Dusk

This is the first time I've combined 4 different techniques of applying paint, in 4 layers.

Layer 1: Applied paint with brush.

Layer 2: Applied paint in small pats of my finger tips. Let dry overnight.

Layer 3: Rubbed paint into the dried, heavily textured paint from the day before.

Layer 4: Wiped paint across parts of the painting.

The Final Result

A heavily textured, deeply toned, complex, vibrant painting. And a contented artist. Well, at least for the moment.

For more information on "Dusk", click here.

Warm Embrace

Here is the the brown paint I was so dreading working with, which was very easy to mix by the way (blue + yellow + red). The paint looked so much like chocolate pudding that now I'm thinking I need to try some of the Belgian chocolate pudding I noticed in the refrigerated section of Trader Joe's. I have to admit that I didn't really mind working with the brown because it was such a warm brown, not dark and depressing.


 

And here is the painting. I did, in fact, use the brown as an undercoat but only on the bottom of the painting. It's actually on top of some others layers at the top of the painting. I tend to like to "anchor"  the bottom of my paintings that I do with a straight brush stroke (as opposed to the textured ones which I do with a brush & then my fingers) with a darker color so your eyes tend to wander up to the lighter colors, giving the painting a sense of upward moving energy. I love the warmth of this painting. I call it Warm Embrace because the brown shadows stretching upwards look like 2 people hugging and the colors in the painting feel so warm & nurturing. I'll be looking at this one tomorrow morning when it's -1F outside!

More information on Warm Embrace.