Category Archives: Alla prima

Paintings 24 & 25. Mock ‘Frescoes’ of Gouache Painted into Damp Plaster

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I’m currently taking a class on mixed media and was intrigued when teacher Susan Hostetler mentioned “mock frescoes”, made by painting gouache into still-damp spackle or joint compound slathered onto cardboard or other heavy substrate.  I decided to try it.  My first attempt was a simplistic sugar bowl sitting on our kitchen table.  My quick contour was misshapen, so I touched it up with some water-soluble pencils, moistening the marks to blend them into the gouache.

I then plopped down a seashell (interesting shape though dull colors) and tried again.  I was happier with that one, though disappointed when a little flake popped out sometime later.  Maybe a fixative would deter this type of defect — will have to research it. . . .

 

Painting #23. Another Experiment ~~ 15-Stroke Shells!

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Sometimes it’s fun to challenge yourself:  can you make a painting in a very limited number of strokes?  Say, 15?  I decided to try it the other day.  I placed three shells from my beach-combing stash on a sheet of paper and attacked, carefully plotting color and placement of each stroke.  At 15, I was itching to do ‘just a few more’ to beef it up ‘just a bit’, but gritted my teeth and concluded the effort.  Here it is, along with a snap of the shell subject.

In keeping with the spirit of the test, I made only a few light guidelines for size and placement, before constructing the design via ‘color-shapes’.

 

A Past Start Destined to Remain Unfinished. Dad on the 4th, 2010.

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In the last post, I included a photo I took of Dad during our July 4th party in 2010.  I have always treasured that shot.  Back in 2014, when I was beginning to experiment with gouache, I decided to hazard a rendering of the fuzzy image.  I got it to this stage in my first session and put it aside for further work.  I have never had the nerve to do more on it because I was afraid of messing it up or not doing Dad justice.  I’m now declaring it ‘officially unfinished’.  It’s not gonna be changing.  I like it ‘as is’, shortcomings and all.

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Remembering Our Recent Workshop on Mississippi Gulf Coast – Part 1

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In writing my last post, I realized I hadn’t described our recent workshop in any detail.  It was great ~~ a delightful mix of ‘7 Palettes‘ painting buddies and Kathy Stowe, another Maryland-based friend; two of my sisters (Ceci & Susan); and three other Coast-based artists — Marylyn Gibson, Sherry Carlson and Curtis Jaunsen.  And of course our most excellent instructor, Marc Hanson.

Marc and Terry Miura are two of my most favorite landscape painters (not to take anything away from our outstanding MD-based artists).  Painting ‘rock stars’ in my book.  I’ve taken workshops with each of them and our 7Ps group sponsored a workshop with Terry not long ago.  It was fun to learn that they both trained at the same school in California!  Must be something in the water (or the OMG) out there!

Here are the beautiful demos that Marc did during our four day workshop.  I bought ‘On Canal by Old OS Harbor’ as a memento of the wonderful experience.

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Painting #18. Toothiness I ~~ the Start of Another Intermittent Series

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My hubby and I stick our toothbrushes into a tarnished old holder in between brushings.  Awhile back, I started paying attention to how they’re standing ~~ are they facing each other leaning in for a kiss?  Are they turned away from each other?  Is one facing away while the other looks on?

It’s been fun anthropomorphizing these humble objects.  I’ve even started noticing brush positions at other folks’ homes — family, mind you, not friends!!  I’ve taken photos of some of these little vignettes and even crafted some arrangements.  They’re a form of truthiness — errrr toothiness, right??  Or am I just crazy?

Here’s a painting of our ancient holder and current brushes, from life . . . .

#18. Toothiness I. Oil on Arches Oil Paper. 8″ x 10″.

 

Painting #17. Back to Painting the Big Flowers ~~ Another Pull-Out-the-Stops Hibiscus

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This hibiscus was growing in my sister’s yard.  I generally shy away from screaming colors but, hey, this one was trying SO hard I just had to snap its portrait and paint it.  We may need sunglasses for this one!

Neon Hibiscus. Oil on Primed Arches Oil Paper. 20″ x 8″.

Reference Photo

Painting #16. Painting Smoke Outside the Kitchen Window

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We’ve got a beautiful fluffy pink smoke bush in our front yard.  It’s only a few years old but it’s grown huge.  Its color is very interesting.  Not ‘PINK pink’, but something fairly indescribable.  I can show you better with my brush than with my words.  I also give you a few photos below to get a sense of what I was looking at when I painted this one live.

Painting #15 Maple Leaves from Life — an Experiment with Rubber Widget

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Last week I painted purple irises atop leaves from the Japanese Maple out front.  I focused on the irises rather than on the leaves in that one.  After the irises faded, the lovely tangle of leaves and stems continued to hold my attention.  So I painted them – or tried anyway.  The leaves are mostly very dark — deep reds and greens, so I wanted a light background, but what color?

I tried one color; nah.  I tried another; nah. The next morning, I covered it all up with a creamy yellow/white and didn’t like that either.  In frustration, I picked up a rubber wedge tool and scraped off the top layer of background, trying hard not to wipe off the leaves themselves.  I was left with all sorts of interesting marks around the leaves.  They’re weird but I like them and thought I’d keep ’em.  Let me know if you like them or hate them!

#16. Tangle of Japanese Maple Leaves in a Pitcher. Oil on Arches Oil Paper. 10″ x 8″.

The leaves and vase I painted (from life).

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Painting #13 – Another Veggie Watercolor-Gouache for a Collector

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After painting that cauliflower a few days ago, I started regretting that my collector had selected my dinky mushrooms as part of her four-veggie series for the kitchen.  I decided to do a more ‘fulsome’ substitute for her consideration — celery!  Here it is.  She’s happily taking it instead of the ‘shrooms!

Celery. Watercolor and gouache on paper. 11″ x 14″

Celery Painting and Subject.

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