Feb 8th post continued...

Remember my Feb. 8th post experience about water soluble oils? This is a continuation of the 3 I started before I began doing my taxes. Back to them tonight and I'm not done but I think I'm hooked on this new medium.  Love the clean-up of this paint.

Back to the block in

Remember the block in from my February Open Studio? It was a demo about how to take an old painting that had not been varnished and start again. After many days of tax preparation, I finally got back to it today. Thought I'd post it now in case I wipe the whole thing off. Scroll to the bottom to see it about 85% done.

This is the block in. Next comes a lot of value work.

About 85% complete or I might wipe it all off...
Happy painting to you.

February Open Studio

All ready for my first Open Studio Session 2018. 

Thank you Bertha, Susan and Pat for a fun day!

Open Studio Sessions 2018

This is my 30 minute demo. How to paint over an old oil painting that has not been varnished. Block-in for a new flower painting. Glad the old one is gone and hopeful for this one...I'll let you know what happens.

Water Mixable Oils?

Yesterday I had a conversation with my friend Kay about how important it is (to both of us) that we enjoy the process of creating. Maybe that is why I still haven't bonded with acrylics...I'm just not a fan of the process of painting with that medium.

But, I've been curious about water mixable oils for a long time and today I finally blocked in three little florals using that medium in the limited colors I have. I was skeptical but I have to admit the application feels like traditional oil and they perform similarly. Most noticeable is the clean-up. It is wonderfully easy. I'll order a few more colors (I need a cool red and a cool blue), then continue on these 6x6 paintings and will let you know how it goes.

Thinking of Spring...

...and the paintings I need for two upcoming shows.

One more old painting bites the dust. I unframed 2009 "Silver Lining" and brushed it off leaving just the ghost. The ground is gessoed gatorboard that I textured with a brush (in 2009). Today I repainted the surface using many of the same colors but this time, instead of a landscape, it is a flower painting.
Here is the finished painting. Scroll down to see the steps.

Peonies, pastel, 13x 13 inches