Blank Canvas

15-03-2010

Recently I took up painting as the lady friend had gotten me an easel and oil paints and canvas and brushes for my birthday. Being a bit on the arty side of things it was a damn good present.

But for me it was something entirely new. I hated painting in school (although that may have been as a result of the Art teacher suggesting stupid things that ruined a perfectly good picture) and as a result had no real practise with mixing colours or working with layers and drying and the likes.

In fact this extended into my adult drawing life. I would stick with pencil pictures and sketches and use computers afterwards to colour the image in. A combination of being pure lazy (god bless bucket fill) and having the ability to undo a mistake in colour if I didn't like it.

This time painting would be different. For a start I had a cool new easel to use, but also because I was doing it for myself. There was no exams at the end, no input from a washed up artist. It was all done how I liked it.

I really messed up the first canvas.

What began as a interesting picture of a landscape became in part me learning how to use oil paints for the first time. From the thinning of the paint correctly to realising that if you make a mistake you have to either wipe it off the canvas or let it dry and paint over it, the whole picture became a learning exercise.

Now, the lady friend maintains that she actually likes the first picture (which was completed last night) but to me it just doesn't look anything like I wanted it to be. Bits that started off so well now don't look right and I am sure my perspective angles are all over the place.

Lucky for me I was given two blank canvas on my birthday. So I can now let the first, wasted, one sit in a bedroom never to see the light of day again. While I start on the next.

I have actually wanted to start the next painting for a few weeks now. I spent more time preparing for it. I sketched out in my pad the basic idea, then a more detailed one. I had decided that I wouldn't just put paint to canvas and would instead outline using charcoal this time.

Last night I started on the new picture and already I am more happy with the few bits I have done than the entire last painting turned out. I changed how I use the paints for a start. There is no thinning of them this time unless I want to darken or lighten an area. I have the image marked out. Overall I reckon this painting will finish up better than the last one.

I even started to keep a photo log of the painting from blank canvas with the intention of taking a picture after every night's work on it. Once I have the whole thing done I will upload the images for folks to see.

As for the other painting? Who wants to buy an original J. E. Ster work of Art? Only five thousand euro, or nearest offer.

=EDIT=

Since I was waiting on some machines to install in work I figured I might as well upload the pictures I took last night. Quality is poor because they are from my phone, but sure what can you do.



Blank canvas, soon to be destroyed by my "talent".

Charcoal used to mark out a rough of the image, based off a sketch in my pad.

Painted in the horns of the bulls and was happy with the result.

Blue_jester

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