Most of the country is in the deep freeze today. No exception at my house. I wanted to set up a painting video of me painting beside the window while the snow was falling outside… but this is Alabama, after all, and the snow stopped and melted before noon!
Yes, I did finish my project from last month… the same scene of my neighbor’s house at dusk with the porch light shining on the shrubs and grass. I’ve painted this scene over and over again, trying to get it right, trying to get it to express exactly that feeling of twilight but every attempt falls short of my hopes and dreams. Too fussy. Definitely not loose. Colors not quite right. I know I will keep repeating this image again and again until one day I have it just as I imagine it in my head. One day….
“Twilight on Magnolia Street”
So, I decided I needed to go back to the basics. Despite a few pieces in oil that I have been happy with, I’m still clearly a novice with the oil paints. So….I set out to do a simple composition with simple shapes and do it as quickly as I could with bold brushstrokes, thick paint and a fierce determination to avoid the fussiness. Something small and uncomplicated in the style and spirit of “Daily Paintworks”. For this, I chose to try my hand at a painting process posted on Chamberlain Painting You Tube Channel by my oil painting idol Michael Chamberlain. You can follow along with his video if you like, and I highly recommend that you do. He is a super entertaining and highly educational vlogger from San Francisco who films his plein air adventures on the California coast. Must see TV! Here is the reference photo courtesy of Michael Chamberlain:
An apple and some apple slices in bright sunlight. Strong shapes and shadows. Can’t go wrong. Sketch a line drawing. Block in darks, block in progressively lighter values, paint the negative space last in bold, thick paint. Do it quickly. The key is confidence. Be bold, decisive, fast….don’t mess around!
I have to say, it made for a dramatic image that I am rather pleased with. And I spent about an hour. This is the way to learn and grow and improve skills, they say…. Do quick and simple paintings as frequently as possible.
Final painting- Green apple and apple slices.
6 x 6 Oil on gesso board.
Reference photo and instructional video c/o Chamberlain Painting.
See you in March!
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