Making a fresh start.

Greetings from my Studio 

Happy New Year 2021

'Great Expectations'

Oils and cold wax medium 

on 12 x 12 inch Ampersand panel

This painting came about from a rescue...

I had scraped off a disaster and allowed the panel to dry.

Here are two panels ready for re-painting.

The one on the left is how 'Great Expectations'

looked before I began working.

I started by scribbling some marks with oil bars 

to loosen up, then applied layers of oils and cold wax.

Mark-making is always intuitive as I tease out

a composition.   I aim for harmony and balance.

The history of the original piece was revealed 

when I scraped back with a rubber squeegee.

Some of the scribbles are showing.

I put it in a simple black float frame.

Keeping warm...

The studio is a chilly place to work but my

wood burner stove is cheerful on a winter's day.

My painting sessions are short.

I am excited about this next painting..

It began as I used some leftover oils from a previous work.

Some random marks and a final

swift scrape from left to right signalled 'done'.

Fortunately, I set it aside to dry.

It really shows how less can be more.

Thinking about it...

I am reminded of the lush sea grasses on

Lincolnshire's coastal marshes.

'Sea of the Grass'

Oils and cold wax medium on 12 x 12 inch canvas 

Now for a complete colour change.

Pink and violet blue.

The painting can be viewed from left or right.

'Lightness of Being'

Oils and cold wax medium on 

16 x 16 inch Ampersand cradled panel 

It is on an Ampersand cradled panel

which has a different feel to working on canvas.

The hard wood surface makes it easier to scrape layers 

without the risk of damaging the fabric.

Arches oil paper also makes a good surface for making marks.

I often tape down a sheet of paper as a 'loosening up' exercise.

Here is a new sheet of 12 x 20 inch Arches oil paper.

This morning I taped off into 6 parts

with some spontaneous scribbles.

These will most likely get covered up under

layers of paint.   It's just for fun really.

If they look suitable I cut them to use as greetings cards.

My messy table...

Just to show you,

A 12 x 20 inch panel drying before the next move...

at this present time I haven't yet decided 

where I shall go with it.  

 It's in what I call the 'ugly stage'.

That's fine though.

It's the nature of my work.

I am happy with that. 

Finally..

Here is a digital doodle.

I made it on top of a photo of my recent disaster.

If I was clever...

I would paint this 🎨

Actually, I might do that,

Success not guaranteed.

Until next time,

thank you for visiting.

Click on the link below to visit my website 

www.wildartdesigns.com

Peace and happiness

From Wild at Heart Studio 

to all my friends...

HAPPY CHRISTMAS 

Thank you for reading my Blogs

Before I go,

here is a recently finished work.

This has been in the studio for several months

and I felt it was a little bland.

It needed a touch of darkness.

Something to harmonise yet add impact.

Using a mix of Burnt Sienna and Prussian blue

I added the dark marks in a random way 

giving the picture a dramatic feeling,

reminiscent of a shorescape.

'Weathered Shore'

Oils and cold wax medium on 16x16 inch canvas

Another recent painting in similar colours.

'Parting Ways'

Oils and cold wax medium on 12x12 inch canvas

Finally...

A little painting from several years ago...

it went to a new home.

I like the soft, subtle colours

and loose brush marks.  

Oils on 8x8 inch canvas board

All for now...

until next time 

thank you for visiting.

www.wildartdesigns.com

Back to red.

My adventures with paint.

'Running Red'

The running has taken a new route...

Something about this painting bothered me.

It wasn't a 'bad' painting but I wanted to

soften the hard red line on the right.

Also, the canvas was divided into three parts

on the right side which is not a good composition.

So, out with the old and on with the new.

I mixed some dark red with cadmium orange 

plus cold wax and Liquin medium.

It was a lovely spreading consistency for spreading 

and squeegeeing over my canvas.

It began to have a rippled effect 

with darker parts here and there.

I could have left it there as a monochrome work...

then I decided to mix some yellow with cold wax.

Using my large palette knife I swooshed

the oils and wax lightly across the surface.

A random mark.

The markings took me by surprise

as the paint clung to raised texture.

 I resisted the urge to tinker.  

It reminds me of quickly spreading thick butter on toast,

I shall title it 'Red and Butter'.

'Red and Butter'

Oils and cold wax medium on 24 x 36 inch canvas 

I have another one to show you...

A painting from 2016

After re-working this several times this year,

 it wasn't coming together for me.

(Traces of the original remain in this photo).

It rested in the studio for months 

as I was unsure of what I wanted to do.

Monday was definitely a green paint day...

I mixed far too much so out came this canvas

again to use up what was left on my palette.

I added and subtracted layer after layer.

Scraped and smoothed, scribbled and scratched.

Some cobalt blue touches for spice.

This was the result at the end of the day...

I could have stopped here.

But I didn't.

Today I edited out parts and simplified others.

finishing with a swoosh of lighter, brighter green. 

Here is the final cut...

'Glorious Green'

Reminiscent of swirling sea grasses

as the tide is turning.

Oils and cold wax medium on 20 x 20 inch canvas 

All for now,

until next time 

thank you for visiting.

www.wildartdesigns.com

All is not lost.

When it all goes downhill...

the only way is up.

Yesterday this painting was relaxing

and all was well in the workshop.

It began life with a red under painting, 

followed by black and dark red.

Here is the canvas on the left.

After some work it looked like this.

Green became the dominant colour

and I added yellow to top left.

Some scraping and scratching 

gave the piece a landscape feeling.

It was left to dry a little.

Today I decided there was too much

going on, making the picture busy.

An application of Gamsol loosened the paint 

allowing me to squeegee the surface.

I took away the circular marks and added more greens

with touches of blue and turquoise.

The inevitable happened...I had overworked it.

Oh well, 'stuff happens'.

I rubbed it over with a cloth and then

stood back to see my disaster.

On second thoughts maybe the painting can be saved.

I look forward to seeing it in the morning.

All for now.

Thank you for visiting 

www.wildartdesigns.com

Making waves.

Jumping right in...

Playtime with a digital doodle.

When I want to rework a painting 

it often helps to take a photograph 

and add a few random marks and colours. 

It's just for fun.

I probably won't do this.

Here is the painting which is in progress.

I like the dark near the orange which 

gives a 'skyline'.

The touch of blue is different...

it adds a little spice.

This was the work before I began...

It had already been repainted but I 

cannot remember what was under the paint.

I do like the orange with the turquoise so 

I might put some back when I start work.

Next time I hope to bring you the results.

Friday finishing day...

Here it is.

Time to let it rest and dry.

Discovered 

Oils and cold wax medium on 24 x 24 inch canvas 

Update...

It's back to the beginning.

Something wasn't right so I painted over it!

Here is part of the work in new progress.

I added more yellow with a touch of red.

I have no idea what will happen next.

Watch this space...

Another piece is on the table.

It's gone from this...

To this...

Oils and cold wax medium on canvas.

I like the shapes and marks.

Some Galkyd and Gamsol were used to make

a glaze and also soften the layers for scraping.

Again...the work is drying ready for the next stage.

Thank you for visiting.

www.wildartdesigns.com

All change

When stop turns to go...

Band of gold

This painting has gone off the rails.

Two paintings were drying in the studio 

and I went back today to inspect them.

Tempted to fiddle, it all went downhill.

Band of gold has had to go.

Not in the reject pile, 

just over-painted with dark red and blue.

It can dry now and I shall begin again another time. 

Accidents do happen.

I am a little disappointed but now it's time to move on.

Better progress...

This next painting has had better fortune.

('High in the sky')

I wanted to brighten and straighten 

the red curve on the left.  

With a squeegee I spread a lighter red with a little orange

and rolled it lightly with my brayer.

This has simplified the composition,

taken away some energy and

given the piece a relaxed feeling.

No need to say more...

it can have a rest.

'Running Red'

Oils and cold wax on 20 x 30 inch canvas 

When I near completion of a picture I usually take a photograph.

Seeing the image on my iPad can highlight 

things I probably want to change.

Editing the image on a screen, turning it around

and checking the values is also a useful exercise.  

Sometimes returning to the work another day...

the first glance can send a message.

Here are the two canvases after the first under-painting.

This gave them a warm glow.

All for now...

I shall return to the other canvas tomorrow.

Thank you for visiting

Winter walking.

A bright frosty morning in my wild garden

Rosebay Willowherb 

Gently relaxing

Visit my website...

wildartdesigns.com

Feel the warmth

Taking the red road...

Piling on the layers, and not just the winter woollies.

 This painting has several layers now.

In fact I cannot remember how it began.

This is part of the fun of painting.

Pulling out the stops

Oils and cold wax medium on canvas 

This picture can be viewed both ways.

I turned it around for this image.  

The canvas has been on a long journey

but today I reached that special moment

when I could finally say 'enough'.  

Here are two new paintings.

The under painting is red, then a dark layer on top.

Scraping gently with a squeegee I made swirling marks

revealing the lighter red beneath.

Finally, I gave a whoosh of bright red with a brayer.

High in the Sky

Oils and cold wax medium on canvas 

(The wet paint shines a little in my photo)

I used a similar process for this one.

Except I chose a deep yellow for the finish. 

I like them both.

In fact I shall leave them alone and 

resist the temptation to tamper.

Band of Gold 

Oils and cold wax medium on canvas 

Two of my greetings cards have arrived 'across the pond'.

They are made on Arches oil paper and mounted on card.

They travelled well with a piece of 

baking parchment to protect them.

Thats all for now...

Until next time.

Thank you for visiting.

www.wildartdesigns.com