Monday 5 November 2012

WIP Spirit of the Storm

"Spirit of the Storm" is the name I am giving this image. It was originally going to be a "sky" piece, but the background now reminds me of the first images we were shown of Hurricane Sandy reaching the East coast. You couldn't see where the sky stopped and the waves began, and could just make out the rolling layers as they broke against each other.
On the 16th of October I had a play with some water-mixable oil paints, and now I thought it was time to see how stable they are :D
First I sprayed the canvas with water, and blotted (and rubbed) the surface with kitchen paper...

I had to rub quite hard to get even a trace of paint off the surface! So the paint had set extremely well in just 3 weeks!

I then tried "pulling" paint off by using a very wet brush....nothing happened...so I used a very stiff dry brush to attack the paint...it did scrape a bit off, but I am impressed by the amount of staying power these cheap Reeves water-mixable oils have :D

So now to work on the canvas proper. I drew straight onto the painted surface with an Eye-ball pen...and it worked fine, and dried quickly.

Used a double outline to emphasise the figure...

and used a white Sakura gel pen to make little dots. This took slightly longer to dry than normal, but I am only talking minutes.
Not sure where this image is going...I am trying to learn from my friend Donna Parker, and show some patience with my work (let's see how long it takes before I crack and attack this in a rush lol)
Enjoy :D XXX
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10 comments:

  1. Great experiment with the oils, might have to try them. I just love the background and can see the inspiration for it. Do you actually need to go on and do more?
    hugs {brenda} xox

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    1. Don't know...can't see it with more, yet some how it feels incomplete :S

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  2. I really like how this one is turning out! :)

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  3. I love how the entire image seems like a halo. And those shades of blue for the sky and the ocean mixture? Fantastic!

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  4. Great deep look to it already!... I spend a lot of time just staring at my canvas just to imagine what next, but the water colors i go at quickly,

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  5. This is stunning Gina! She truly looks like a Spirit! The poor paint! You really gave it a beating! LOL! Hugs ;o)

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  6. I've never worked with water soluble oils - does it have a very different feel to work with? Silly Girl ... we all have our own way of working. I envy you your productivity. I just can't seem to move it that fast with these women I'm doing. Certainly a change from landscapes. I LOVE your work -- don't change a thing. hugs, Donna

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    1. They seem much lighter to work with...like a guache, and there is hardly any smell to them which is a big advantage to me....no headache :D

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  7. What a piece! Love the background!

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