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

"To do or not to do..."

That is the question.

Across the pond...in Kansas,

one of my landscape paintings has found a home.

Rita Guile, painter and online friend saw my

picture on Instagram after I shared it.

She asked the price but 

I said it was not for sale as it hangs in my home.

Then I had an idea...

I suggested she used the image for making her own print.

The framed picture above now lives in her home.

'Autumn Hedgerow'

Oils on watercolour paper 

I am delighted she sent me a photo of her print in its frame.

However,

Back to the question...

do I make limited edition prints from my landscapes?

Maybe I should.

I shall give it some thought.

'Grey Coast'

Oils on canvas board

Another landscape from my collection.

Perhaps it would be suitable as a print. 

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Here are some small oil paintings available from 

my studio...

That's all for now...

thank you for visiting.

https://lincolnshireartistssociety.com/artists-studio/

www.wildartdesigns.com

Sun and shadow.

Temporary shadow....

This shadow appeared on my painting

one morning whilst I was having my breakfast.

It caught my eye and I was inspired to capture it on camera.  

A while later it had gone as the early sun moved.

The initial delight of the spontaneous dark area

stayed with me though...and I wondered 

about adding it to my painting.

Here is the picture as it is...

'Red mist rising'

Oils and cold wax medium on canvas 

Time moved on and I forgot about the idea.

Looking at it now, I shall leave it alone.

Maybe I can make something similar to include the shape.

I saw this quote today on Facebook...

For me, this quote is very apt.

Mistakes are littered all over my workplace.

Sometimes I do keep one...or two 🤔🎨🎨

More by accident than design I admit.

My initial reaction is to scrap anything I am not happy with and

6 paintings are gathering mildew in an old potting shed.

I wondered if I would return to rework them but 

the natural rotting process is now taking its toll.

Reworking can bring forth another painting of value.

Here is one I made recently...

'Sweet cool air'

Oils and cold wax medium on canvas 

It was a leap of faith as there is always an element of regret.

The original picture below had been in an exhibition 

and received an award.

'Through the veil' 

This first one had lots of suggested pots and vessels 

in the centre, scratched and drawn into the paint.  

The texture remains in the new painting with

 a faint outline here and there but the painting 

lost the busy detail.   It now has a sense of calm.

I like it a lot.   

Returning to my blog title...

'Sun and shadow'

Here is the sun...which highlights the shadows.

No painting can do justice to the art of nature.

(In my opinion)

Before I go...here is a link to the 

Lincolnshire Artists' Society website.

There is a new page featuring work from some Artists' Studios.

https://lincolnshireartistssociety.com/artists-studio/

That's all for now...

Until next time

Thank you for visiting.

https://www.wildartdesigns.com/

Opposites attract

Autumn v Spring

Red and green...

The opposites on the colour wheel

are complementary.

Both colours are around me in my garden and farmland.

Bright spring green is a carpet of new sown crops

whilst reds in berries and leaves are the autumn curtains.

The painting began quite differently...

it was mainly blue and a splash of yellow.

This didn't last long however,

as I wanted to remove the yellow.

Deciding green was the best way to go

I mixed a pile of paint.

That got the yellow out of the way.

I could have stopped there but after that it all got ugly

as the painting was overworked and going rapidly downhill.

Time to leave it.

Next day I must have been inspired by

the sun on all the autumn finery.

It was time to go red.

Enough of the green.

The canvas was turned round and layers

of reds were rolled on with a brayer.

Some green was left to remind me of the fields.

Here is the painting drying on the table.

'Autumn on my mind'

Oils and cold wax medium on 24 x 24 inch canvas 

Thank you for visiting...

www.wildartdesigns.com