BLOG about PAINTING

I've been managing to do some painting - either by working outside or by limiting my time in the studio. As well, any time I am in there, I keep the fan going and the window open. So far, so good (fingers crossed).

I did a 12 X 12 of one of my favourite subjects, fawn lilies.

Oil on plaster on board

12 in. X 12 in

I'm not totally unhappy with the result. It does convey that glow that the lilies seem to have against the green and brown of their spotted leaves. However, it's less 'painterly' than, say, the Bergenia or the pitcher plants. Those paintings were as much about the paint as they were about the image.

Onward and upward: I felt the need to do something a bit bigger. (It's tough watching artist friends post images of BIG pieces, anywhere up to 72 X 108, and then look at my tiny little efforts...) Also, I have these 12 X 48 panels that my husband made me when we were back in Nova Scotia. (It's a very horizontal world back there.)

I started by doing a layout on paper. It's always a good idea to work out some thumbnails ahead of time; the best paint handling in the world won't save a bad composition. Then I drew it onto my panel and blocked in the large areas. It's ready to go. And I'm terrified. I want this one to be loose like the Bergenia, but that means just going for it, and damn the amount of paint it takes.

So, damn the amount of paint it takes. We'll see what happens. After all, it's just a painting, right?