More Checotah - more crazy colors

[cristinrenee]

The colors in this painting are getting wilder. It's even more violet in person (the lighting in that room is yellowy). I wasn't too sure about this technique for adding texture when I was working on it in class, but I think it's another example of my liking the painting better when I've taken several steps away from the easel.

Wonder if I can get this done by Halloween...

Comments

[pensnest]

I find it really interesting how oil painting uses often quite unexpected colours to make the right colour. I wish I had a few of my mother's attempts to look at, but the only one of her pictures I have is a charcoal drawing. I do remember a surprising amount of purple in a face. Do you build up in thin layers?

I suspect taking several steps away from the easel is essential!

[cristinrenee]

Well, there's two different sorts of building up in thin layers. There's the kind with glazing which I've only done the tiniest bit of (in the ocean painting). That's adding a wash of transparent color over the top and changing how the bottom layer is perceived.

The cat painting was pretty much built up with thin layers that were more opaque.

This one, because I said I wanted a lot of texture all around to contrast with smooth dog fur, is being built up with thicker applications of paint. It's going to dry a lot more slowly between steps. (Two days later, and touching this painting today left paint on my hands.) Once the texture is on, I think I'll be able to mute the wild colors with a glaze or two if I decide it's making me think "it's a PURPLE tree" too much.

I think, though, that maybe I should embrace the purpleness.

Makes me want to start working on a newt or a still life now too. To get something going on the smooth side again. ... And I haven't touched the ocean one in ages. Should see what I can do with it now. :)