A painting a week. Week 117

“Three blush pears.”

The last week of winter has just ended. Well ... actually the last week of March. The winter is supposed to have finished about ten days ago. The weather is becoming warmer and more stable, but still some wind and occasional rain are present. Not to mention that is still quite cool in the morning and afternoon. On the positive note, we just change the hour to the DST, so at least we will have longer evenings for the next few months. Anyway, juggling between daytime job, painting and cycling is not easy, but longer days will definitely help. For this week painting, I have chosen something simple, something I wanted to do for a long time: some blush pears. I couldn’t find any in ages, only the yellow – greenish ones are usually at the supermarket. But, one day after work, I found those three, quite sorry looking pears, left alone on the shelf ... bought them straight away.

I used a reduced version of my palette, with just one blue – ultramarine, without alizarin crimson and with added yellow and brown ochre. I painted it alla prima, without any medium, just turpentine to thin the paints. I finally switched to triple rectified turpentine, from the odorless thinner I used before and I am quite pleased with it. It dries quicker and has a better quality. I am sure it works better for thinning the paints than the odorless versions.

So, here it is:

“Three blush pears.”

Oil on linen.

20 X 30cm (8” X 12”).

A painting a week. Week 116

“Daffodils in a glass vase.”

The Spring is finally here. The days are longer than nights, weather is warmer and the nature, slowly comes to life. More and more flowers and plants and birds and insects. Even the cats are spending more and more time outdoors. There are still some daffodils left behind, so I wanted to paint some more. I did a set up with three daffodils and few small light purple flowers which I don’t know what they are, but are pretty. I used a small glass vase and placed the set up in the shadow box I have from my friend, Nicolae.

I used a reduced palette, with some browns and yellows, ultramarine blue, cadmium red light and two whites, warm white and a cooler white – titanium white for highlights. For browns and yellows, I used cadmium yellow medium and light, golden yellow, yellow ochre, brown ochre, transparent brown oxide and some Italian Cassel. Didn’t use any medium, just turps, to thin the paints.

I used a different canvas than usually, both in type and size. It is a 20 X 30cm (8” X 12”), double primed for oils , with an acrylic primer. It is the same type of canvas I am normally using for life painting and portraiture.

So, here it is:

“Daffodils in a glass vase.”

Oil on linen.

20 X 30cm (8” X 12”).

A painting a week. Week 115

“The derelict barn near Cranborne on stormy weather.”

Spring is almost here. Less than a week to spring equinox. And the weather is getting the spring feeling. After months of rain, rain, rain and more rain, and some wind, is time for the spring rains and some more wind. And if that wasn’t enough, storm Hannah has arrived. Bringing some hail stones, some snow in the north of the country and, of course some strong winds. I was meant to take part in a cycling event in Wiltshire, 31 miles (I opted for the short event) from Salisbury Race Court , through Sixpenny Handley, Fordingbridge and back to the Salisbury Race Course. Because of the storm Hannah, the event was cancelled, or more precisely postponed, new date to be confirmed. Hence, on the Saturday morning, I ended up in the little forest near Cranborne, painting again the derelict barn. I wanted to paint it again from a different angle. The painting, on this occasion, was a challenge, because of the strong wind and some fine drizzle coming from time to time. Very hard to concentrate. After a good start, I ended up, don’t know how, raising the horizon lane. So, after a while I decided to call it a day, packed the gear and went back home, finishing the painting in the warmth of the studio. I wanted, though, to keep the freshness and spontaneity of the plein air, so I haven’t overworked anything.

I used a reduced version of my palette, plus some added colours with cerulean blue, cobalt and ultramarine blue, cadmium red light, cadmium yellow medium and light, yellow ochre, Italian Cassel, asphaltum, burnt umber and warm white. Again, I didn’t use any medium, just turps to thin the paints.

So, here it is:

“The derelict barn near Cranborne, on stormy weather.”

Oil on linen.

30 X 40cm (12” X 16”).

A painting a week. Week 114

“Judy.”

What a great week! The weather is still unfriendly for the outdoors painters, but I went for another full week at the Sarum studio in Salisbury. And again I have chosen to paint rather than drawing. I like drawing, especially in charcoal, but painting at the studio is always good practice and fun. It is all about learning to paint skin tones, in shadow, or in light, hair, clothes and backgrounds.

During the morning sessions I painted a seated nude, for which I used the largest canvas I ever used for life painting, 60 X 80 cm (24” X 32”). It was a great exercise and I pushed myself harder than usual and this is a good thing. I think that trying to push oneself harder and stretching your limits is the way of progressing. I was quite pleased with the result and I think I have had a little break through in the life painting.

For the afternoon sessions I wanted to do another portrait, which I wanted to be my weekly painting. Hence, I pushed myself even harder. I painted Judy, the model from the studio and is my only second painted portrait, not counting my selfie into that.

I painted both life painting and portrait using the sight size method.

I used a reduced palette, for the portrait, just Italian Cassel, burnt umber, Indian red, light Red, yellow ochre and white, adding ivory black for the background and black, Ultramarine blue and manganese blue for the blouse. I used turpentine to thin the paints and some diluted de Mayerne medium. For the first layers (underpainting),  I only used turpentine. I tried to put the highlights with thicker paint than the rest of the painting.

For the hair I started with the darks, for which I used the burnt umber, than I did a layer with Indian red, but was too red, so I switched to light red, that I used for the skin tone as well.

So, here it is:

“Judy”

Oil on linen.

50 X 60 cm (20” X 24”).

A painting a week. Week 113

“Clay vase with daffodils.”

Spring is finally here. Or, at least, it is supposed to be. The spring flowers are coming out one after the other. After the snowdrops and the crocuses, now there are daffodils everywhere. Different sizes, different colours, although the most frequent ones are the yellow ones. Sometimes white and yellow, or yellow and orange. And, they smell beautiful, too bad we can’t paint the smell. Obviously, I had to paint some daffodils. I used the same backdrop for the shadow box, the grey one, I used last week and many times before, perhaps I should change it more often. For the setup I picked some daffodils from my garden and used a large clay vase, hand decorated. Also, to break the monotone wooden box, I placed a little rug in the box and the vase on it.

I used the barn lighting unit with the light dimmed quite a lot, so the shadow wasn’t to pronounced on the backdrop.

I used a reduced version of my palette, with cadmium yellow medium and light, ultramarine blue, cadmium red light, alizarin crimson, cad yellow lemon, Italian Cassel, transparent brown oxide and added Van Dyke Brown, a bit of Ivory black and cadmium yellow deep. For the background I used some liquin.

I painted it over few sessions in the space of 24 hours, using the alla prima method. I also used thicker paint and more energetic brush strokes.

So, here it is:

“Clay vase with daffodils.”

Oil on linen.

35 X 45cm (14” X 18”).

A painting a week. Week 112

“Two pears.”

Last week I managed to do the first plein air of 2019, but this week I wasn’t so lucky. Not because of the weather though. The weather was beautiful, especially towards the weekend. Yesterday and today it felt like spring is here ... but, unfortunately I overbooked my self at work, hence I could only look at the gorgeous days from somewhere deep inside a building. So, again, no plein air. I have to sort my schedule better, to give myself more time for painting. And I am still more and more into cycling... anyway, it all means that this week was time for yet another still life. I wanted something new, that I painted less of, so, inspired by other artists I follow on social media I have chosen to do a simple setup with two pears. I would have liked yellow or red ones, but, at the local supermarket, they were only three or four green pears, with some brownish patches. I have chosen two, the lucky ones, and brought them home. I spent some time and did a setup, using the new wooden shadow box made by my friend, Nicolae.

I used my usual palette, with added Italian Brown Ochre. I didn’t use medium, just turps to thin the paint. I experimented more with brushstrokes and I think I managed to get them more energetic, which is a breakthrough for me.

I painted it alla prima over few sessions in the evenings.

Here it is:

“Two pears.”

Oil on linen.

18 X 24cm (7” X 10”)

A painting a week. Week 111

“Derelict barn near Cranborne.”

I know the place for a long time. It is on a lane , somewhere between Cranborne and Wimborne St Giles. I have been there before on a number of occasions and painted quite a few paintings. But never of the derelict barn. I knew it existed, but always said to myself  “I will paint it sometimes.” Never did though. Not until today. I initially intended to paint somewhere else, but I wanted to go there first, to see if any spring forest flowers are around. None, except for few snowdrops. But the building was still there, so I decided to paint it.

I used my usual palette, adding some yellow ochre and raw umber. I didn’t use medium, just turps. I painted it alla prima, working quite quick because of the cold weather, about 9 Celsius (48 Fahrenheit) and windy. At some point  I thought it was going to rain at it was getting darker, but was OK in the end.

So, here it is:

“Derelict barn near Cranborne.”

Oil on linen.

30 X 40cm (12” X 16”).

A painting a week. Week 110

“Lemons and a lemon squeezer.”

Probably, by now, still life becomes one of my favourite genre. If a year and a half ago, I would have done only a few, now most of my paintings are still life. Of course, bad weather takes a huge part – is always more convenient to stay indoors and do a still life, rather than facing the wind and occasional rain out in the middle of the nature. And fruits are still available at the supermarket.

For this week, I thought of doing something nice and simple  hence lemons – I like painting lemons. For the composition I added a glass lemon squeezer and played a bit with the light.

I used a reduced version of my usual palette, without cobalt blue and replacing yellow medium with yellow deep. I used liquin as medium, because last time I wasn’t very happy with de Mayerne – the canvas absorbs it uneven and also pigments absorb it differently. I will have to experiment more with de Mayerne to be able to use it with consistence. Another reason I didn’t use de Mayerne it was that it is more liquid and doesn’t preserve the brushstrokes as well as liquin. I painted it alla prima, using thicker paints than most of my recent work.

So, here it is:

“Lemons and a lemon squeezer.”

Oil on linen.

18 X 24 cm (7” X 10”)

A painting a week. Week 109

“Paprika, red bell pepper and a red bell pepper core.”

This was a difficult, but good week. I had to juggle with work, making art, cycling and getting ready for my first solo exhibition, at the Hub in Verwood. I managed in the end to do all that I wanted, but it wasn’t easy. Especially, because cycling takes more and more of my time, being a bit addictive.

Anyway, with art, I started the week slow and then struggled all the way. I have chosen a simple composition, with a box of paprika, a red bell pepper and a red bell pepper core. I thought it was going to be an easy one, but it wasn’t the case. Soon after I started painting, I begun to dislike it. To the point of hating it. But, with no time to play around, I had to complete it.

I used my usual palette and have chosen liquin for a medium. Painted it in few sessions in the evenings and through out Sunday. Mostly was alla prima, except for the background which kept drying quickly, because of the thinner paint mixed with liquin.

So, here it is:

“Paprika, red bell pepper and a red bell pepper core.”

Oil on linen.

24 X 30cm (10” X 12”)

A painting a week. Week 108

“Still life with flowers, tangerines and a plum.”

I have just had a good week for art. I decided to dedicate more time to it, hence I have been studying for the whole week at Sarum studio in Salisbury. Painting from a life model (nude painting) and portraiture. With the nude I have been experimenting and playing with lights and shadows. I wanted to have a dark painting, as some say that a good painting has to be at least 85% dark and I am quite pleased with the end result. Some  say it is to dark, but I beg to differ. The pose is dark, but has a rich colour, and the light hitting it is striking. Anyway, it is a bit controversial but I like it and think it has s bit of Caravaggio character in it. I am pleased with the portrait as well, being my second painted portrait, after the selfie. For both I have only used Ivory Black, Italian Cassel, Burnt Sienna, Yellow Ochre and White.

As for the weekly challenge, I have made a composition with a glass vase with some flowers next to the glass plate I have used before – with the same arrangement (two tangerines and a plum) plus an extra tangerine. For variation I used tangerines with stalks and leaves.

I used my usual palette, replacing transparent brown oxide with asphaltum and I used De Mayerne medium diluted with turpentine.

Painted it wet on wet, over few sessions in the evenings.

So, here it is:

“Still life with flowers, tangerines and s plum.”

Oil on linen.

12” X 16” (30 X 40cm).