Before & After - a ReDo!

I first painted this about a month ago and quite liked it, reviews from colleagues were positive.  However
I felt like it could do more, have more depth.  So I removed the far trees, which were too similar to each other, put in a small hillside in the background and re-did the trees, making them less similar.  In the first version the background was a barrier.  My intention in the second version was to create more depth in the background.  Also, Ia dded some more reflected light in the foreground shadows.

 

I think it has become a more interesting painting.

A useful tool!

When plein air painting or painting in the studio and I am struggling with, "what is that color?"  I use a 3" X 4" Index card that i have used my hole punch on.

AFter I mix some paint that I think might work, I put a small amount of paint next to one of the wholes and is using a photo I put the whole over the color I want.

And then I can adjust the color and or value.  This eliminates what I "think" the color should be!

Here is another example:

The card can be used several times and when one side is used up, let it dry, and use the other side.  This simple method is useful when plein air painting.  Instead one looks thru the hole to determine the color of the object that is being painted.

Clean up Time! Cleaning oil brushes for oil painters

AFter trying several methods for brush cleaning and not liking the solvents I finally hit upon a method that I really like.

I use Murphy's Wood Soap, which can be found at most grocery stores and olive oil - the most inexpensive olive oil you can find.

I purchase my olive oil Trader's Joes.  It is about $6.   Most grocery stores have an inexpensive version.  This is not the Extra Virgin $30 a bottle stuff.

I place my brushes in the sink.  In order to tell which ones I have cleaned I place the unclean ones with the handle facing me.  If I have cleaned it then the brush part faces me.

I am right handed so I put a glove on my left hand and put a small amount of Murphy's wood soap in my hand and the wipe the brush through this many times.

After cleaning each brush I rinse with warm water and then repeat using the olive oil.

My sink looks like this:

This two part process gets the brushes clean. Sometimes I do need to repeat the process.  Each brush is then individually wiped clean.  This is the final test if they are clean.  Too much paint showing up on the paper towel and they are not clean.

I use natural bristle brushes and this process restores some of the natural oils in the brush.

Now, one last step.  clean the sink!   Remember to use a glove as the paint is a chemical.