Ongoing Work...Some more progress shots.

Here are a few more shots showing progress on my current painting. This painting is 16" x 20" and I really want to get it up to that next level so am putting in the time. I really want it to evoke that 'anything is possible feeling' we have each Spring when the days get longer. So the atmosphere, light etc. have to be just right.

I am using viridian green, titanium white, raw umber, cobalt blue, cadmium yellow and hints of other colours, cadmium orange and medium green light, to create various colour mixes.

Each of the shots above are a few hours apart. How long does it take to paint an average size painting? That's something I have been pondering for the last while. I guess it all depends on how good you are at planning, choosing the right colour mixes first time and avoiding all the errors which make us have to redo an area of the work. To this end I have been researching other artists who are painting somewhat similar subject matter to me. Currently I spend between 10-30 hours on paintings between 12"x 16" to 16"x 20". I am now realising it doesn't really matter so much how long it takes. What is more important and will pay back all extra time involved is to take whatever length of time needed to paint a work to the best possible quality. That is what hopefully will produce a second look from the viewers and lead to more recognition. So I am researching technique and brushwork and hope that I can put what I learn into practice. Also I am trying to be more disciplined in painting regularly. When I drew portraits in pencil, I found that as I kept drawing, after a few weeks I was getting more 'fluid' at drawing. I was getting it right quicker and first time with no mistakes in the likeness I was trying to draw. I hope it will be the same as I begin to paint with more regularity. Regular followers of this blog, feel free to comment if you can see an improvement hopefully in my work. I sure hope my efforts will begin to bear fruit. Hopefully I can focus and not to rest on my laurels over the following while. That's it for now. The next post might be a revisit to poetry corner. I think it's about due...