Underpainting for oil painting class

I'm taking a 3 class oil painting class at the Providence Art Club as part of the still life series in which I will be teaching also. The instructor for this session is RI oil painter, Jane Puerini who primarily paints still life subjects. Yesterday, Jane had us begin with Indian Red alkyd paint thinned with Gamsol. We put a thin/medium tone layer of paint on the canvas and then began wiping out the light areas with a rag. Next we worked on the values and added in deeper values where needed. This is an interesting way to begin a painting and helpful to establish composition and as well as a value study before we begin laying on color. The alkyd paint helps it to dry quicker. Next Monday I will work on the next step.

Finished piece

Here is my finished piece. I added much more color into the water at the bottom to draw the eye up to the wave. My studio partner, Judy, suggested I really look at a book of wave paintings she has because she thought the large cresting wave at the top was too dark. So I read about the functioning of waves and realized that she was right. The sun will shine through the top of the wave making it lighter and more transparent.

This piece is currently at the Member Exhibit at the Providence Art Club. 

Working on the wave

Here is the continuation of the wave I am working on. The colors are more accurate in this photo although there is some shadowing in the sky from the pencil cups on my desk. I like this surface because the pencil goes on so quickly but it sure eats my pencils fast. I'm already out of a few but hoping to finish this piece using the stubs. My deadline for the exhibit is Thursday, will I make it?!

CPSA Explore This 5

I just found out that my colored pencil piece "Patti's New Bowl" has been accepted into the Colored Pencil Society of America's Explore This #5 online exhibition. This is my second time accepted into Explore This. My inspiration for the piece came from a beautiful colorful bowl that my friend Patti brought back from a trip to Mexico. I filled it with lemons and placed it in a very sunny spot to achieve the bright colors and glow. 

The surface is Ampersand Gessoboard with Terra Cotta Colourfix primer applied. The Terra Cotta color shows through the pencil and gives the piece a warm glow. This piece is currently on display at Gallery 297 in Bristol, RI.

The next wave

This is the next wave that I have started. Its cradled gessoboard again, this time 16x20". The Colourfix ground is Terra Cotta with White and Burgundy mixed in so that its not so orange-y. I'm working from the top downward because the pencil flakes off so easily, I don't want to wear it off with my arm on the paper. I took this photo at night and I'm noticing the colors are a little bit off, especially the sky.

What attracted me was the large wave in the center and all the colors it contains: greens, purples, blues, grays. The ocean behind is a turquoise/gray. Each time I go to the beach, the colors of the sky and ocean are different. This time of year, everything can be gray but I'm finding such beautiful shades of gray and colors in the grays.

Wave finished onto the next!

Waves almost finished

Just a little bit of tweaking and it will be done. I want to carry the turquoise a little more into the bottom half.

Not creating art but getting inspired in Taos

We are on a family/friends ski trip in Taos, NM and having a great time. We're with relatives from Arizona and friends from England. The weather and the skiing/snowboarding are great. This area is so beautiful in such a different way from New England, I love the mountains surrounding us. Unfortunately, I forgot my sketchbook & art materials but have been taking pictures for inspiration.  I bought a cow skull and a big bunch of red chili peppers for still life set ups at the studio. Should be fun and different.