1/13/12

First Impressions

"Sitting Still", 10x8" o/c

Today I joined up with a number of painting friends to paint a live model, but today was different than any other. I stepped out of my comfort zone and brought my brand new pochade box with brand new oils, instead of the ol' familiar box-O-rocks pastels. I think I did OK with all the uncomfortable, bumbling around with paint brushes and solvent. Gosh it was frustrating at first, but let me share what I learned today about painting with oils (reminder, this is coming from a dusty fingered artist's perception)

1. Always wear old clothing or an apron because no matter how careful you are, oil paint is like a magnet and somehow finds it's way with you.

2. Mixing oils takes a millennium, compared to the spontaneous pick and peck of pastels. Ok, I admit, I got a little help from an experienced oily friend with a few colors, but once I got the brain thinking 'color wheel' I began to enjoy the process.

3. This is NOT finger painting! I found myself wanting to smear, wipe, or blend directly with my fingers. No tactile relationships allowed here.

4. Being patient. No room for espresso pastels while learning to paint with oil. I discovered that it will probably take a lifetime to understand the complexities of oil painting. A very humbling feeling.

5. Remembering the child within. Once I decided that today was NOT a day to make a nice painting and impress my peers, but rather a day of discovering oil, then I was able to move forward faster. After all, it's supposed to be fun. But wait! Did I write the word "faster"? Yup, It's not espresso, but relaxing and having fun made for better learnig AND a nice first impression of oil painting.


Here I am, feeling clumbsy, with my brand new never seen the light of day pochade box!
Thanks Celeste Bergin for the photo!

Updated 1/14/12

7 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

being an oil painter, reading this and the previous post reminded me of my fear of pastels and watercolours (i suffered terribly at the hands of both). i now focus only on the development of colour in oils ;) perhaps watching your work in oils will give me the courage to try pastels again.

1/14/12, 1:41 AM  
Blogger Eden Compton Studio said...

Love the colors and brushwork in this Brenda! I am on the same oil adventure -- I love the possibilities of oil (all those colors from 3 tubes!!) but I feel so much more comfortable in the pastels. Looks like you're already feeling comfortable in the oil world!

1/14/12, 4:18 AM  
Blogger Cmichaudart said...

Great job...I see the "pastel"-color influence...

1/14/12, 5:00 AM  
Blogger Brenda Boylan said...

Hi Rahina, I'm hoping I didn't stir up any pastel anxiety! Wishing I could take you under my wing and help you through pastels. :) Maybe someday?

Eden, I'm guessing comfort level will come with time at the easel. Let's keep each other accountable with oils, ok, but not to ignore our work with the dusty medium of choice. :)

Hi Cindy, I guess there is a lot of cross-over of pastel into oils? Time will only tell. Thanks for commenting.

1/14/12, 11:35 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Brenda, i would love to do a workshop with you one day. how would it work with us being across a very large pond?

1/15/12, 11:57 PM  
Blogger Brenda Boylan said...

Hi Rahina,
My big long term goals include workshops in Europe, or unless you are able to yourself a flight over here! Would love to take you under my wings and help you fly with pastels.

1/16/12, 5:12 PM  
Blogger Celeste Bergin said...

You may have not set out to impress your peers.....but you did! Great job, Brenda--!

1/16/12, 6:05 PM  

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