Small Realistic Studies in Oil. A step-by-step oil painting blog journel not intended for art instruction but as a document of my personal "On the Job Training" learning experiences in painting. Sessions are kept short as time on them is during breaks from current works therefore are not completed in just one day. The style I use is realism and my goal is that each new painting will bring me the satisfaction in knowing that I gave it my best.
This small original painting is on 4"x4" stretched canvas and is available for purchase. I truly enjoyed painting this little gem!
posted by Carolyn Hietala at 9:41 AM
Still adding detail.....
Breaking out the tiny brushes for detail now! After the potholders I paint cat hairs. Then back to the rest of the painting. detail... detail... I don't mind that the vintage potholders are faded..... just adds character right? And now one of the kittens (now all grown up) resides with a family member and is indeed a "real character."
Things are really beginning to "take shape" now ;0)
Sixth Session: I apply a very thin layer of linseed oil to the bowl then with a tiny amount of titantium on my filbert I lightly drag the brush over the entire bowl... then again in the reflective areas. I will let it dry and move to the kittens. Tomorrow will continue on the bowl with alternating color glazes until it speaks... "I'm pottery" ;0) I also begin underpainting the potholders.
Fifth Session: Have deepened colors by turpentine / burnt umber washes. Now detail work begins.
Fourth painting session: Establishing background & lighting / bowl shadows not yet defined as still building up color / tinting kittens ears etc. with rose madder. Now the whites need to dry more before I can continue on the kits. & potholders so will set it aside and continue other works. 
Update: Third painting session I tinted the background with wash of ultramarine / lamp black. Then applied titanium white to the kittens / potholders. Next I began to establish the calico pattern on the kittens even though the white is still wet. I am still building up the color / contours of the bowl along with adding shadows inside with asphaltum by Gamblin. The top rim I painted with unbleached titanium which was a perfect match to the bowl's color.
Second Painting Session: Still using a turpentine wash of Burnt Sienna I block in the bowl so as to gradually build up color. I'll let it dry for now and begin painting the potholders with white in preparation for glazing. I will post that progress tomorrow.
posted by Carolyn Hietala at 4:41 PM
Third session: A surprise is added to the composition as you can see.
Update second session: Background begun & while drying..... on to the kisses for detail.
First painting session: on this little ACEO artist trading card. Hard to paint candy when all you really want is to eat it. Good things come to those who wait. I'll set it aside to work on others and post the completed here. Probably two more sessions until done with the last being for detail.
posted by Carolyn Hietala at 1:09 PM
3 comments
I call this one finished! It is my first still life painted with very dark shadows and am looking forward to doing more like it. The appearance is very "Rich" and will show even more depth & drama after varnishing. My Dad would be pleased to see his hanky included ;0)
I have done a quick color blocking on the handkerchief and now detail can begin.
I have decided to add my Dad's vintage cotton handkerchief to the composition and used a detail brush to sketch it in with titantium white. Dad loved plums and was never without a handkerchief in his pocket.
Now I begin on the background deciding upon on a dramatic effect using deep shadows to show off this subject. 
This is the beginning of a miniature painting done in photo realism style. Now it will dry before a background along with more glazes and details are applied. Plum delicious already ;0)
posted by Carolyn Hietala at 9:15 PM
5 comments
I have created Art in one form or another since childhood. I took one year of Art in high school and a fashion drawing class at Virginia Commonwealth University so am essentially self-taught. All copyrights are held and retained by me for my artwork, photographs or poetry.
