saturday, while shopping. I was browsing through the supermarket and as I was passing by the cheeses section I noticed some lovely blue cheese. I have bought a couple of pieces. I did the setup using the wooden board I have, using a piece of cheese and two crumbs from the other piece. I added some rose wine, using the tall glass I have used before for the still life with lightbulbs.

I played with the light to obtain the best light effect I could and I started painting. I have felt like something was missing and in the end I added a huge strawberry for a more balanced composition.

I used some de Mayerne medium, but just for the last layers of paint. For the first ones I have only used paints and turpentine.

For the first time, I painted in a dark room, with few ambient lights, so quite dark. I had the strong light on the setup to create the light effect. And, for the first time I used a Black and White viewing filter, to see better the value of the objects, lights and shadows. I tried the black mirror as well, to see a comparison between the two. I was familiar with the black mirror from Sarum Studio in Salisbury, where I learn life drawing and portraiture. Basically, is a mirror with a black reflective surface. Being dark, means that the contrasts are sharper and the colours are simplified to a more unified composition. It is easier to see the values, so it is great for using when painting or drawing from life, including still life and even for landscapes. The black and white viewing filter is produced by a company called Tiffen and are quite difficult to find.

I bought mine from United States and was difficult to find even there. Can be used with the camera, or as a viewing aid. The image is not actually B &W, but rather deep yellow -sepia, quite monochromatic; you can see the strong hues as well, especially the red ones. The image is darker than the black mirror and the values are more simplified. It is also easier to use and gives you a normal image as opposed to the mirror image. A great tool, especially for outdoors or for larger paintings. I am happy with both and probably will start using them more.

I painted alla prima over few sessions in one day.

So, here it is:

“St. Agur cheese, rose wine and a strawberry.”

Oil on linen.

24 X 30cm (10” X 12”)

A painting a week. Week 58

 “Two pancakes with Nutella.”

The sixth week of the year has gone and the weather is still dump and cold and windy, so, for me is not time to paint outdoor yet. It should be, but I am not brave enough at the moment. On the positive side, this means more time to practice still life.

And what else than a lovely desert, one of my favourite ones. Not to mention that Pancake day is just around the corner (this year will be on Tuesday 13th of February). For those who don’t know, Pancake day, or Shrove Tuesday marks the last Tuesday before the Easter lent.

Anyway, I did pancakes Today, and had them with Nutella. So, I kept two of them and did a little composition with the Nutella jar. I placed the composition on the new board I bought especially for still life setups. Not sure about this, as is nearly the same colour as the pancakes, but did it anyway. I have chosen a smaller canvas, so the setup wouldn’t fit in the canvas; having objects that continue out of the canvas create a better composition.

I painted it alla prima, with a reduced palette, mainly browns, over few sessions. I tried to paint looser and more impressionistic.

So, here it is:

“Two pancakes with Nutella.”

Oil on linen.

18 X 24cm (7” X 10”)