Art experiments - oils!

[amberdreams]

I got some Gamblin oil paints for my birthday, so I spent some time on the day having a play around with them. I'm not entirely sure what I think of them yet but they are easier to use than I'd used to think - the brushes do seem to get reasonably clean just using linseed oil, so not having to bother with turps or white spirit is a big plus for me.

So on my birthday I tried Jensen on some naff watercolour paper I wasn't too bothered about. I put a layer of non absorbent acrylic gesso on it first - burnt sienna, which is a gorgeous colour, but then got covered up when I started painting. 😂

I know the drawing isn't right but I'm not going to come back to it, it's just a practice piece after all.

I do like the colours.
This is the painting while in progress with the background gesso showing, which also shows even more clearly why the drawing was out of whack!

Then today I thought I'd try another painting, this time in my stone paper sketchbook. Having seen a proper painter using this on Youtube, I knew there was no need to prepare the surface, so this is painted straight onto the paper. I'm wondering how long it will take to dry!

It's a bit smaller than A4 size

I did this sketch first to work out the crop I wanted from the reference photo by @tinozavrus on Instagram, who has the most beautifully lit and composed photos of her young daughter - well worth checking out. None of these are meant to be an accurate portrait!

Comments

[midnightsilvers.livejournal.com]

Oh they are beautiful! I haven’t tried any oils and I always mean to. I love the textures and the vibrancy you have here. So rich and full of life. Love it!
Hope you had a wonderful birthday 👍🏻🎉

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Oh thank you!
I've always held back from trying them because I thought it was all too messy and fussy, and it is a bit, compared to — say — watercolours — but not as bad as I'd thought. I'm not sure how much I'll carry on and do because the linseed oil is still a bit difficult to clean up after but so far I've only used such small amounts it's not too bad. The palette cleans up nicely just using oil and a rag...
I got a set of Gamblin oils from Jacksons in the sale — SO much cheaper than trying to buy individual colours! But looking at the replacement cost of a single tube from this set — wowser. A single 37ml tube cadmiium red light for £26 !!! Big nope. I'd have to be seriously in love with painting in oil to carry on and replace what I have, even if some other colours are cheaper than that....😂 (The set was £67 for 12 37ml tubes, which is much more doable).

[midnightsilvers.livejournal.com]

Yep, it’s the prep and clean up time that makes me hesitant. I already have to hear myself up to deal with acrylic 🤷🏻‍♂️😄 but glad to hear that it’s not totally insurmountable. And you do have wonderful effects there. But yep those definitely sound a bit pricey. Still it’s awesome to know you have the option if the mood strikes 🙌🏼😄

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Acrylic is definitely manageable — I use a Wilko snap lid lunchbox thing as a palette so the paint squeezed into there stays wet for ages plus you can just snap the lid on and put the thing away. Plus of course the bonus of being able to wash brushes in soap and water, and the paint drying so quickly.

[fairyniamh]

I like them all... but I love the sketch. I dunno, I just feel... more from it. Does that make sense?

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Perfect sense! Sometimes looser is better. 💕

[tsuki-no-bara.livejournal.com]

i love the second one — it's so pretty! the sketch is too. and jensen is always gorgeous, altho he looks kind of angular (i guess that's the word i want) in your painting. it's the shadows, they're kind of sharp. i really like it, tho. and the colors are so good.

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Thank you!
Yes, Jensen's kind of fell apart under the paint — the drawing underneath was more him. LOL

[kribban.livejournal.com]

These are so beautiful; especially the last one with the pink/red colors!

Jensen seems to have lost a bit of weight in the last couple of years; his face is a lot narrower, which I think your portrait of him captures really well.

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Aw thanks muchly!