Here's a slightly different style on my easel today

I felt like letting loose and instead of going for a more detailed painting,

I decided to make this one very impressionistic (that was a long word this early in the morning!)

Trying to convey movement is obviously a challenge in any painting, after all it is a static object.

still on the easel - Oil on panel

Title:  FREE REIN

4" x 6" (10 x 15cm)

Oil on art panel

One thing about this current worldwide virus drama, is that in my little world I can stay at home and PAINT

Oh!!  hang on a minute,

I do that anyway!

but now I've got Worldwide Accreditation to do so

Title:    SILLY SEASON

Oil on art panel : 4" x 6"  (10x15cm)

I was preparing some art panels recently, gesso over them which turned out to be 3 coats to get the surface I liked for working with.  Then I spotted in my stash a canvas pre-coloured.  As I didn't like the colour I'd previously chosen, I decided to paint over that too - after all I had the gesso open.

Just one coat over the canvas and what happened, when it had dried, I saw another painting within it...

tell me you can see ripples too!

This set me off on one -  although the result doesn't really show ripples.  Funny how things develop and change.  I think the paintings themselves decide where they are going, artists just 'think' they are making the decisions!

ok, this isn't my usual, it's neither landscape, seascape or an object 

and certainly won't be everyone's cup of tea.

However, I enjoyed painting it and love the colours, which I'm sure will be enjoyed in the home of a buyer one day

Title:  DRIFTING WITH THE LIGHT

16" x 16" (40 x 40cm) 

Prep work

Canvases and Art panels don't prepare themselves,

and as much as I would love to be getting on with a painting right now,

I have to spend a bit of time in preparing them.

These panels ended up with 3 coats of gesso -

think that should do it!

Clean palette

Having completed some small paintings over the weekend, I decided that perhaps it was time to clean up my palette....

You can understand why, there was no more room to mix paint.

So the clean up began, using a large scraper to scoop up the mess and put it onto some kitchen paper.

I have to say that I’m not a Abstract artist, my brain doesn’t work that way, but today when I looked at the messy kitchen paper, I was sure I could see a large seascape wave with a partial boat! 

Can anyone else see it?

Having got into the miniature oil painting yesterday....

I found a subject dear to my heart

and HAD to give this one a go

Oil on art panel

3½" x 3½"  (8.89 x 8.89cm)

  "HIGH JINKS"

This has to be one of the smallest Oil paintings I've done...

Based on a watercolour painting by my art friend John Hoar.
His artwork is stunning, he certainly is a master when it comes to watercolour paintings.  Do take a look at his website, here.

So why would I even contemplate trying an Oil painting from a Watercolour, especially as watercolours have their own unique qualities.   The Challenge of it, I think that's why.
Obviously Oil paint will never be transparent, but in itself I felt I could convey
something that would speak for itself in oil.  

1. Vibrant colours

2. Make an emphasis on tones

3. Miniature painting - that alone is a challenge because of getting the detail in so small

Really pleased I gave this one my time, as I feel it works in its own way.

TITLE:  SWEET CONFINEMENT

measuring a mere: 3½" x 3½"  (8.89 x 8.89cm)

here's a short clip of my process, although I have to apologise for the shakiness, 

trying to video and paint at the same time is quite tricky!

 What do you think? 

On the easel...

just need some "thinking" time with this one,

but reckon it's pretty much there.

If nothing else I've got a title...

  "THINKING TIME"

Oil on canvas

8" x 8" (20 x 20cm)

Update...
Gave this some thought over an hour or so - one or two tweaks
and

this is completed

On the easel

....still drying enough to move without disturbing the paint

(in other words, me putting my fingers on wet paint) !!!

"I CAN SEE CLEARLY NOW"

Oil on canvas 

16" x 16"  (40 x 40cm)

Currently this one is on the easel,

but I reckon it's done

(from photo reference : thanks Lil @EMHydePhotography)

"SCOT FREE"

8" x 8"  (20 x 20cm)

on canvas