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Saturday, November 7, 2015

Working Out The Glitches

Desert Oasis IN PROGRESS, 24" x 24", oil

Working out the glitches seems to be my lot these days--with my op injured leg at PT, with finding a comfortable way to paint while the injury heals, with getting a decent reference photograph out of my obsolete printer, with finding myself in this painting.  Right now, the painting is looking like a paint by the numbers exercise; it's a bit tame.  Maybe because it's the first landscape I've done totally with oils?  With all the rest, I used acrylic first, oils last.

The most satisfying thing I did this week was find my way around the leg injury and the unsatisfactory reference photo my printer was suddenly producing.  My iPad was the answer to the printer glitch.  Lowering the easel ledge so I could sit was the answer to the leg glitch. 

But true to a lifetime of form, I still cannot sit still while painting.  As I did way back when, I cannot stop myself from jumping out of my seat, kicking the stool aside and backing up to see what I've been doing.  Standing is in my blood!  Patience is not.

Looking at this painting here.  My next move has to be messing it up, letting loose, something I'm not good at with oils--another glitch!

  

9 comments:

  1. A fine start, but you are right, it needs mixing up a bit, an injection of colour, Linda va-va-voom, you know, the bit you like the most. Lokking forward to that.

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    1. I'm still feeling out the colors, the values and correcting the drawing. The free wheeling. Loose stage is yet to come. I am happy with how I solved my reference and leg problems. I was very reluctant to sit. That did keep me away from the studio. Sitting is like throwing in the towel. But it was that, or give painting up. I am stubborn.

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  2. Well you may not like how it looks, but I tell you quite truthfully, Linda, your green mixtures are simply wonderful!
    You are a problem solver by nature - you will work the rest out.
    I was in a wheelchair for a month and another month could not stand when painting. The most constipated paintings I have ever done came out of that period.
    Guess what - some folk liked them better! Just not me.

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    1. Green Oxide is a good green to begin with. It's got that gray in it that is out there in the woods in abundance. Then lemon yellow and Ultra in many degree mixes shoot some life. Lemon yellow with a smidge of black gives an interesting, dirty green. I'm using Gamblin warm white as well as Titanium, Burnt Sienna and Yellow ochre.

      The iPad gives me a better reference. The color is recorded as I saw it. And my beat-up secretarial chair does kick out of the way easily when I jump out of it to back away without even thinking of the leg! It also fools back fast. I might have something here. The blues aren't down yet. Just took out Cerulean and it looks right in color, but not dirty enough. I am in no hurry. I am just glad to be back in the studio and to have found a way around that doesn't make me have to ice the injury for hours after a session. WHAT A TIME I'VE HAD! I can't wait to be secretly photographing the folks on the beach the end of the month! Thank you Julie for the green compliment. There I there was a time I thought green was difficult and hard. I think green is what attracted me to photograph this subject. I always have my SLR. I don't always have sketching materials. For shame! :-))

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  3. Nice to see you're back painting. Isn't it strange how we judge a paintings progress. Sometimes I see 10 step ahead and don't worry about how it looks, sometimes I drop a painting because it look too messy or boring (even though I should know that things will work out in the end).
    When it comes to sitting or standing when painting. You do what works for you, listening to your body. I have the problem that I tend to sit, even if I do large pieces, knowing that I get a better flow and experience the painting better if would stand. hmmmm.... ;)

    Looking forward to see the progress.

    Hug! ;)

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    1. Me too. I have no idea of where this will go. I do know it's going to go as it dictates. I do know I like its purpose: to get me back into the studio by being something that is not too demanding. Portraits are demanding. It's a good way back.

      Using the chair and then kicking it aside did show me I'd be standing soon OR I had found an acceptable compromise. Using the iPad for viewing my reference photo worked, but I'm going to try to regenerate an old laptop, something I can leave there permanently,

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  4. A work that evolves with so much light inside!
    I do not know what your final idea, but at this stage everything seems to be growing together harmoniously.
    A sense of nature and light, an impression of dynamic movement ... all promises a good accomplishment.

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    1. Maybe I should stop while there's still promise? The finale is so final. 😊

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  5. This is beautiful and it looks finished to me!! I also love your latest sketch Linda!! Nice work!

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