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You are here: Home / Archives for oil painting

Painting, Masks, & The Letter T

May 19, 2021 at 9:36 am by Claudia

The gorgeous weather continues. It’s going to get warmer, into the eighties, which is a bit too warm for my taste. We’ll be putting in the bedroom window a/c unit later today because that upstairs bedroom gets warm at night.

In case you ever see a missing letter “t” on this blog it’s because my keyboard T is hardly working, which means I’ll have to visit the Apple store soon. It’s annoying, to put it mildly. It gets a bit better as the computer warms up, but I almost always have to hit it 3 times before it works. (Now, after typing this post, it’s working well. Go figure.)

A frustrating painting session yesterday. Nothing seemed to be working, I couldn’t mix the colors I wanted, I didn’t like the way it looked. So, my second attempt was not a happy experience. Don, as always, brought me back to reality and reminded me that I’ve barely started this journey. It’s all about learning. I do watch some teaching videos and they help me with the basics. I just have to go for it and experiment and see what works and what doesn’t. I was feeling sorry for myself, but thankfully, that is over. I’m going to do a couple of small studies today on paper. Start small.

I watered everything yesterday; grass seed, morning glory and zinnia seeds, all the potted plants on and off the porch. I have gently urged Don to water the grass seed today…we’ll see if he remembers.

I’m really enjoying my reread of Nine Coaches Waiting  by Mary Stewart. I haven’t read it in many years. Such a wonderful sophisticated romantic mystery by the Queen of that genre. I read a chunk of it every night before I go to sleep. What would I have done without Mary Stewart in my teens? I specifically remember a car trip with my parents to visit old friends who lived in New Jersey. I fell asleep while reading The Ivy Tree  and my mom removed the open book from my hands when she came in to check on me.

Gov. Cuomo has gone along with the recommendations of the CDC as of today, although individual stores can set their own policies. Oblong Books, for example, is requiring masks until sometime in June, partly to ensure the safety of staff members who haven’t been fully vaccinated yet, as well as for children and the immunocompromised. Don’s going to the grocery store this morning, so we’ll see if they still require them. No masks for those who are fully vaccinated, but you know that those who refuse to be vaccinated will also not wear masks, and there’s no way to check on that unless you require those who are fully vaccinated to show their card upon entering the store. Anyway, both Don and I have decided we will continue to wear masks indoors (in a public setting.) I was talking to our next-door neighbor the other day and they are also continuing to wear masks indoors – and each of them had COVID early, in February/March of 2020.

I don’t love it, but I surely don’t mind wearing a mask if it keeps myself and others safe. No big deal.

Okay. Another attempt at painting in oils on the docket for today.

Stay safe.

Happy Wednesday.

Filed Under: books, oil painting, painting, reading 32 Comments

My Dad’s Paintbox

May 13, 2021 at 10:13 am by Claudia

A little tour for you of my dad’s paintbox, with some commentary here and there:

The back, where the hinges are, has some duct tape on it – just two pieces. It must have seemed a bit rickety, so Dad secured it.

The top tray.

A bottle of linseed oil that leaked long ago. It’s now permanently attached to the wood. I tried to loosen it and it’s not budging.

Character.

The bottom tray. He had lots of brushes, some of which are unused, palette knives, big brushes for priming the canvas, I expect, and lots of oil paint.

Winsor and Newton has been going strong for a long time. My oils are made by Winsor and Newton, and so are Dad’s.

I remember Grumbacher paints and brushes. They’re still being sold today.

Dad’s palette and a Grumbacher brush.

Now I remember dad occasionally watching Bob Ross on PBS.

I think the box itself is a work of art. Well used tubes of paint, brushes, solvents, cleaners, paint marks – it’s all lovely to me.

It was airing out on the funky patio all day yesterday. I’m going to do it again today. Hopefully, that musty smell (which isn’t all that bad) will dissipate.

Some of the brushes are new, still in the package, so I might use them. Or I might just leave everything as is in homage to my dad, who found peace through painting, a respite from the demons that sometimes plagued him.

I’m so honored to have it here at the cottage.

Love you, Daddy.

Happy Thursday.

Filed Under: Dad, oil painting 44 Comments

The First Attempt

May 12, 2021 at 9:45 am by Claudia

Yesterday afternoon, I decided to jump in and give oil painting a try. I printed out several photos from my photo library – landscapes I thought might work – set up my little studio on the kitchen table, and jumped in.

It ain’t easy and I have much to learn.

But I’m fairly pleased with the result, considering that I have never painted in this form. Furniture for the dollhouse? Yes. Furniture for my real house? Yes. But that’s it.

I’m forcing myself share this process as I explore this entirely new world. I posted this on IG as well.

This is a scene in the English countryside, from a photo taken when Don and I were on the train heading to Edinburgh.

Don, who is my biggest supporter, was raving about it. I think he had no idea what I might or might not come up with! He thinks I can do anything, God bless him.

I didn’t know it, but he was sneaking around taking photos of me while I was painting.

I am aware that my palette is messy. Other painters seem to be much more organized than I was this first time out! I changed some elements of the photo, and not necessarily on purpose. I was simply allowing myself to be and discover.

The studio annex – in the kitchen. The kitchen gets the best light in the house. Our studio upstairs doesn’t really get any good light until late in the afternoon. Luckily, Don loves seeing creative works-in-progress in the kitchen. I don’t know if you remember, but my very first dollhouse rehab took place entirely in this kitchen.

I stashed some of my supplies in the old soda crate. If this new endeavor sticks, I’ll buy a tabletop easel, but for now, this little box/easel seems to work fine.

And, at the end of the day as we were doing the dinner dishes, who should appear but Alan, our UPS driver, with a big box containing my dad’s paintbox! It’s musty smelling and one of the compartments has a bottle of linseed oil that leaked decades ago and is now a permanent part of the box. I’m thrilled it’s here. I’ll take some photos of it today. It was too dark last night.

Okay. I have to add some top soil, sow some seeds, water the indoor plants, and do some weeding. That involves going to the shed, which is right next to the robin’s nest, and the protective dad keeps yelling at us and chases us all the way back to the house.

Stay safe.

Happy Wednesday.

Filed Under: birds, Dad, Don, oil painting 60 Comments

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Welcome!

Welcome!

I live in a little cottage in the country with my husband. It's a sweet place, sheltered by old trees and surrounded by gardens. The inside is full of the things we love. I love to write, I love my camera, I love creating, I love gardening. My decorating style is eclectic; full of vintage and a bit of whimsy.

I've worked in the theater for more years than I can count. I'm currently a voice, speech, dialect and text coach freelancing on Broadway, off Broadway, and in regional theater.

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