While something self-induced and self-defeating (where have we seen this before?) hurtles toward this nation, it’s been an escape to join others to learn how to paint with oils.
Illustration: “Studio practice,” Oil on canvas by Black Elephant Blog author (2018)
We tackle with brushes and paints all kinds of planes, or surfaces, under all kinds of light with usually limited palettes. For the unfinished painting here the colors were titanium white, yellow ochre, ultramarine blue, and burnt sienna (on a raw umber underpainting).
Illustration: Studio still life setup
It’s great to lose oneself in such challenges if only for an evening. It’s also great to be with 15 other people similarly motivated to learn oil painting under the guidance of a great teacher.
Later with a drizzly day providing an excuse to stay inside, I touched up the painting done originally in class. In the process, I used some linseed oil for the first time, to help draw some narrow lines and also to experiment with creating a sheen.
Illustration: “Stack of Books”, oil on canvas by Black Elephant Blog author (2018)
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