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| Steve is relaxing |
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| Kelly got a work over too. She's done--unless I go back in and refine her eyelashes. She has the most gorgeous eyelashes long and thick. The dark clump I used to designate could stand some breaking up . I read a neat trick for that: a pin dipped in the paint. I have and old hat pin that will be perfect. (I buy hats,look great in them, but always leave them on the hall table. They're too high hat for me). |
I did a lot of work on Steve's mouth, beard,neck and ears. Also worked on the background and while I worked noticed that an old bad habit had come back. I was wiping my brush on my belly or any rag that was convenient.
I tend to mix oils with my brush. The paint builds up and the brush needs shaping. I shape the brush on me or whatever will do that's close to me. This is not a good idea. It leads to paint smearing everywhere and more difficult stains to scrub out. Nevertheless, I really don't like mixing colors with a palette knife. A palette knife is okay for a paint run of gradations of skin tones, but not for the other tints and shades that pop to mind
while balancing values. I'm going to have to grow up and use the knife--or at least fold some toweling into a wipe pad.
Have a wonderful weekend.
Wow--you accomplished a lot. These are both looking great--lively and engaging.
ReplyDeleteBe careful with whatever you wipe the paint onto: the oily and paint-filled rags can catch fire. It's best if you have a covered metal container for them.
Enjoy and have a wonderful weekend, too.
So you do the same? I am new at oils--even though I worked with them years ago. I like mixing with my brush--yes, it wears out the brush very quickly--but it seems to be the natural thing to do since you are not mixing quantities.
DeleteWith acrylics, I mix up batches of paint in tiny food storage containers. These containers are my palette and while I do use a butcher's pan to mix a shade or tint this way or that, I mostly mix the colors on the canvas with brush or spray bottle. Getting back to oils has thrown me out of sinc. --You're right about the metal container, but I do launder the rags along with whatever piece of clothing I left my mark on.
I use a glass palette (a large piece of glass) and a palette knife. I mix with the knife and sometimes paint with it.
DeleteFrequently I mix a continuum of colors --two or three meeting in varied proportions from opposing sides--so that I can spontaneously take from that with my brush or whatever I'm using to apply the paint.
I'm always wiping paint off my brushes.
I was thinking of getting a piece of glass and backing it with a neutral sheet of paper. I mix the flesh tone continuum, that's a good idea to mix the other that way too--more order on the palette, which is not how it has been going. Working with small quantities of paints has been weird too, but I'll get used to it; resqueezing dabs is an all session activity. Then there's the hunt for the tube tops.
DeleteThanks Jean. I really appreciate your input.
Kelly looks great! I love all the colors you incorporated into her hair. She is going to be so thrilled!
ReplyDeleteWho says I'm giving it to her--she just gets that drawing I just matted and will probably frame.LOL. I think I want to hold on to these beginner paintings for learning what I like and what I dislike about them. Being that it's my month three into oil painting, I'm still figuring out my best approach.
Deletegreat looking portraits! I like how you work on more than one at a time..nice work ethic! Keep the clothing paint stained, it is a badge of honor. :)
ReplyDeleteSteve did progress. Kelly is as she will be on this one. Therese is next. There's a few other family members to practice on. It was a good day. I'm starting to zero in on carefree paintwear outfits. And I must learn not to scratch an itch or go for anything in my pockets while I'm painting. I'm not so worried about the clothes as I am about plopping into a chair and sharing whatever paint I've picked up along the way.
DeleteWonderful portraits, Linda! Kelly looks great, wonderful color use!
ReplyDeleteIt's funny, I wipe my watercolor brush on whatever is available at the moment, usually the board my paper is taped on. I guess with oils it makes quite a mess.
I do that too--Maybe I have to line the backboard I added to my easel--good idea Judy. --Something like blotter paper that has a drag?
DeleteHi Linda
ReplyDeleteThey are both looking great. Happy weekend.
Ev
Well hello there busy lady. I love what you're doing, very entrepreneurial. I'd love to know the details, but you're probably breasting those cards. It's a jungle out there selling art as art---but cell phone covers--that's a great idea.
DeleteI'd love to see you in action, Linda - a full-on, no-holds-barred painter in action! ;) And does it matter, when your portraits are so wonderful and full of character? Smear away, my friend!
ReplyDelete