Love for Carmine and Turquoise

 With a few new cut canvas pieces from my friend Traudi. Back to oils and prompts!

Hidden Face. Adorned with happy flowers!

Oils on Cut Canvas

10.5" x 15" 

Traveling. Through Floating Galaxies and Stars

Oils on Cut Canvas

10.5" x 15" 

Duchess

My Last Duchess

Robert Browning

That’s my last Duchess painted on the wall, 

Looking as if she were alive. I call 

That piece a wonder, now; Fra Pandolf’s hands 

Worked busily a day, and there she stands. 

36 x 50 cm

Cut canvas

Oils and Cold Wax

Collage

Oil Sticks

This piece started at the end of April. One of two paintings had started on cut canvas over a 

cardboard format.  Two different color palettes using some leftover oil and cold wax paints. Ironically

both showed signed of agitation that I really couldn't understand at the time. 

  

    

Twighlight of Life

I named this Twilight of Life after I found this small clipping in my pile of newsprint. I left it upside down on purpose, because it just looked better that way. This is collage on cut canvas, cuttings of tissue paper with blotted oil paints from another painting, newsprint with left over paints spread on them, and the clipping.  Background painted in oils and after the collaged pieces were pasted more oils added with palette knife and rags. Kinda happy with this!

22 x 30 cm

collage with oil paints

Hooded Crow Collage

I am really ashamed of myself. I have finished several oil pieces, thanks to my weekly class, have photographed and haven't pushed myself to post. Well here I am ready to go to class but before that, I promised myself to post.

This another from one of the 30 x 30 sketches I made. This time I used collage for the bird and oils on the background.  Link to sketch.

Had fun doing this. tearing pieces of newsprint, and happy how it came out. Might do another of the palm tree head!!!

22 x 30 cm

Oils and collage on cut canvas

click to enlarge

Here is my reference photo... Think it was molting season!!!

Click to enlarge

Horsha Painting # 3

This painting was based on sketch # 5.  In the Horsha there is a long wall that borders the area. Behind it a home. I sketch many of the patterns of light that showed up in the late afternoon. This is the end corner of the wall with suggestion of a building.

Although I am basically using a limited palette of grays I am adding hues for variation. Started this at workshop and finished at home. When I returned, Heleni said finished. I am usually a good camper so I stopped.

Oils on cut canvas

30 x 22 cm

Palette Knife

Sketch # 5

Reference Photo

Probably cropped the left side

Horsha Painting # 2

This painting was based on Sketch # 2 of Leslie's 30 x 30 challenge this past September. I will be doing a series of paintings from my little gray sketch book.

Oils on Cut Canvas

30 x 22 cm

Palette Knife

I did photograph some of the stages, Looking back the first stage was doing OK until I messed it up making the blotches way too dark. I then opened them up by adding a new layer of varying grays. I don't seem to have saved the reference which wasn't of the Horsha near my home,

Stage 1

Stage 2

Charcoal Sketch

What works in one medium doesn't automatically work in another! 

Horsha Painting # 1

This is the first of maybe a series of painting that will be based on the sketches that I have done for the September Challenge 30 x 30 hosted by Leslie Seata.

This one was based on sketch # 3, Worked in oils on cut canvas mainly using a palette knife. Found the transition from charcoal sketch to oil paints very challenging. I wanted to capture some of the sketch quality but also have a painterly look. I also added a bit of color to the B&W reference.

Click to enlarge

oils on cut canvas

30 x 22 cm

Thought it may be a good idea to post along with the painting the charcoal sketch and the reference photo.  I have a thought about how to further these sketches to paintings, go back to the reference photo as well as the sketch.  Any thoughts appreciated.

Reference Photo

The photo was worked on in PS made into a B&W and made copies on layers that superimposed to get the effect of movement.

Sketch

Looking at this now, after working in this medium for a few weeks this is definitely one I would do over.

Many Faces

Been quite awhile since my last post.  Holidays, health issues etc have kept me from posting although I continued to do some work,

This is a small wrapped canvas that my daughter had done some painting on.  Decided that it was a good candidate for my collage work. Tried to take off faces from newsprint using a medium but they were not clear so with water I rubbed them out.  Some ghost-like images did seem to appear so I did some crayon drawing plus paste more images of faces. Did a lot of wax crayon work with medium.

30 x 40 cm wrapped canvas

Newsprint Collage with crayon sketching

First Plein Air

I recently joined an Art Association [Hebrew]for my area. One of the activities is going out and painting or sketching in Plein air.  This was my first painting done in an open field near the Yahud cemetery.

Flatlands around our area.  I may tweak this in the future to put more contrast in the trees.  I am really not good at tweaking and it usually ends up worse than it is.  I liked how the tree silhouetted against the sky.

Oils on canvas wrapped on cardboard

30 x 40 cm

Thirty in Thirty Day 11 Leaf and Buds

 I used another reference from morguefiles. Have no idea what the name of the flower is but loved the colors and the way it was placed.  Worked in oils wet on wet with impasto paints.  Did a bit of scraping and repainting... chocking this up as experience.

Oils on canvas covered cardboard

6 x 8"

Workshop Patterns II

Still experimenting with oils and cold wax.... love the process... each layer  I discover different aspects sometimes a completely new painting emerges from the original concept.  Lots of surprises along the way.
The palette used is brighter than what I usually use. Again I used some cut stencils but opened them up.
I find these painting have been greatly influenced by my trip to Morocco.

30 x 25 wrapped canvas

Oils and Cold Wax

Have posted some photoblog-posts of my recent trip and will continue. Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4

An InLinkz Link-up

# 70 Cheeky Chicken

# 70  Cheeky Chicken

We have a free spirited chicken. Actually its not ours but I think originally belonged to  the back neighbor.  She was confined mainly to a coop but one day decided to to venture out into the wider world. His yard didn't have much in greenery so she hoped over the fence to ours.  We named her Bella.  For quite a while she would come on the patio and cluck to let us know that she wanted her breakfast.  She would lay eggs in all sorts of weird places. She would fly up in the trees.  She loves the cat food that we put out for our 5 yard cats and the cats move away from her and let her have first pick.  At first I would give her bread crumbs but then we bought regular feed for chickens ... she rather like the feed for parrots better.

Then she disappeared for a while and we were quite worried... but she reappeared and visits from time to time...  think she discovered the neighbor on the other side. As I said she's quite a free spirit.

Bella

Perched on our Jacaranda tree

Did a series on 5 x 7 canvas from some photos I took of her.
Here is the first one.

Oils & Cold Wax

Canvas

5 X 7 "

# 68 Small Abstract

# 68 Small Abstract

I really don't know what title to give these small experimental abstracts.  Aside color I am also experimenting with size of format.   I am not really comfortable with such a small format. Find it restricting.

Oils & Cold Wax

5 x 7 "

canvas

The colors for this piece were inspired by Rolina's blog. She is picking 3 colors to work with each week. 

# 63 Small Abstract

# 63 Small Abstract

I have lots of strips of canvas from my workshop artist Traudi (a few of her works).  I so wish she would go online her abstract  work is a constant inspiration . Cut one strip into about 5 small pieces for 5 x 7 " paintings/sketches. Good way to test out some ideas and techniques.  Kind of difficult to use the palette knife on such a small format but that's part of the learning game!!!

Oils & Cold Wax

5 x 7 " canvas

Workshop # 59 Abstract Landscape

Workshop  # 59 Abstract Landscape

This painting has a history/story. It started out as an exercise from an online workshop by Richard Robinson but was discarded and put in the closet. Here is what I did with the lesson.  Well in short one day I was looking for something and came across one of  the studies and decided to over paint in a more abstract fashion and try to learn the use of some cold wax I had made.  More about how I got interested in cold wax under the work.

Oils on canvas

35 x 28 cm

Cold Wax 

Palette Knife

Canvas from Archive

At first I thought of using it portrait format but it didn't work so I scraped and continued landscape format

Final Painting

First I want to thank  a few artists that introduced me to this new medium,  Sue Marrazzo, Doris Vasek and 

Kathy Elliot  for their support and tips.

Last January I took part in Leslie Seata's 30 painting in thirty days.  During that time I met on line some very interesting abstract work using a medium cold wax. This perked my interest and I started to search for more info about this medium. I have had an interest in abstract work and love the palette knife so thought the technique would be a new exploration in my journey.  Couldn't find any of this medium in any stores but did find a site with recipes and luckily my daughter had some beeswax flakes so I made my first batch, probably not so kosher but that's what I have.   Made a few attempts that didn't really pan so it was put aside till I started on this old canvas.  

I am pretty happy with the result. Love working with texture and scraped and putting on. I am really excited about using this new medium!!!   

Workshop # 58 Potted Planter

Workshop # 58 Potted Planter

Fourth in the floral series.  May have been the first I started but worked simultaneously.  This was based on a crayon sketch of a potted planter that was done this past January on the 30 in 30 hosted by Leslie Seata.

Diluted oil washes with sketching and sanding for added texture. This is a WIP and I will update.

Early version

25 x 25 cm canvas on cardboard

Workshop # 57 More Daisies

Workshop  # 57 More Daisies

Third in the floral series... sun flower with daisies in a bottle.  Diluted oils and sketching sanding between layers for texture effects.

25 x 25 cm canvas on cardboard

Workshop # 56 Daisies in Bottle

Workshop # 56  Daisies in Bottle

This is the second of the floral series. Still experimenting with diluted oil washes and sketching.. Sanding between layers. All the florals were done more or less simultaneously.

25 x 25 cm canvas on cardboard

Workshop #55 Tulip in Bottle

Workshop  #55  Tulip in Bottle

This started out as a Challenge on DPW   hosted by Dianne Mannion beginning of April.  I downloaded the image and although I wanted to keep within the "rules" of the challenge it didn't turn out that way.  Didn't post it on the DPW page.

I have been experimenting with a wash technique that would incorporate sketching and diluted oils.  I also like to sand between layers which adds a bit of texture. May tweak this with some more pencil/crayon.  This is the first in a series of four florals.

 25 x 25 cm canvas on cardboard 

I am so fortunate to get  some great canvas strips from my workshop artist and friend Traudi.  She buys whole rolls of canvas and cut them to size... Huge!!! and brings me the side strips... I cut these to size and glue them on  pressed grey cardboard.  I will be experimenting with different size formats.   

Workshop #46 - #49 Small Birds

Back to the Workshop

During the January 30 in 30 I continued painting in my weekly workshop but neglected to photograph, edit and blog.  So before I jump into my "online " class given by Leslie Seata this month I am posting these small painting that I did of some very small bird statues that I photographed at my daughters' house.  These are very small not longer than 15 cm.  Played around with them photographing from various angles.  Some of the colors in the references were bluish so I went with that palette... they are actually various shades of browns... I was fascinated by the negative shapes surrounding the birds.

23 x 23 cm cut canvas that I mounted on a board. Oils mainly using a palette knife...