December 21st, 2016

I had promised myself to take up oil painting in the winter. Well I pulled them out. I'm not sure how long this will last as it is another new learning (or relearning) curve. I need to relearn how to use the brushwork and the horribly slow process of mixing color and "thinking" again. I must admit I started with an experiment in acrylic and really disliked the consistency and "stickyness" or feel of the paint. So as quickly as I brought a few tubes out I put them right back again. Next, out comes the oil. I figure the self portraits are as good a difficult subject to start an ever so difficult medium. I started with a black and white in oil. Charcoal sketch first then, oil over top. This finished sketch is only about an hour and 15 minutes. I am finding out my attention span does not hold for much longer than that.

Oh my. Seeing it in digital format brings a whole new meaning to consternation. Terrified, amazement? Perhaps. I can see the wheels turning, not to mention the beginnings of what seem to be a stroke. Eyes uneven and a look of chewing on the side of my cheek....Boy this is going to be fun.

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These three 8x10 canvases are a quick charcoal sketch 20-30 minutes. Plans are to add oil to them when I learn a bit more. I need to build my focus strength for it is really lacking at the moment.

This is my first color sketch in oil. I had some colors out and wanted to use them up. As you can see at the top of the canvas I was practicing  how colors mix and how much thinner and what it looks like scumbling. I was just getting a feel for brush on canvas it. The color sketch did not start with charcoal. I did a quick line sketch, block in and just mixed light and dark colors I had on the palette just to use them up. There was no thinking on the part of color theory as you can tell. At this point I'm just getting used to brushwork once again. Once I get the "feel" for it I think I'll be ok. I just really need the mindset to work at it and not give up or think I will become a pro in a few days.That is really the hard part of the whole process. Not to give up.