Materials · Northern Neck Artisan Trail · oil painting · Step-by-step · Technique

The Right Surface

When I started painting many, many years ago in school, I was taught that there was really only one surface acceptable for fine art paintings: canvas stretched and primed with acrylic gesso. I’ve learned since there then are a whole lot of other options and so long as you approach the issue in a logical… Continue reading The Right Surface

Materials · Northern Neck Artisan Trail · oil painting · Productivity · Reference Photos · Step-by-step · Technique

Ballerinas Day 3

I’m in search of a title for this painting and I’ve posted some of the progress photos on Facebook and I’ve gotten some interesting ideas. I just haven’t decided yet. My Daughter-in-law, who provided me with the reference photo, advised that the girls were in a Ballet called The Carnival of Animals and they were… Continue reading Ballerinas Day 3

Materials · Northern Neck Artisan Trail · oil painting · Productivity · Step-by-step · Technique

Ballerina’s Day 2

As you saw from my last post, I spent the first day (well, actually the second if you give me a day to choose the reference photo and makes notes and sketches about any composition changes and enlarging the photo) transferring the photo with my notes to tracing paper. I also stained the canvas. In… Continue reading Ballerina’s Day 2

Historic Sites · Materials · oil painting · Productivity · Step-by-step · Technique

Another from Colonial Williamsburg: Limited Reveal

I did finish another in the Colonial Williamsburg series and again, I’m just going to tease you with some progress photos and a close up or two. You’ll have to attend the show in May to see the full, finished painting. The photos above are my value block-ins. Below are close-ups of parts of the… Continue reading Another from Colonial Williamsburg: Limited Reveal

Historic Sites · Materials · Northern Neck Artisan Trail · oil painting · Reference Photos · Step-by-step

Girl in the Garden

I’ve not decided on a title for this one yet, although Girl in the Garden isn’t too bad. I found her in the main vegetable garden area of Colonial Williamsburg with the regular gardener. You can see she is working with the regular gardener, but her lovely black velvet hat just seems a bit too… Continue reading Girl in the Garden

Materials · Northern Neck Artisan Trail · oil painting · Reference Photos · Sketch · Step-by-step · Technique

Ox Cart Man Day 1 & 2 & 3

Thought you might like to see my next Williamsburg painting as it unfolds rather than wait until the very end. So to that end, here are photos of steps in the progression. On the first day, I just worked on getting my composition the way I wanted it and began transferring the basic lines of… Continue reading Ox Cart Man Day 1 & 2 & 3