Cloud Over Emma

 

Cloud Over Emma

7x7"

oil on canvas

sold

I have been saying for awhile now that I would like to try my hand at oil paints. I have been enjoying acrylics, but have felt that I am limited by them to an extent, especially if I want to go for a softer more blended look. Acrylics just dry so darn quickly that you either have to work fast or else use a gel medium (not a fan) to keep them wet longer. Well, last month I was extremely close to ordering the full gamete of oil paint and supplies through Opus online because they had a sale on their Gamblin brand (Karin Jurick uses many of their colours). Then the practical and frugal side of me kicked in, as it often does, and said, "Why don't you crack open the starter set you got for your birthday a couple of years ago before you shell out the big bucks?" So yesterday I went to the studio and that is exactly what I did! I pulled out that little set of 12 colours and had the time of my life! Seriously, it's a whole new world ... I swear could hear Alladin and Jasmine singing as I painted... or maybe it was this guy.... "a whole new world, a new fantastic point of view... a dazzling place I never knew... it's crystal clear that now I'm in a whole new world..."

So the result of my studio playtime was this little sky, and another which I will show next time, on a canvas I had prepared ages ago with a cadmium orange (acrylic) ground. You can see the orange peaking through here and there and I like the undertone it gives the lighter part of the sky above the horizon. I was a pretty large mess when I finished for the day because I kept forgetting the paint was wet, so there will be a learning curve fo sho, but you know what? I think I'm up for it! And today when I went in I got some serious encouragement and positive feedback from two of the other artists that were there working. They both especially liked this one, so here it is for you to see... my first little oil painting since first year university (many moons ago)!