Monday, June 21, 2010

"Oil Painting Retreat" Continues













The first photo is of the three beginning pieces for our (Deena and me) 'oil painting retreat' earlier this month. I did one black/white, blue/orange/ and yellow/purple random acrylic base. The second photo shows progress made on the two of those pieces measuring approx. 15"x15". The blue/orange one has collage pieces and has a clear grid. I may paint out some of the grid or I was thinking I might cut them into smaller squares and collage them onto another paper. The one behind (yellows and lavenders) has just had shapes cut in with a dark color...more work needed. I have made so many re-discoveries about painting with oils. Drying time and finding the best medium have been the two stumbling blocks in returning to oils. I find myself researching all the mediums on the shelf which can be fun and expensive. Because of the slow drying time..I'll come back into the house for acrylic mixed media work....I just need to keep my brushes separated!

Today is Summer Solstice and hope everyone enjoys this nice long daylight! We still have more than our share of fog in the morning and the afternoons although sunny are on the cool side...could use a couple nice hot days!

20 comments:

  1. I have yet to try oil..I do not like to wait for the drying. Yet the colors are so wonderful in oil.

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  2. I love oils. Yes, very different but still, so luscious. I esp like your purple and yellow painting. Interesting to see, too, how you are layering here.

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  3. I wish I could grant your wish. We've had the heat, and I'm wishing for your cool afternoons. The purple and yellow is so beautful, I'm wishing I could see they whole thing.

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  4. I like the clear colors. Perfect for summer! Did you and Deena paint in the same room or by saying "On your mark, get set......" via telephone. Either way it sounds like a lot of fun
    I love the smell of the oil.

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  5. your oils look great! really enjoyed the solstice, long hot gorgeous day!

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  6. loving your journey with these Mary Ann :)

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  7. Ah Yes, the drying time!
    The one big drawback for me with oils. Plus, when the weather here is nice,,,(meaning not cold) it's too hot to paint outdoors. Our fall and spring are very short lived here. :-D
    And sometimes the odors get to me indoors with oils.
    Always love reading your processes,,so very imaginative. The colors are unbeatable!

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  8. Poetic Artist, Agreed...oils are rich and beautiful and for me outside only!

    Suki, Thank you...re-learning the properties of oils this summer. So far it's been fun.

    Annell, The black cutting around the purple and yellow is interesting...not sure what to do next but by the time it dries, I'll have an idea?!

    Pat, Actually Deena and I do both but this time we just had one day together on my deck and then we have been working on our own alone. I like the colors too!

    Cat, Summer Solstice...long warm sunny days...we will remember all this when it's winter?! ha

    Jeane, Painting with oils has been a fun place to be this summer.


    Babs, Not much process...just trying to move paint around. Fun outdoors...birds were visiting me the other day...wondering what I could be doing standing there?! ha

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  9. Hope your day goes well!xoxoxoxo

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  10. Your are having much success with your explorations of mediums and colors...lovely

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  11. Hi Mary Ann, Always exciting and experimental to try new medium. I thin with turpentine for a fast drying first coat, use wax to quicken drying and add texture and stand oil and linseed oil for the glow. Enjoy the process.

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  12. Painting retreat? How fun is that. Lovely pieces. I especially like the one on the right.

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  13. these are wonderful...I love the idea of collaging them together.

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  14. You almost convinced me to try oils again, I'm so impatient. Good for you!

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  15. How fun that you are exploring oils again. I have never tried them....seems I am too impatient. I like the boldness of the colors you are working with, they have a joyous feeling to me. Great that you can switch back and forth between mediums....to think that just a few days ago we were driving right through Santa Cruz....so serendipitous....

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  16. Annell, Day in the studio no matter the outcome...is a good day for me!

    Donna, This oil business has another set of rules (I've forgotten) and new mediums...summer learning!

    Maggie, I have the turp and cold wax working nicely...will use the stand oil when I can get the damm top off...safety seal is stuck! ha

    Willow, If you could see my painting retreat area...two steps from the kitchen?!

    Laura, Thank you...love collage...love to collage everything...bought new YES glue!

    Lyn, Every morning I stick my finger to an ugly area to see if it's dry?

    OTL, Yes, we could have passed one another on Hwy 1...me going to Costco and you going to the Redwoods!

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  17. I love to see your work, the way you play with color, especially here in the second painting, (the red in the right bottom corner is spectacular). I haven't used oils for so long... roxanne

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  18. I love the test squares! I have never worked in oils, mostly because of odour and clean up but I do love the effects that oils can produce and summer is a great time for longer drying. I love to work outside on my deck but find acrylics dry so fast.

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  19. Sounds like you had fun on your retreat. I'm sure you'll come up with some neat solutions for your creations. I only use oils for realistic still life paintings and I use Liquin so they dry faster. Acrylics and watercolors have spoiled me!

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  20. Roxanne, Good to have your visit...I haven't been able to touch the grid for days...I have several others stacked up all at different stages of completion...patience!

    ZDS, I am truly enjoying the outside painting...yesterday two doves visited.

    Eva, I'm spoiled too with acrylics. I have another retreat planned with friend Deena next week...her real job gets in the way of our painting! ha

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