It’s always a good day in the studio!
The Strada Easel challenge has come to a close. Now the challenge is to keep going so I added color to the original oil sketch and post it as a followup. It isn't finished nor for sale, but I will be starting new images on materials that are better suited to be for sale.
Thanks again for following along.
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| Porcelain Tea Strainer Color Study - NFS 5.25 x 6.5 oil on canvas sheet ©2023 |
Day 31 #stradaeasel
This is the final day of the Strada Easel Challenge and I'm feeling both relieved (because I succeeded painting each day) as well as sad that it's over (because it helped keep me engaged with my painting).
Now the real challenge begins to keep it going. I'm getting my 'see legs' again and it is wonderful.
I plan to follow up with this little sketch and add color.
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| Porcelain Tea Strainer Sketch 5.25 x 6.5 oil on canvas sheet ©2023 |
Day 30 #stradaeasel
Wanted to try this tea pot in color, so I went for it. The design on the teapot is pretty detailed and the painting shows only the impression when my eyes area blurred. I will do this several more times to see how I might improve on the detail without going crazy or overworking it. All in all, I'm happy I tried and have no problem with the result at this stage.
I see where to improve on it, and that's what counts when doing studies.
It may seem odd that I have posted everyday this month and none have been for sale. The whole exercise it to help myself establish good habits as I work on my skills and prepare to do completed paintings that will be for sale soon.
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| Tetsukyusu Tea Pot Color Study 5.25 x 7.5 Oil on canvas sheet ©2023 |
Day 29 #stradaeasel
Decided to revisit the Tetsukyusu Tea Pot. It's so beautiful in person that I'm determined to figure out the best way to paint it and do it justice. Starting with a drawing and an oil value sketch is always my way of exploring and getting familiar with a subject that seems difficult to translate into paint. I also like studying the values.
Note to self: I must start earlier in the day to begin working on a painting.
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| Tetsukyusu - Oil Sketch 5.25 x 7.5 Oil on canvas sheet ©2023 |
Day 28 #stradaeasel
Another flower grouping. I'm feeling less stressed about the results in my studies. There's definitely more work that could be done to call it finished, but the freshness is appealing. It may not show in the photo, but I'm getting better at seeing the values (I think).
I must also learn how to photograph paintings to reduce the glare. I like texture, but the little flecks are distracting to the actual brushwork.
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| Clay Pot with Dark Pink Daisies - Study 9 x 8 oil on canvas sheet ©2023 |
Day 27 #stradaeasel
Not feeling well today with headache and several problems to solve outside of painting today. I did manage to get something out, but I think it was more ambitious than it should have been under the circumstances. I had trouble harmonizing the colors I wanted to use, but I carried on so I could meet the challenge requirements. Only four days are left until the challenge is complete.
Something else I've been experimenting with is how I start a painting. It could be a charcoal sketch, it could be an oil sketch, or I might tone the entire canvas and wipe out areas or maybe I start with a spot of color and move over the canvas with other spots of color that are easy to recognize - this last one doesn't work well for me because I cannot judge the value, color, or temperature next to the value, color, or temperature of the next brush mark.
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| Tall Brass and Blossoms Unfinished 6 x 9 Oil on oil primed linen sheet ©2023 |
Day 26 #stradaeasel
Well I went for color today and almost scrapped the entire thing. Still might so I can do a better job. I've learned something new each day of the challenge and plan to select at least 6-8 of the paintings and start fresh when I don't have to have something posted everyday. Anyway this is the countdown week!
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| Teacup Color Study - NFS Oil on canvas sheet. ©2023 |
Day 25 #stradaeasel
Tool a break from full color today after working a long day, and decided to work on just values. Glad I did because it is easier to see drawing flaws. This could have been further simplified, but I really do enjoy the zen feeling I get when working with brush and oils.
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| Oil Sketch of Teacup 5 x 5 Oil on canvas sheet ©2023 |
Day 22 #stradaeasel
Yes, another apple, but decided to experiment with a palette knife. It isn't easy IMO if you still want to get any rounded edges. Nevertheless, it was a break in the routine and fun to try so I wasn't annoyed when I failed to get the perfect edge. I confess, I did use a small brush for smaller shapes in the blossom.
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| Apple with Blossom Palette Knife study - NFS Oil on 5 x 5 Canvas sheet |
Day 21 #stradaeasel
Today is an apple as you see - it's one of those things I always fall back on when I'm out of ideas and time. William F. Reese said when he was getting serious about becoming a full time artist, he started by painting an apple everyday until other ideas started to come to him. I admire that. I actually thought about doing an apple everyday in some form or arrangement, but was out of apples when the challenge started.
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| Apple and Blossom Study - NFS 5 x 5 Oil on canvas sheet ©2023 |
Day 11 #stradaeasel
This was not an easy task and one that will require a do-over, but I learned something from the effort.
Process on this one was rushed so I didn't make a grid before beginning - the vase is 2.5 in. in life, but in the painting it's 3.25 in. so keeping all the little facets in the vase in proportion was the challenge. If I'd done a drawing in conte' first to see what I could edit out and still do it justice might have made my life easier. The detail looks a little fussy and the flower is larger than I'd like, so it is another area that I'd like to take more time with now that I am familiar with the arrangement. I think it will go easier when I attempt it again.
Tomorrow will be a busy day, so I will choose something less detailed to paint.
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| Unfinished - NFS Keepsake Japanese Vase 6x6 Oil on Canvas Sheet ©2023 |
Day 7 #stradaeasel
Decided to try something a little different today, but will be going back to the tea pot later this month.
This had a similar concept to the previous oil sketches working with light and how the arrangements work with lighter-darker, warmer-cooler, and intensity-greyed color backgrounds and foregrounds.
What I love about this painting challenge is that I'm getting back into a rhythm and feel productive again.
I made it a whole week!!!
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| Unfinished - NFS Oval Pot with Orchid Oil on Canvas Sheet ©2023 |
Day 6 #stradaeasel
Had to work on this tea pot again and change it up a bit. I am happier with the result as it has more visual interest.
Remember when you were learning your alphabet, and had to repeat the letters over and over again? Well, that's what painting is like as you go through the learning process, and why I choose to repeat the same subjects with different arrangements, lighting, color, etc. It also allows me to get really familiar with an object that has difficult lines, angles and curves.
So while still unfinished, here is today's result.
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| Block in Unfinished - NFS Tea Pot with Rust Mum oil on canvas sheet ©2023 |
Day 5 #stradaeasel
This is a continuation exploring light with the Beige Tea Pot. I changed the background in preference to a higher contrast to the foreground subjects giving deeper shadows. Will continue with this one and push some of the color notes in the subject.
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| Unfinished Block in - NFS Beige Pot with Mum in Oil ©2023 |
Day 3 #stradaeasel
I'm diligently working on ellipses - and related oval forms. It's getting a little better to see the actual shape of the oval - it's symmetrical of course, yet my eyes are not set perfectly so I'm learning to compensate; and my steadiness of hand will improve as I practice. Viewing things backwards in a mirror helps too - a lot!
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| Unfinished Block in - NFS Ruby Red Vase ©2023 |
#stradaeasel
Day 2 #stradaeasel
I have to ponder a bit about how I've been trained to paint fast-Alla Prima, but actually prefer a slower more methodical approach as in a Direct Approach with a few layers, but not the Classical or Indirect painting that is highly technical. I love all three, but my temperament is somewhere in the middle.
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| Unfinished Block in - NFS Dried Hydrangea in Gold and Brown Vase Oil on Canvas Sheet ©2023 |
My painting discipline has been waning for awhile now so going to start the new year 2023 with the January strada.easel challenge to get back on track. Strada runs this challenge a couple times per year and gives away 5 easels of choice via a random drawing from the qualifying participants. The ruless must be followed by registering, posting a painting each day of the month, January 1-31.
These posts will be short and used as a means to share and record the activity. Paintings and drawings may or may not be finished. I will also be posting on instagram at #studio.campagna .
If interested in their product, you can visit Strada Easel at this link.
Day 1 #stradeeasel - Hot Chocolate - block in:
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| Unfinished Block in - NFS Hot Chocolate 6x8 Oil on Raymar Canvas Panel ©2023 |
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| Throwback Mannequin 6 x 8 Oil on Canvas Panel © 2016 |
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| Brassy Poppies 5 x 7 Oil on Canvas Panel Purchase Price $49.01 © 2016 |
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| Lazy Orchid Blooms 8 x 6 Oil on Canvas Panel © 2016 |
