Friday, August 15, 2008

Pool Balls Finished!

I've finally finished the pool balls painting! There are still things that I could probably spend time on and fix but if truth be told I'm tired of working on it and the person I'm giving it to will be happy with it as is - so I'm calling it finished. I would have liked to have done this looser and may try to do this or a version of it again in a much looser style of painting but I can say that I'm pleased with it the way it is. Ha - looking at it on screen I may correct that highlight on ball #1 - does it ever end? I had a bit of trouble with the numbers as you can tell - they are pretty rough but they will have to do.

My favorite ball is #10.

I find the hardest thing is painting wet on wet. Did anyone else have that problem when you just started oils? What is the secret? I did paint with thinner paint but still in critical areas where I didn't want color to mix when I was painting wet on wet they would mix.

I've found my favorite two brushes so far - at least for this painting. They are Dick Blick's Masterstroke pure sable filbert size 6 and flat size 6.

Any way that is it for this one. I'll let you know how she likes it.

7 comments:

Dianne Mize said...

Well, Karen, I gotta say how impressed I am with how much you've accomplished in such a short time. Wet in wet, as you've pointed out, a little tricky at first. You're approaching it right by sparsely loading the brush when you want a smooth blend. One hint is to keep the brush wiped clean and as dry as possible between strokes and to stop stroking the instant you get a blend. A good practice is get the job done with as few strokes as possible.

I love your pool balls. You've done an outstanding job. I like #10, too, but #8 gets it done.

Karen Hargett said...

Thanks Dianne - I'm learning to clean my brush more and catching myself more often when I start "painting" instead of just doing one stroke.

LOL you are right about the 8 ball ;-)

Susan Carlin said...

Well, Dang, Karen! This turned out really swell. Whoever the lucky recipient is, she'll be thrilled. Love the reflections of the colors into the adjacent balls.

Karen Hargett said...

Thanks Susan! I like it too - I think my friend will too.

Barbara Pask said...

Hi Karen, This did come out nice. I'm glad you are hanging in there with the oils. I switched from acrylics to oils maybe a year and half ago and they are so different. So easy to over work them and make mud but I really love them now. I like the look of an oil painting better than any other medium, just my taste. Maybe the next one will just paint itself, it can happen, lol.

Diana Moses Botkin said...

I'm so glad to find you. Thanks for stopping by my blog to comment so I'd look you up!

Hang in there with the oils. It definitely looks like you're getting the hang of it. As you practice more, you'll discover what techniques suit you best.

Karen Hargett said...

Hi Barb! I'm liking oils better each day - I think it is still is a love/hate relationship though. I'm looking forward to the day the painting does paint itself!

Hi Diana, thanks for dropping by. I am learning everyday with each painting and visiting blogs like yours is really helpful. Thanks!