Working up a storm.... Wave

I am working hard in the studio and so wanted to change the challenge and force issues much further than I have so far. I love the idea of the wave study, and wanted to create a much larger version of the wave and this time add Gulls into the mix.

I carefully prepared a 20" x 30" canvas in anticipation, that red is so strong. I set up the study and set off on this new journey. Mixing the primaries I remembered parts from the study and used that information in the new work.

The result is below.

 

The Wave 

20" x 30" oil on canvas

The larger version is unified and cohesive. I have been able to transfer all the freshness, vibrancy, colour and harmony from the sketch into this final piece. You will notice that there are still no gulls in this painting. I honestly cannot make up my mind. I just love the statement this work is making without them. I will do something else I feel with gulls, or add them here later if I decide to.

I have added the study again below

Study

I am so hooked on working in this way I have put all my many other pigments away and only upon rare occasions will they see the light of day again.

I do hope you have enjoyed these recent posts and my new work, if so please feel free to leave me feedback, here or on my email.

Best wishes

Paul

A Boat Study

This is the second image of using a limited palette.

Dungeness Relic II

Oil on canvas   10" x 12"

The other aspect of this new approach to my work is that I am working on a bright Cadmium Red ground.

So loud I need sunglasses on before I start! Not all new images are completed this way, but in this single regard I am having so much fun. Some aspects of the red are left to show through and add further harmony linking the structure of the composition.

New images

I have often been trying to limit my palette and found it difficult at times, no great excuses except I had for many years demonstrated for many art companies at various venues. This allowed me access to their respective colour ranges to play with. So I did, but to a degree being spoiled in this way made things rather difficult. Colour mixing becomes an issue of laziness and paintings although good, often lack some degree of harmony.

I have also often, and still do, paint on a coloured or tinted ground, I often dislike painting off of white. There is nothing wrong with it, but I love to establish my light and dark values rather early on. I therefore use the colour as a basic mid tone.

Well all that said and done, I have gone off the deep end and WOW! so glad that I have. Check out the study below.

 

This study is 10" x 13" oil on canvas called the 'Westerly at Hythe '

When I say I have gone off the deep end, I have seriously restricted my palette to the primaries and a white. I have restricted myself to six colours before, never three. For the first time I am having to make hard decisions as I paint, colour mixing and elaborating upon the vocabulary I am able to draw upon.

The final effect is awesome as I have achieved all that I set out to do, the harmonies run through and unite the whole image. I was going to explore gulls in the image, but have delayed that for the moment.

I do hope you like this image.

My Latest Wildlife image

It has been a good while since I last posted anything on here or on Facebook, then you'll find just like a London Double Decker Bus several all come at once. I have been very busy playing catch up since Christmas having had an unusual last quarter to 2010. That said, I have been painting very hard and as a result delayed posting anything on here until there was something worthy to show and say.

 

This is my latest wildlife image to come out of the studio. An oil on canvas measuring 100cm x 80cm

The title is

'Heed My Warning'

It depicts a black Rhino at the prelude to a charge when any warnings taken lightly would end in a potential charge. In doing this I wanted to add a sense of action and drama by adding the Cattle Egrets. Their disturbance by the Rhino's action evoke that feeling I hope.

The title also has a double meaning relating to the ongoing threat to the Black Rhino's survival in the wild.

Lastly I am endeavouring to monitor the traffic on my blogs so please if you read this would you be so kind as to leave a little comment at the end, it would help greatly and thank you in advance. 

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Best wishes as always

Paul