Artsy Fartsy

So I am taking an intro to oil painting class this semester, and I have realized that it is a lot more complex than I imagined. The process of setting up is way more draining and tantalizing than the actual paint part.

First off you start with a thin gesso application, a clearish white coating that protects the paper or canvas from the acidic properties of the oil. Then you do what is called a toned ground, where you go in with a small bit of paint mixed with a gel substance called liquin. You smear it with a rag to create a solid background. The liquin allows the paint to dry quickly, even overnight. Then as a beginning artist you lay a charcoal underdrawing for the underpainting. Then you paint a gesture underpainting focusing on value range and general shapes, using only one natural color or perhaps another accent color. Finally you get to go in with an expanded color palette and develop the painting more fully with hues and value dynamics, along with texture and detail. phew.

The two paint studies I am putting up are in the underpainting stage. They are done using Burnt Sienna with accents of prussian blue, supposedly the two most used by the old masters... so i hear.

The sideways bust is an assignment for advanced drawing. The idea is this- to fully understand the ins and outs of drawing, one must experience the ins and outs of an opposite medium. In this case, the opposite medium is ink wash drawing.

Its probably my new favorite way to work. Its a perfect blend of painting and sketching. I can get all of the benifits of drawing- the detail, the fine lines, the fresh strokes of a fountain pen without having to stress out with a brush. I can also get the perks of painting- nice blends of hues and a releasing wash, without having to work the lengthy task of shading with a fine tip. Its awesome!

The last picture is another drawing assignment, and the first completed piece I have ever done in pencil. I am quite proud of it haha. The theme was threshhold, or boundaries passed, barriers broken, or personal interior space. With my athletic background I think this piece portrays mw well.

More to come!