My New Painting Mantra

 

"This Magic Moment"     Oil Pastel and Gouache, 8x6" 

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This is truly one of those times when I wish I could show you the painting in person...because this is one of those times when the photograph just doesn't do justice.  The whole painting is much smoother than it looks here.  The scanner just seems to increase the contrast and make everything look too mottled.  Oh well... I'll try to get a better photo at a later time.

I have a new painting mantra.  The non-artist Watchers among us may not know this, but every painting goes thru some real ugly stages.  As a painter, you have to kind of get used to seeing those stages.  As I painted this one, I found myself using the mantra, "This is not the painting, this is not the painting..."  It really helped!  

This is the painting, but this photo is not really the painting :)  But I've been working hard at all the controls I can find in Photoshop Elements and Picasa, and I'm kind of over it for tonight.  I hope you will understand...

I am somewhat captivated by this image, and have painted it before, but just didn't show it to you.  I plan to use this one again, larger, perhaps in the form of cut and folded paper one day, when I learn how (see this post if you want to know what I'm talking about).

And thanks for Watching!

Oil Pastel Version of "Long Hair" - 30 Paintings in January 2015

Oil Pastel, 7x5"

I'm repeating myself!  This is the Oil pastel version of the painting I did yesterday using Acrylics.  I am trying to rule-out/rule-in methods and materials I want to continue with, and one way to differentiate was to repeat this painting using the Oil Pastels.  I did sort of make it hard on myself by painting from the first painting rather than from the reference photo.  Since OP's give such different effects than Acrylics, I ended up having to make some Oil Pastel "moves" in order to find resolution to this painting--different than what it took in Acrylics.

I should have mentioned yesterday, I was happy with what I did with the painting because I used the reference photo only as a suggestion for composition and value.  The colors in these paintings are nothing like the reference photo, the setting is completely different (made up/abstracted) in the paintings.  I truly feel more satisfied as an artist when I feel I'm creating rather than copying a photo.  Maybe that's why yesterday's process was more satisfying than today's...

Everyone, please take care, try to get good sleep, and remember to uplift each other...

"The Child Glowed" Oil Pastel - 30 Paintings in January 2015

Oil Pastel, 8x6"

I hope my family will recognize this moment, because it is a moment I will never forget!

I created this piece on what many artists would consider one of the best surfaces for oil pastels and soft pastels--sanded art paper.  However, for my methods, sanded paper is one of my least preferred surfaces for oil pastel painting, at least at this time in my development with the medium.  I realize this image deserves another go on another surface.

Even though the results were less than what I was aiming for, I still feel accurate in saying that at least on my screen, the photo doesn't begin to do justice to the painting!  The contrast is off and there are color subtleties that aren't even showing.

Anyway, this is my offering for Day 14 of 30 Paintings in 30 Days, January 2015.  All is calm, all is bright...

Happy painting, everyone!