Momentum... and learning opportunity

I'm afraid I lost the momentum here... even my exercise routine took a hit this week :( And I'll have a hard time to get back to it in the next two-three weeks. I'm leaving for the International Association of Pastel Societies convention in Albuquerque, NM this week and then I'll have my twin sister visiting me here in Austin from Canada for few days after that... I'll try to post in between...

Here's some exciting news: I registered for Carole Marine's workshop in July at the Coppini Academy of Fine Arts in San Antonio.

I've been following Carole Marine's blog since mid-January and she inspired me to paint daily and start my own blog. One day she posted a painting of a ceramic bunny she did that day (#706) and the painting she had done of the same subject about two years prior (#20) to that (go to January 21 of her archive page). WOW, what an improvement! If she improved THAT much with daily painting in two years, I'M IN. Even if I improve half of that, I'll be happy. Hard work and discipline paid off for her. I'm a hard worker and I can be disciplined so it should pay off for me too, right?

Since I was at the beginning of learning to paint with oil, I decided to use the blog to record my journey. And someday I'll have some paintings to refer back to... If at the same time I can inspire someone else to paint (or do any other activity :) daily then that will be the cherry on the sundae!

I've been doing oil studies (almost) every day since January and I'm ready for some instruction. I still have a lot to learn but feel like I have plateaued. So learning with an instructor in a group will (hopefully) help me to move forward faster. I feel ready for it. And it will be a pleasure to learn with a painter that has already inspired me :)

Touch up - oil study #84 & #61

I was limited in time today (more than usual) so I decided to play with some old paintings instead of starting a new one.

I did some touch up on yesterday's painting. I grayed out the blue that was too intense. I thought it would help to make the table lay down behind the bowl but it still looks like it's standing up. I also added some color from the orange onto the fold on the table cloth. Here are the before (left) and after (right) touch up.



Then I decided to touch up the "Oil study #74". I softened the reflected (orange) light on the fabric. I didn't change the color of the fabric. The pictures were taken under different conditions and neither really render the color in the painting. I would need to play further with the software.... but hope you can see the difference. Again the before (left) and the after (right).

Oil study #84

Maybe I would like this one, but the table top keeps distracting me. The edges are too strong and the table seems to go up behind the bowl instead of laying flat. How do I make the table go flat?

Oil on canvas panel, 8" x 10"

Oil study #83: Scene from a Conutry Table

Yesterday I had a "no show", so today I was happy with this study. I like the rendering of the creamer and the fruits: I didn't fuss with them.

Oil on canvas panel, 8" x 10"

Oil study #81: Outside Looking in

Oranges, more oranges...

Oil on linen panel, 6" x 8"

Oil study #80: Forget the Cherries

Today I paid attention to the shape of the glass and the bottle in the back to avoid too much distortion. I used a mirror to look at the painting. It helps to see any asymmetry.

I think I was able to convey the green translucent glass. I like the cherries and they're getting easier to paint.

Oil on canvas panel, 6" x 8"

Oil study #79: Green Apple Reflected in Glass

I like the apple, its shadow and its (subtle) reflections on the table and on the glass.

Oil study on panel, 6" x 8"

Oil study #78: Un Bol de Fruits

It's the largest setup I have painted so far on these small panels ( 6" x 8"). I was so afraid that I wouldn't have enough space for the whole setup that I ended up with everything smaller than I had planned in my thumbnail. So I used a smaller brush than usual but I had a hard time not moving closer to the painting.

This is my best dish so far (not too crooked). I like the color combination... I like this one!

Oil on panel, 6" x8"