A Taste of my own Medicine

The Finished oil painting for Virginia

Can you see the difference?

My students will love this story. Last week I thought the second picture in this post was finished. I wanted it to be finished, it needed to be finished, this painting is a gift for a wedding that is next weekend. I kept looking at it...willing it to look right. But the teacher in me was not happy. That little voice in my head kept telling me that the reflection in the water was not right and it must be corrected.
Just like my students I heard myself saying " Its just fine, your being to picky, so it looks like a bush no one will know the difference and I'll ruin it if I try to fix it." In the end my teacher voice won out and I went back into the painting and smoothed out the water, and it does look better.

To my students, I'm so glad I listened to my teacher voice, isn't it nice to know that I even drive myself crazy! Hope you enjoyed.

Recipe for an oil painting

Getting started is always my favorite part of painting. If I'm using a photo as my reference I start by mixing different color combination's and painting little swatches of color on the paper. Don't forget to write down what colors you used on paper. I tell my students this is their recipe card. It really helps when you're just staring out. As you can see there are only four colors plus white on my palette, Winsor green, Alizarin Chrimson, Hansa Yellow and Ultramarine Blue.
Keeping it simple is the key.

If you have been following my posts you might recognize this landscape. It's the backyard of the Old Rhinebeck Inn. If you remember, I was commissioned to paint an oil painting of this scene for a wedding gift. I thought you might enjoy watching my process.
This is the first stage better know as the under painting. With oil, your first layer of paint has to be very thin. This prevents cracking as the painting dries. It almost looks like a watercolor. Once your happy with the composition and value choices you start adding thicker paint. If you look closely you can see I started adding detail to the urn and began thickening the paint in the foreground. I'll have more pictures on the weekend to share.


This week, I'm honored to be the artist on Mr. Mmm's blog "Hot Toast & Jam", Feature Friday.
Be sure to stop over and see what kind of questions he had for me.

162 Cambridge, England

I've finally finished painting all of my daughter Jessie's favorite pictures from her trip to Cambridge last year. We found four wooden frames at the "Christmas Tree Shop" for just three dollars and ninety nine cents each. I painted them a neutral color and aged them a bit for that Shabby Chic look she just loves. There looking very nice on the wall in her bedroom.
I must admit they are just so fun! I can't stop looking at them.
Hope you are enjoying this lovely weekend.

The Old Rhinebeck Inn in NY

Having so much fun... Another watercolor from Virginia's photos. This is the Old Rhinebeck Inn , a delightful B&B in NY. The painting I posted yesterday is the view from the back yard. You must check out their website. I would love to stay there next time we take our son back to college in the fall. Just lovely...

Memories from Rhinebeck, NY

This is for my girlfriend Virginia. She commissioned an oil painting for her college girlfriend who is getting married later this month. I loved the photo so much I did this little watercolor for her.
Hope you like it girlfriend.