At this stage I seem to be capable of a 2 hour studio session 4 times a week. In order to deal with this I have taken to a few changes in my typical process. Interestingly this seems to have clarified my concept building.
- Limit to one and one half hours painting - the study is done at that time. This fixes a light condition. So, as I get stronger I plan to do a series of studies en plein air. For studio painting I prefer to work from the plen air studies and will try a series of short sessions for each work.
- Using a short palette. Three primaries plus white plus a warm or a cool as needed for that session. In the studio I often add a couple of colours to fill out the colour mask.
- Using greys mixed from the previous painting session. These are unique and save me painting time.
- Painting on a dry coloured ground. A time saver that I expect will lead to wet coloured ground as in the past and working from white primed canvas.
- Use of a round brush. Variety to the feel. I tend to use this early as I scrub in the composition. I tend to mass instead of draw, but I use a variety of starts.
- Scraping and tonking to remove paint, then to paint over again. A different look and feel.
- Use my wife's round hair curling brush as I come out of the shower. Because I can.
- Painting contre jour. I have tended to do this in the past but now it seems more logical as I paint a short series with the light moving.
- Painting small in the plein air environment. Time saver.
Living on the Seine, 12x16, Oil on Canvas on Board
I am experiencing trouble finding reference material since I am not yet going outside. Believe it or not, I can't deal with the cold I once loved. So I have sketched in pencil from the car and tried photo reference from trips I have taken. Here I am short on remembering the real situation and the concept that moved me to snap the photo. Photos are so limited.
We will see how this evolves. In the mean time enjoy!
Honfleur Inner Harbour, 12x16, Oil on Canvas on Board
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