2021 has been a year full of growth as an artist for me. It was only just two years ago when I first picked up a brush to paint in oils. There has definitely been a learning curve in this medium that I am far from mastering. But I have come a very long way. Alla prima oil painting is incredibly popular and its appeal is easy to appreciate but no matter how hard I try, I end up blending and glazing to get the effects I want rather than applying those decisive and deliberately placed marks that are the hallmark of alla prima. So I struggle with the question of whether or not it is a style that is the right technique for me as an artist. It feels like a decision point is coming for me: to work harder at alla prima or go another direction. Early 2022 will be a time to try some water-based media I’ve really been wanting to explore: acrylic glazing and watercolor on watercolor ground applied to a hard surface. So, please follow along in that journey as I continue to find a medium, a niche, a voice. And I would love, love , love to hear from you. I welcome your comments at any time.
But for now, here is my latest oil painting. Far from an alla prima style, far from mastery, but still I know I have come miles and miles in my skills with oil painting.
It began with submissions from my Instagram followers of favorite pet photos, of which there were dozens. But one photo stood out among all the rest for its beautiful composition, the mix of soft neutrals and pastel colors and the enchanting play of light and shadow. I was able to crop in on this photo to place the outer eye of the cat in the rule of thirds position to draw the viewer’s focus to the face. This photo was perfect and made the job of creating a beautiful artistic composition easy.
Initially, I envisioned an acrylic underpainting that laid down tones that I wanted to come through the final painting. I envisioned some spontaneous loose brushwork in oil on top of the acrylic underpainting. Seeing zones of color: warmth in the cat fur, cool reflected light and warm direct sunlight on the pavement, I laid out washes of pale blue, magenta and warm yellow green in these zones. My plan was to lay in bold marks side by side to push and pull the values. What ultimately resulted was not this at all but a more detailed and realistic approach but something that I am still very happy with. Here are the stepping stones in the painting:
I call this painting “Little cat paws” because the paws are my favorite part. If any area drew on the strengths of alla prima technique, it was these sweet little paws catching the light. It was the light and shadow that made this photo so special. I only hope I have come close to capturing that effect in paint. Thank you all for following my art journey this past year.
Happy Holidays!
Leave a Reply