A Slice of Sunlight Warms the Front Porch

Jim's Front Porch, oil on paper, 6 75 x 8.75

This is a view of our friend Jim's front porch.  I accompanied my husband Dean this morning when he went to cut the grass at Jim's house. 

The sun was shining just right on the front porch. Long thin slivers of light were dancing across the cool concrete.

I've been trying out a new type of surface. It's called Arches Oil Paint Paper. It's really cool. I watched a short you tube video on how to use this special oil paint paper and thought I would give it a try. No priming or gesso required. All I did was tear off a smaller piece from the large 20 x30 sheet and tape it to a board. 

Pros on Arches Oil Paint Paper: 
- fast set-up
- easy to block in larger shapes by using less pigment and more turpentine

Cons:
- very difficult to layer lights over darks

Perhaps I wasn't using the best brush for layering but the lighter colors wouldn't sit on top and they would absorb quickly into the background. That's when I decided to pick up my palette knife and apply the paint like frosting! It was fun! If I didn't like an area I would just scrape it off and start again. By the time I was done the light had shifted but it felt good to be outside painting plein air again.

Yes, I agree, this is a much different style then what I've done in the past... but it looks like the winds of change are blowing! And I'm feeling much more courageous these days!

I would love your feedback on this new style... just leave a comment below.
with much gratitude,
Linda

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