Hereby some next steps in the making of my ‘ old master’.

Step #2 I have to say it’s an exiting idea to have an idea how and what  i would like to express in this painting and not knowing yet how it will end up. At this point just follow the ‘rules’  in oil painting techniques: “fat over lean”. (more info about that later)

With a thin brush i set up the composition in a thin wash of oil paint. To separate the subjects from the ‘ background’  i worked on the sky.

Step #3 i worked out some more detail outside lines from the subjects to be able to make the next step. All is done more or less roughly, finer details in the painting will be added later.

Step #4 As you can see i painted some more details in the background but also the ‘subjects’  in the painting. This to show the ‘ composition’ of the painting. If it is to my likings, if in ‘ balance’ and to decide if i want to continue with it or have to make some adjustments. This still in the ‘stage’ of the roughly set up of the painting. To me this stage is very important because it start to show if the composition,balance and perspective in the painting is what i want. I know it’s hard if you making a painting to hold back on working on the details but i really think these are important steps to take before.

As promised some information about the ‘ new generation’ oil paint i use:

Working With Water Soluble Oils

Some of us have breathing problems and cannot tolerate the fumes from the turpentine you have to use to thin the paint and to clean up afterward. Water soluble oil paints are a great alternative if you love to paint in oil but have had problems with the turpentine or mineral spirits used with traditional oils. Or maybe their reputation for toxicity has kept you from trying oil painting at all.

The key difference in water soluble and conventional oils is its ability to thin and clean up with water. Hazardous solvents are not necessary and artists can enjoy a safer painting environment, making it ideal for artists who share a work space, schools or painting at home. Not only you will not have to deal with toxic turpentine or other solvents, but you also don’t have to sacrifice the quality of your paintings to use water soluble oil paints. Water miscible oil paint can be mixed and applied using the same techniques as traditional oil-based paint, but while still wet it can be effectively removed from brushes, palettes, and rags with ordinary soap and water. Its water solubility comes from the use of an oil medium in which one end of the molecule has been altered to bind loosely to water molecules, as in a solution. Water soluble oils are water mixable, not water based. The character of the water soluble oils is very similar to oil based paints. You can use the same medium as you would with oils. Or you can use water, each can give you a variety of looks. There are a variety of brands and quality’s in the ‘ new generation’ of water soluble oil paints now a days.

A friend of mine asked me if I could make a “classic” style oil painting. I never made a painting this style and with this special painting technique before. A painting like that requires a totally different approach in painting from what I usually do. Thinking about his question gave me the feeling of a challenge like I have every time I start a new painting. In my coming posts i’ll give you a look over my shoulder to see how this painting develops and what the end result will be.

#1

My first step was the choice of canvas. Decided to use a fine cotton since the painting requires fine details. I will use water soluble oil-paint,  a new ‘ generation’ of oil-paint. (more info later)   I tinted the primed canvas with a thin under layer of burned sienna and yellow ochre. This warm deep glow will show later true  the other layers of paint .

So hereby my first step in the painting process of my ‘ old master’.

A little background information what this style of painting is about, with the courtesy of Wikipedia.

“The Renaissance marks the period of European history at the close of the Middle Ages and the rise of the Modern world. It represents a cultural rebirth from the 14th through the middle of the 17th centuries. The development of perspective was part of a wider trend towards realism in the arts. To that end, painters also developed other techniques, studying light, shadow. Underlying these changes in artistic method, was a renewed desire to depict the beauty of nature. In the Netherlands a particularly vibrant artistic culture developed, having particular influence on the development of painting in Italy, both technically with the introduction of oil paint and canvas, and stylistically in terms of naturalism in representation.

Genre works, also called genre scenes or genre views, are pictorial representations in any of various media that represent scenes or events from everyday life. Such representations may be realistic, imagined, or romanticized by the artist. Rather confusingly, the term genre works, may also be used as an umbrella term for painting in various specialized categories such as still life, marine painting, landscape painting, animal painting, as well as genre scenes proper where the emphasis is on human figures.

The depictions can be realistic, imagined, or romanticized by the artist.

Landscape art is a term that covers the depiction of natural scenery such as mountains, valleys, trees, rivers, and forests, and especially art where the main subject is a wide view, with its elements arranged into a coherent composition. In other works landscape backgrounds for figures can still form an important part of the work. Sky is almost always included in the view. Most early landscapes can be imaginary views, although clearly intended to represent actual cities, landscapes and seasides with varying degrees of accuracy. Various techniques were used to simulate the randomness of natural forms in invented compositions.”

kingfisher

The stars in the eyes of my grandson when he finished this painting I’ll never forget. He made this painting as a special gift for his father for fathers day. It symbolise the moments they have together going out on photography trips. That’s why the quote of Picasso appealed to me that much; i hope my grandson never lose these stars in his eyes when he finish a painting. I’ll do my out most to help to develop his talent, maintain and cherish it till he grows up.

Happy fathers day to all grand fathers and fathers of the world.

oil painting # 1

oil painting #2

Personaly i think it’s a saying with a lot of thruth in it. Aspecialy in art. I think as long the technique is well done in the painting there is no discussion about the result; it’s all a matter of taste and feeling what the painting gives to an individual person. It’s all about personal and individual perception. I was busy with these paintings when a good friend visited me. She saw the result in this stage and was so enthousiastic. Eventhough I had another result in mind. So her reaction made me start an new set of paintings and leave these ones as they were. Later on she visit me again and show her the difference in the paintings she saw and what the other paintings became. Still she felt that these ones were the most appealing and atractive to her! Check out the other painting to be found in category oil paintings and give me your personal comment. In a new stage of her life and re-decorating her house will these ones the most perfect gift for her new life!