Coral Rose Impressions

This painting is my demo from painting class this week where we are studying palette knife strokes, and what we can do with them.  Roses are perfectly suited for the knife, as each petal can be pulled from edge to center.  Everyone brought a selection of knifes, and I brought about 20.  I found three that I really liked their marks for use with the roses.  One of my very favorites was only good for stems and leaves, leaving a line too sharp for a rounded petal. It is so good to just pull out the knives and practice pulling paint with each one, using a disposable plate.  No pressure to think about "painting", because it is a plate!  Only the knife, paint and the stroke, because it's ALL about the process.  Painting number 1869 in 1869 days.

Along the Rose Path

Along the Rose Path
Oil on canvas, 6x9
purchase here

This is another study for a larger painting, probably 24x36.  I absolutely LOVE rose gardens, and the fabulous one in Shreveport, Louisiana is the inspiration for this painting.  Brushing on the masses with my favorite large brush, I then start early in the work with my palette knives.  Loose strokes reign supreme, and I am using the recent palette knife technique of pulling all petals towards the base for these small roses.  Grass and path get horizontal strokes, following the form of the land, and the trees are all willy nilly - as trees grow in that same fashion.  I have used some Gamblin radiants for this - lemon, magenta, blue and white.  I love the way they lay on top of all other colors - they are SO opaque.  This painting makes 927 in 927 days.

Salmon Roses

Salmon Roses
Oil on wood panel, 7x5
purchase here

I am working with my palette knives today - pushing and pulling them to get the most effective strokes.  I can see that I need a small, narrow one for getting in those small spots with paint.  I have two that are rounded on one side and flat on the other, and so far, I have not found a good use for them.  I gravitate towards the wedge shaped ones the most, and I am again sticking with the metal ones - giving them a chance, as my favorite knife has always been the plastic one!  I am loving how they define the petals of the rose - so thick and juicy!  Painting number 921 in as many days :)

Salmon Geraniums

Salmon Geraniums
Oil on wood panel, 7x5
sold

On this very, very busy day, I have squeezed in enough painting time to complete this little gem.  Using reference from Tuesday's plein air for the Tri County Art League, I have loosely painted this small panel with my oils.  Donna's salmon geraniums are a perfect subject for a quick paint - composition is easily done with a little zooming into the subject.  It is more pleasing with flowers running off three sides, more dramatic.  Painting number 873 in 873 days.  Stems starts tomorrow - the plein air event at the overland Park Arboretum :)