Well it's Wednesday - my favourite day. Why aren't I happy? Oil Paints - that's why! I went off to my Wednesday Art Group armed with a dozen new tubes of Ferrario Van Dyck oil colours. No, I'd never heard of them either but they are made in Italy and only cost a fraction of what I was expecting to pay for artist quality oils. So - off to a great start.
Since this was to be my introduction to oils I opted to delve into Peter Graham's PAINTING STILL LIFE and selected a tutorial painting by Arthur Easton - an unusual and beautifully subtle still life of plain jug, dried flowers, white drapes and oranges. I had all the colours in Mr Easton's palette and the drawing sketched on my small canvas. But it seems there is more than one way to get the job done and today it was not by way of the steps illustrated in my book.
I chased the oil around around the canvas like the grease around last Sunday's dishes. And it looked less appetising. More experienced eyes than mine suggested colours other than Mr Easton's. Anal retentive Capricorn that I am, my heart sank deeper and deeper into my shoes. So even on Wednesday, you can have days like this.
I have a week to finish my half sheet watercolour, my EDM Challenge and to catch up on sketching the blooms in the garden. And then it will be Wednesday again and that greasy little painting will be still sitting on the easel, waiting.....
11 comments:
Don't be so hard on yourself...oils take time to learn.
Hmmm...fabulous, encouraging news. Especially since I want to start my first oil painting today as well...
;-))
But we're not giving it up, are we?!
I have to laugh...sorry Robyn! But I'm laughing at your prose, not your effort...I'm seeing last Sunday's grease and yes, sometimes oil work looks exactly like that!But, good news is, our hearts get out of our shoes soon enough, even if just for the challenge of surviving this! Just keep going, good luck.
Ronell
Thanks for your comforting words, Anonymous. Everyone keeps saying how much easier oils are than watercolours. When you fail at something 'easy' it's harder to take.
Silvia - Good luck with yours! Don't let me put you off. Please share the adventure.
Ronell - I'm glad you laughed. When I woke this morning I thought my post sounded rather petulant - but I just had to get my disappointment off my chest. Hopefully as the weeks go by I will be able to have a love affair with oils.
well Robyn, glad to know that I'm not the only one with days like that. I wish I could have joined you after class over a glass of wine to commisirate.
Marta - Two glasses actually but only because you weren't here and I had to drink yours too :)
Don't stint with the quality of your oil paints and be sure to keep your brushes clean. Paint in glazes while you're a beginner and then you won't muddy your work---this means a long drying time between work sessions. It's a lot easier to do this if you have several pieces going at once.
Bon courage,
Laura
Robyn, I thought your description of the scene was funny. :D And I think every artist can identify with "days like this". So it's good to know we are not alone. I hope things go better next Wednesday! I also hope the iris in the photograph is one of the blooms you are going to sketch. It is beautiful!
Laura - Bless you and thanks for your great advice. I'm going to give this brand of oils a fair chance but fear they are student quality simply because all the colours were the same price. As soon as possible I will try some other artist quality brands.
Glazing would suit me very well but I am being offered generous advice in class that is leading me in another direction at present. I think I'm on a LONG journey.
Stacy - Thanks. Fingers crossed for next Wednesday! I missed the opportunity to sketch that Iris in the garden - I'll have to do it from the photo now.
Robyn, I am sorry to hear about your woeful Wednesday. Sometimes one can get caught in the process and unable to gain a pleasant perspective. Or perhaps, it just takes a while to get used to the idea of “chasing grease”. Things have a unique way to simmer down and settle after being left alone for a while. So, here’s hoping to a wonderful Wednesday this coming week.
*Oh, yes, please take that precious heart of yours out of your shoes. :)
Thank you, Luci. Tomorrow is Wednesday already. I will carry your sweet message with me.
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