Size does matter! || Oil painting exercise
The range of shades wears me out
Impressionists forget the existence of darkness
Academics forget about freedom
Abstractionists that not everything is relative
Minimalists that without grandeur they would not exist
Labels bore me
Admiring painting makes the hunger to create return. The search for one's own language and ways. Underpainting have been waiting for my hunger for a very long time. Last summer, I converted Ikea furniture cardboard boxes into underpaintings.
Here you can see step by step how to make your own inexpensive backings/underpainting: |
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Painter On The Dime! How to make cheap underpaitings |
Right after I did all of those - I only made use of one backing and the rest... waited.
Not for inspiration, oh no - because there is never a shortage of that - but waiting for good weather. Oil paints like sunny weather and open air:) And Northern Ireland isn't famous for nice weather:)
I was keen to try playing with oil sticks, which I discovered some time ago in a art-supplies shop. The oil sticks have a bit in common with oil pastels. Nevertheless, their form is quite different. Pastels have a smooth consistency, whereas an oil stick is basically thickened and dried oil paint in a crayon. A very thick one too. It wouldn't make any sense to use this kind of tool on a small format, so I chose the largest format I had on hand - 175cm x 75cm.(69’’ x 30’’)
The last time I worked on a really large format was in Academy, and with oil paints that was - in high school. It used to be my favourite medium. Mainly because it resonates with my personality, or rather the essence of it - the hesitation.
Imagination was given to man to compensate him for what he is not; a sense of humor to console him for what he is.
― Francis Bacon
Oil paints give great freedom and allow for the constant joy of changing decisions. Paint, wipe off. Paint - then dissolve. My favourite painting technique, called ‘wet-in-wet’ - involves using linseed oil instead of turpentine at the initial stage of the work - which keeps the paint on the painting still wet. This allows us to make changes to all the layers of the painting at the same time - but it is also very risky - all it takes is a clumsy, unplanned movement - and much of our painting disappears.
So the stakes are high!
Also - I really like working with my fingers, I feel more in control then when working with a brush. Just touching a wet painting with my hands is liberating and gives me an almost childlike joy. This is extremely important to me - because the painting process itself makes me alternately furious or disappointed with my artistic frailty.
These fleeting moments of joy, one or two smiles - that's all I can muster. Only for these few moments do I know how to enjoy it instead of comparing myself to others.
Happy Sunday and have a great week!
Yours,
Strega Azure
I used oil paint sticks & flaxseed oil.
I rubbed the paint mainly with my hands and wiped off any excess with a paper towel.

Drawing & pictures are my authorship if not stated otherwise.
All rights reserved @strega.azure ©


I rubbed the paint mainly with my hands and wiped off any excess with a paper towel.
Drawing & pictures are my authorship if not stated otherwise.
All rights reserved @strega.azure ©


All rights reserved @strega.azure ©
Hi @strega.azure,
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Lovely monochrome choice! What will you do with the finished piece?
Thank you Ema! To be perfectly honest - I have nooooo clue. It is massive. And it will take about a week to properly dry up too. I might paint it over? We will see how I feel about that piece in few weeks:) Open to suggestions!
Hmmm, that's a tough one. You could hang it in a clost or on the back of a door, that might be interesting. Or give it as a gift and then you don't have to worry about where to store it 😆. Or maybe seal it really well and mount it in an outdoor space. There are options!
It's a bit problematic, isn't it? And it is actually the size of a door, but a standard door. Here they are really low and narrow, so I would have to cut a hole for the handle :D
I'll wait for it to dry and think about it:) But I appreciate the help!
Throw it in a corner and forget about it for a while, then the perfect idea will come to you!
I need to cover it up for a while so I can't see mistakes I made. Otherwise it will end up in pieces or flames, or both!
Haha! Yesss, I totally get you. Its fate is in your hands 🫠😈
Wow a great piece you have done. I love all the steps of it you have shown. This must have taken quite some time to complete. Thanks for sharing 😊
Thank you for visiting my blog!
I've been working in quite a hurry over the weekend as the weather is very capricious here, and that's the only time(weekend I mean) I have time during the day:) But I'm glad I had the opportunity to work on a large format finally:)))
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Thank you:)
@strega.azure, you are most welcome!
Stunning. There are very few times I am lost for words. This is one of them.
(five minutes later...) I'm sitting here just in awe of your talent. The heart and mind of an artist at work... and a piece that has been lovingly and intelligently crafted. I love that you share your process and thoughts with us. It's an incredible piece. I don't think you should paint over it. Stick it in a frame and make it a centrepiece somewhere in your home 💗
ps: I love that you included yourself in your triptych this time 🤗
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So now you left me speechless... Not sure what to say apart thank you Sam!
I am really glad you like it, it cost me a lot of stress, not gonna lie :D If I ought to frame it - oh man, that's one big frame! I thought I will show myself against the piece, so people can see the scale of the painting/drawing(still can't really decide what it is :D)
Thank you for dropping by and see you around!!!
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Could you make your own frame? I would have said get even more creative and paint your own frame on the wall, but that may not go down so well! haha
10 black hearts?! Now what did I do to deserve this fancy honour !LOLZ
Speak soon 💗💗💗
That's sounds like a challenge! I accept! Need to research a bit, and I will come up with something:)))
You deserve all the hearts Sam 🤗 speak soon, definitely!
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