“Little Boy Blue” 10×10 Oil Painting
Introduction
After doing a painting of my nephew with his mother I also did one with him having fun at the beach with his father as well.
Base Painting
I go with the same game play as the painting with him and his momma. I put down some abstract shapes in Cobalt Blue with the palette knife. Here too I’m working on a 10×10 Arches oil paper that is mounted to gatorboard. The object of having the blue randomly put down is that as paint is applied parts of it will still show through. Blue is the color that I think would be all over the canvas. It could be any color really. For this one, it’s blue.
Initial figure work
Putting In The Figure
With the blue being put down I begin to work out the figure of the dad. I’m trying not to go in super opaque and loose to allow that base blue to show a bit.
Building up the figures
Building The Painting Up
Next the figure of the boy and some treatment of the water area put down. Creating a sensation of movement is key. My hope was to push it pretty far without making the whole thing collapse. I think of it as that one instant in time being put down. The challenge of course is how to say and can one say it well.
Building up the figures II
The entire is scene is worked out further.
Building up the color
I want to warm up the scene a bit so I add Permanent Rose and apply it throughout the canvas. I just want it to mix in with the future layers of color.
Putting in beach shape and color
Building Up The Beach
The softening of edges continues as well as maybe making some others a bit sharper. The beach starts to take shape as well.
Beach and water further worked on
The figures go through many adjustments in my attempt to get a sense of movement. The same thing goes with getting the water to feel the same way.
Work on the beach and water progresses
The water in the background and foreground get more attention. Lots of stuff going on there but how to make a simple statement about it in a clear way can be tricky. And I’m not really sure I succeeded in doing that.
Calling it done
Getting To The Finish Line
At some point I think I’ve done all I can and it’s time to call it done. In the back of my mind I made a mental note to do a bigger version at some point. On a bigger format perhaps things can be communicated more clearly. Should that happen look for a full report here. Until next time.
