Small Dailies

It feels good to be painting small formats again.  I've been doing more watercolor/calligraphy/illustration work lately.  As it happens I am having major renovations (upstairs bathroom and bedroom) at the moment.  So I find myself gravitating to my comfort zone while all the noise and chaos goes on upstairs.

Before I move on...

The second image (the rectangular one measuring 6" x 8") was the first of the series of paintings of our cat.  I just returned to the finishing touches on this one this afternoon.  The photo below is my favorite, although the tuft of fur in her right ear is bothering me as I look at it here.  I may do something about that.  I find it distracting.  Otherwise I am happy with the likeness.

This one is so dramatic with the black background as she looks into the light.  My paintings can only be as good as my references.  Thanks to my daughter for taking the photo that provided me with this one.

Getting There...

Okay, now that I've started my third small format painting,  I'm curious to try different substrates to see what effects I can achieve.  Stretched canvases I already had on hand, but I hadn't painted on the wood

cradled panels with oils before (only acrylics for mixed media pieces).  I'm liking this!  This is more like what I've been trying to achieve.  But at this stage, I'm not yet in my comfort zone.  Pre-mixing my key colors also helps with the spontaneous brushstrokes.

Chrysanthemum and Green Apple
6" x 8" Oil on Wood Cradled Panel
$80.00