Thursday, September 18, 2014

Screech Owl

Yesterday I attended an all day oil painting workshop with Sally O'Neill, a painter whose works I greatly admired. Yes, I bought some oil painting supplies, but mine are a little different because they are "water-soluble oils", which means they are oils....but they can clean up with water instead of solvents. Anyway, the workshop demo was amazing. I LOVED watching Sally paint and demonstrate just how someone paints with oils, and we (there were 3 of us in class) got to ask questions all along the way. Fascinating! After lunch we did a little painting of our own.

My oil painting supplies arrived a week ago, and they had not even been touched by me until the day of the workshop. Eeek! My "painting" (Ha ha ha ha ha!) was basically an exercise in learning to push oil colors around on canvas. Much, much different that my liquid acrylics. Lots of practice ahead to learn how to control this medium, but it's all fun, right? Yep, it will be.

Acrylics are still #1 with me, and I know what to expect from them. Today I painted a Screech Owl, but by the time it was finished, maybe it should be called a "Spotted Owl"? Of all the references I have available, I have to smile that the "Screech" owl was the one that got my attention today. An inward reflection of learning a new art form, maybe?

 
Screech Owl, © Dorothy Jenson 2014
6 x 6" acrylic on wrapped canvas

Tuesday, September 16, 2014

Quail About

Someone asked me this summer if I had painted any quails, but up till then I hadn't. Today I did! Can't remember who it was that asked, but whoever you are, I hope you see this one. :)


Quail About, © Dorothy Jenson 2014
6 x 6" acrylic on wrapped canvas

Monday, September 15, 2014

Beach Art and a Challenge

In spite of how it looks, I have been somewhat busy with art. I spent several days on a pet portrait that is now complete, which turned out just darling! I can't show it to you yet, as it is a surprise gift to be given by the person who commissioned the portrait. You'll see it when I get the "okay"!

The beach is lovely this time of year and I got to spend several days basking in the sun in Neskowin, OR. I really thought I'd do more art, but mostly I enjoyed being out and walking, walking, walking in the lovely surroundings. Finally, so as not to be too disappointed in myself, I did a couple watercolors.

 
Proposal Rock Reflections, 5 x 7 ink and watercolor
 
 


That Leaning Tree, ink and watercolor sketch
 
Now that I am home, I decided to take on the Daily Paintworks Challenge of the week:
 
The Garden Selfie Challenge!
 
"Find a smallish mirror and a camera find a nice spot in your garden or in the park. Make a selfie of your face in the mirror, with the greenery behind the mirror. This may take some juggling to get a satisfying picture! The challenge is to paint this scene and make the mirror stand out as a special part of your painting. The fact that your hand is visible ought to help."
 
 
First thing this morning, as our hazy sun was rising (forest fire smoke in the air), I went out with my hand mirror to take a reference shot for my painting, and here's what I came up with!
 
 
 
What a fun challenge!