Wednesday, October 17, 2012


'her name was red' ~ water soluble oils on canvas board, 4" x 6"

i've got oil painting fever, that's all there is to it.  i was going to post last night and the night before that, but nope, i had to go do a little something (ha!) to the painting i was working on...


i stopped painting with water soluble oils in early august when i realized that my brushes were becoming as stiff as boards.  water wasn't cleaning the paint out of them completely at the end of the day, and some colors, like phthalo blue and most of the reds, were practically impossible to get out of the brush while i was painting.  which led to a lot of research and ended with me buying the cleaners above.  they work!!  the maimeri brush cleaner is here at dick blick, and the master's brush cleaner and preserver is here if you want to read more about them.    i use the maimeri while i'm painting and the master's cleaner/restorer at the end of the day to thoroughly clean all of the paint out.  the master's cleaner is pretty miraculous stuff.   when i run out of the maimeri i'm going to try weber's turpenoid natural.  thank you, amy, for your help with this...


at the same time that i ordered the brush cleaners i ordered a palette knife.  janine, thank you for helping me figure out which knife to start with;  i had no idea there were so many sizes and shapes.   when i started painting the other day i'd almost forgotten that i ordered it, but wow, four days of using it have made me a palette knife lover.  surely they're an oil painter's best friend!  not only is smearing paint around (and dabbing it on) fantastically fun with it, it's great for scooping up one color to mix with another, and then smushing them together.  it's also perfect for scooping paint out of the tube if you just want a small amount. they're super flexible and just one swipe over a paper towel cleans the paint off completely.

the clear tray in the pic sits in the lid of the (non) airtight palette that i mentioned here.   i decided to put the paint on this instead of inside the actual palette.    it takes up less room on the table and i just stick it inside the 'airtight' palette when i'm done.

yep, i've already decided on my next  palette knife.  i'm almost out of white, so i can order it then.  ; )

* * *

"A well composed painting is half done."

~Pierre Bonnard


25 comments:

  1. She is looking wonderful. I love how you are using the oils.

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  2. I love the effect you've made using oils! It looks like this could be 'your' medium! I've never got on very well with oils and make such a mess when I try. :)
    Jess xx

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  3. Ooooh Lynne! Her flaming red hair is making me very, very happy this morning. LOVE the bold colors and textures!
    xoxoxo

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  4. I am with Angela on this one, waking up to her fiery red hair made me happy too:)
    I really like your use of oils....as for the splash of violet, beautiful!
    And thank you for your visit♥♥♥

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  5. She's a beauty Lynne! She has that special look of wide eyed surprise and consternation that mysteriously seems to emanate from a lot of your people.

    After I saw your post on water soluble oils I bought a couple to use with my earth pigments and the cold wax that I made with orange solvent. Been messing around with that and having fun. Couldn't get the "woils" you used at the Dick Blick in Portland so bought Winsor Newton.

    Happy fall painting. I've had to come in from the outdoors to paint. I bet you have too?

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  6. Lynne! I love Red! She is an oily dream of a girl. I love the light vs darker side of her face and those green eyes!!

    I have used the Turpenoid Natural that Amy told you about and it's great stuff!!! I think you will like it too!

    The art retailers need to hire you on as a spokesperson. You bring them business with your posts. :)

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  7. well yumalicious x's ten! she radiates life! gotta love oil paint - the next time you are at the store you might just pick up a bar of lava soap - I've used it for clean up for years - not too sure how it would do on your brushes but it cleans the oil off my hands each day! carry on please xoxo

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  8. wow, your art looks wonderful in oils! of course it would. thank you for sharing all the wonderful tips that you have gathered, gems for sure!

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  9. May I post to one of my two blogs? The colors pop and her face mysterious

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  10. Hi LH! Just thought i'd mention if you ever find old film cannisters like the old home films were stored in, they make great pallettes for oil and acrylics!

    Love your painting!

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  11. Lynne she is amazing. I mean totally, like a rock star amazing, awesome. That red hair is a total knock out. Love all the info about brush cleaners. Back to Miss Red, also love the shading you achieved. She has so much personality.I'm smiling over the palette knife stuff. I was at Dick Blick a few days ago and I must have stood in front of the knives for a half hour, no lie. We were there to pick up stuff for DD's art class, she needed more black gauche and of course any reason to be in dick blick; I'm there, so many choices. I am in need of a good one, my plastic ones are getting so dinged up and I honestly couldn't decide on one. I wanted them all. DD kept tugging my arm, Mom. we've got to go, I've got projects due...so I relented and we left. Love art supply shopping. :)

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  12. the painting you showed in this post is really inspirational - the paint looks thick, like impasto? i like it a LOT.
    i think also i really like how you leave the brush strokes in your work instead of taking them out. i LIKE that.

    xxa

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  13. This is luscious Lynne! LOVE the bold, vibrant colours ....this is my *new* favourite. Yummy red and the splash on violet in that dark background make for a very mysterious lady!
    Thanks for the tips re: brush cleaning. I have some of the cleaner in the tub, but will keep an eye out for the other turpenoid one you mentioned.
    Just love this one!!! (is it for sale????)

    Jacky xox

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  14. Lynne wow love Red shes gorgeous , palette knives rock love em i tried normal oils and didnt like them hated the drying time so frustrating and like Amy i love the brushstrokes in paintings , much more character than smooth works ...love that u are loving what u are doing thats a treasure in its self...
    hugz bev

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  15. i am in oil painting envy right now, decided it is too stinky for the house and will wait til I have a more dedicated studio... i was thinking that a tupperware container would make a great palette... xox

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  16. She makes my heart sing!!! Love it.

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  17. Hey, she is a beauty! My eyes are still twinkling from the shock of color. So much fun to play with a new medium. She just oozes play-full-ness.
    Did she tell you her name yet?

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  18. Red is beautiful! I do very much like the brush strokes - I can't seem to allow them on my oil painting attempts - I always end up smoothing them out! But it is so much more interesting and has so much movement with the strokes. Inspiring, once again!
    Olivia

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  19. Buongiorno lynne,
    any friend of roxanne's is a friend of mine, i am discovering. thank you for your kind comments. i am so intrigued with your work. i especially loved golden light girl and rose...i loved the idea of painting on a collaged surface. genious--totally gonna copy that.

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  20. Wow, Lynne, Fabulous! I can see the joy and inspiration in every stroke! I have never really understood the draw to water soluble oils. They require just as much cleaning and mixing mediums as regular oils. I have never had any trouble cleaning my regular oil brushes with soap and water over the years. I do use a brush soap because it has a conditioner that other soaps don't have. It all seems to be working for you though with this great little redhead you have created! Stay inspired!

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  21. I can feel your enthusiasm! Enjoy this new direction. I am really digging red!

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  22. Oh Lynnie, she is beautiful!!!! Wow, I love the red so much, and seeing your palette, and everything! Sorry I wasn't here earlier, i don't know how I could miss "red..."
    see you soon!
    roxanne

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  23. Hi sweetie. "Red" is wonderful and you know I love oil paint too. You are a quick learner. xoxo

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  24. hello (: my mac is broken and i'm on my laptop - which didn't import my email contacts (all three of them, haha). i wanted to check in with you and let you know your book is great - but i want to do a few more traditional paintings in it (mostly i've done experimental stuff - silly stuff), so i'm going to set it aside for a few days until i am ready to do some serious painting again (:
    just wanted to let you know it was safe and sound and coming along.
    xxa

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