Turpentine diaries 11/26/17
After flavoring my medium with additions for several days, today I used my normal medium. I worked on this painting during both of today’s sessions. When the painting surface is right, as with this painting, my normal medium is unbeatable. Read moreCleveland Museum of Art Opens RenovationsWhat is a good surface? I like smooth surfaces.
Turpentine diaries 11/25/17
Yesterday’s Thanksgiving holiday was wonderful at our house. We had three of our children here to share my wife’s delicious turkey and stuffing. Daughter Jane baked an apple pie, and son Keith made deep-fried mac and cheese. The latter was something I’d never eaten. Everything was excellent and, for once, I didn’t eat too much. This morning
Turpentine journal 11/19/17
Upsidedown. It’s useful to look at your paintings in mirrors or upsidedown, as I’ve down here. The old rule-of-thumb maintains that a painting should be balanced when looked at normally and in a mirror. That old rule-of-thumb still holds as far as I’m concerned. Three Women in Sandals, part of the Playhouse Square series, looks OK
Turpentine diaries 11/11/17
I finished On the Square then put down my brush and took a walk. Sometimes I have to get out of the studio to cure “studio blindness,” during which I lose my objectivity and focus instead on some narrow aspect of the painting. After a 45-minute walk, I returned to the studio and the painting
Turpentine diaries 10/21/17
I finished Spring during my morning session. I added a tiny little bit of sun-thickened oil to my usual medium. A small amount of this oil dramatically affects the paint. Sun-thickened oil, unlike stand oil (which I don’t like), maintains good handling qualities even when the paint is thinned to a gouache-like consistency. Read moreCleveland Museum of
Turpentine diaries 10/1/2017
Terrible photo but it’s dark and I’m tired so it will have to do. Man With a Baby Carriage is in the final stage–the fun stage. If the drawing is strong, it will take you to finish line. Drawing, like writing, can fill up with useless details that don’t advance the project when you’re tired.
Turpentine diaries 9/24/17
The unfinished painting The Press is 40″ x 50.” I’ve used RGH’s walnut-ground flake white for a couple of weeks and I like it more and more. It keeps its body even when thinned to the constancy of gouache, such as the white shirts in the painting. Read moreCleveland Museum of Art Opens RenovationsI plan
Turpentine diaries 9/16/17
Along 4th Street is 40″ x 50.” The surface is very good and the painting is moving well. When the surface is solid, I do less re-painting and things go faster. Read moreCleveland Museum of Art Opens RenovationsI’ve written about how much I like RGH’s Extra-fine Flake white. That white is ground with safflower oil.