I didn't think it was possible, but yes I am. Since coming back from Florence I knew that oil painting was not something I could just put on the back burner for another year. It's fun, it's messy, it's meditative, and it's just plain beautiful. Simply pulling all my tubes and palette closer, and sitting down to start mixing the paint is an exciting prospect. When I do this I know I'm ready to focus and get into the rhythm & swoosh & click of the palette knife.
That said, my easel is still AWOL and due to the pandemic, I can't just hop over to the nearest art store and pick up some canvases. But hey, I have more than a lifetime's worth of watercolor paper. Can I use that?
It turns out that yes, plenty of artists actually paint in their sketchbooks! One tub of plain white gesso later (and a paintbrush I dug up from the closet from when we once painted a shelf) I've got plenty of sheets primed and ready to go.
Of course, I'm not using this with "serious" subjects because I'm working on a drawing board on my lap, but it's perfect for training the eye and learning how to execute on value and color.
Sketches for sale
Thanks to the ease of working with paper, I'm eager to release these sketches for purchase. They're primarily still lifes so if this strikes your fancy, I've added this option under the Extras section. I truly hope the joy I feel in each creation comes through to you.
Much more to come in 2021, but in the meantime have a very Happy New Year and thank you to my early supporters who put their faith in me!