Violets

Violets #2, oil, 10x10 inches
©2020 Barbara Benedetti Newton

Block-in of color

Darks

Lights

Last week I dug out my vintage Daniel Smith Venetian Red Gesso and prepped 10x10 hardboard panels.  I call it vintage because it is about 10 years old and I don't think it is available any longer. After prepping the 10x10 panels, I was left with a brush full of gesso and hated to waste it so I also prepped two sheets of black Fredrix canvas that I see every time I open my flat file. I can't remember why I bought black. Now I can put them back in the flat file and wonder why I gesso'd them red (it was because they were black).

gesso-ing

Today I'm applying gesso to 24 x 24 cradled panels. I'd call that gessoing but apparently that isn't a word. I have two 16 x 20 oils in progress (see the tiny images by the lamp?) but they are still in the early stages of development. Back to the gesso now for the second coat ...nothing like having four blank white surfaces staring at you.