Studio Atelier February 2011 Painting Project

"Water Lilies"

Oil on canvas, 9 x 13 inches

(private collection, Brussels)

Studio Atelier February 2011 Painting Project (first stages)

Below are my preliminary sketches for the Studio Atelier challenge (see link towards bottom of sidebar). Not sure if I'll manage to get an oil painting done by next Sunday. This month we can choose any of the previous images posted on the site. The water lily photo is beautiful but why does Pacman keep coming to mind?!

Faber-Castell Polychromos in

Winsor & Newton 8" x 11.5" Sketchbook

Here's a link to the Studio Atelier challenge where other artistssubmitted their interpretations of the same photo:

http://studioatelier.blogspot.com/2010_07_01_archive.html

I've also had fun trying out different colored pencils on the red boulder photo. First with Derwent Artists pencils:

Above using Faber-Castell Polychromos and black ink

Both in 7x9.5inch handmade sketchbook

Here's a link to the Studio Atelier page where other artistssubmitted their interpretations of the same photo:

http://studioatelier.blogspot.com/2010_08_01_archive.html

In the end I decided to paint the water lilies (see next message).

water lilies

Virtual Paintout - Romania - February 2011

The ride through the mountains on the DN 12C was breathtaking. I had a hard time deciding where to stop and paint but finally settled on this spot: Google Street View


"Driving along the DN 12C"
24x30cm, oil on canvas
(Private collection, Brussels)

Virtual Paintout - Romania - February 2011 (first stages)

I've run across some amazing scenery in Romania and couldn't wait to get started. Here's my first day's work. I'm also excited to be painting my first snow scene.

Progress was rapid because I'm using a small canvas again -- no time to complete a big one right now as I'd like to finish at least two paintings this month. I also tried to spend more time at the beginning deciding exactly what I wanted to do. Hopefully that will speed things up too.

Day 2: I finished this painting today (see next post) and I’m happy with the result but it’s brought to mind three things I want to remember for next time: 1) I like working on a very smooth canvas like the one I used here; 2) I prefer them bigger however; and 3) I should try to get the tones right before putting in too much detail -- that’s always been my downfall.

Virtual Paintout - Boston Area - January 2011 (Happy New Year!)

I don't have much time this month but wanted to try using oil pastels again. The Google Street views of the Boston area don't have much colour so I've added my own but I don't find that very easy. Here's the link: Google Street View

"House for Sale!"
27x36cm, varnished oil pastel on paper

Virtual Paintout - County Clare, Ireland (II) - December 2010

This is my second submission for the December Virtual Paintout. 

Click here to see the reference photo in Google Street View.

"View from the road at Killeagy (Stritch)"
nearly 16x20 inches, oil on canvas

Orange Bouquet

Final painting for the December 2010 Studio Atelier project on the Internet, where Barb Benik posts her photographs for artists to use as reference material for their paintings. First steps here: painting a vase of flowers

"Orange bouquet"

60 x 45 cm, oil on canvas

The Studio Atelier December 2010 Painting Project (first stages)

I had planned to work on a second Co Clare painting this morning when the Studio Atelier caught my eye. I put Barb Benik's photograph on my TV and couldn't resist taking out my oil paints and giving it a go, right away.



Link to Studio AtelierI know I should hold back more at the beginning because I wind up having to fix things later on and, in this case, the perspective turned out to be more challenging than I thought. I also need to take time to squeeze out all the colours on my palette, get a clean rag, pour out some fresh Low Odour Thinner, etc, but (as usual) I never thought I'd be painting all day.

The photograph (which is fantastic, I repeat) somehow seems to just paint itself... :)
See my progress below (Day One):

Day Two:

(Still working on this one!)

Virtual Paintout - Co Clare, Ireland - December 2010 - Completed Painting

"County Clare, Ireland"

40x40cm, oil on canvas
(Private collection, Ireland)

Virtual Paintout - Co Clare, Ireland - December 2010

Unfortunately I missed November's Paintout (first time since starting in May). I spent way too much time travelling around Rio and left no time for painting. So this month I forced myself to get an early start. I wasn't sure if I would finish in time so I submitted the above (nearly finished) version of the painting. County Clare is beautiful by the way. What amazing greens! I hope to give Ireland another shot later in the month.

Below are steps 1, 2, and 3. 
I always try to take these photos to remember what I've done -- where did it go right or wrong....

Very impatient to see the greens right at the beginning...



Starting to take shape but I know I'll have to stop here for a while.


Managed to come back to the painting and although I've become fascinated by the wall, the tree has started to seem like a daunting task.....

Here's the link in Google Street View: LINK

See my next post for the completed painting: County Clare - final


"County Clare, Ireland"
40x40cm, oil on canvas
(private collection, Ireland)