R__y, oil on canvas, 10” x 10”
It’s been a busy few months, so I haven’t updated The Hipping Post since December. But in my last post, I implied that I would challenge myself, and try to push my art forward.
For a variety of reasons, I am interested in painting portraits, so when my friend asked me if I would draw a picture of his daughters, I said, “Of course. I’d be honored.” But instead of using pencil and paper, like I did for the drawings of Stacie and of my sons, I decided to give oil painting a shot. Since he’s a close friend, I figured my buddy would forgive me if the paintings didn’t work out.
R__e, oil on canvas, 10” x 10”
But the paintings turned out better than I had expected, and I learned a lot during the process. Thank you for giving me the opportunity, J & L – I couldn’t have asked for two cuter subjects.
P.S. I am still experimenting with oil painting, so I was pleasantly surprised to find that painting in layers, using poppy oil to thin and blend the paint, was a good method for depicting smooth young skin. I also found that various combinations of Terra Rosa, Cadmium Yellow Pale, Cadmium Scarlet, and Titanium White created a solid foundation for skin tones. If you have recommendations for other techniques / colors, I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.
Filed under: Art, Friends
