Reflections on Water (Oil Bar Painting Day 1)

Reflections on Water (Oil Bar Painting Day 1) Originally uploaded by randubnick

I started this is oil bar painting on January 15th, just as I was finishing up framing photos to be hung in New Hampshire later that day. But this painting is not for that show. This is a painting for submission to a local juried show with the theme of water. I didn't think I would have time to get anything ready for it because I was busy with the mill and river paintings, and besides, the dates conflicted. But recently I found out that the submission date had been extended to the 17th of January. Time was very short, but I decided to start a painting and see what happened. The application form said images could be submitted by e-mail, which meant that the painting would not have to be dry by the deadline. So maybe it would be possible! It would be fun to try. I try to make art every day, so why not? I looked through my photos for ideas, and chose a photo that I took of a New Hampshire lake at dusk, posted here on September 23. I printed out the photo, took it to the studio, and got started. (I have had a lot of practice lately at working quickly. It isn't necessarily a bad thing. Painting quickly sometimes forces you to get directly to the point, and I have taken lots of drawing classes with timed drawings of one minute, five minutes, or ten. Sometimes you can get really good drawings that way.) So I used a gray oil bar to draw the composition in quickly, and then blocked in the main colors with oil bars, making sure to cover the canvas. At that point, it was time to pack up my paints, but I was happy with what I had done in a short time. I really love to paint, so I wasn't worried about whether or not the painting is done on time or is accepted into the show. To be continued. . . .