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Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Barn Shadow - Water-Miscible Oils

"Barn Shadow"
5x7, oil

By now, everyone's probably tired of hearing about the wonderful weather we're having on Campobello Island. But I sure don't get tired writing about it! This morning, though, we had overcast and a raw wind...only to have the sun push it all away by noontime. So, our run of excellent weather continues.

The good weather is a bit frustrating, because I'm supposed to be tying up loose ends for our trip. Still, I snagged a few minutes to paint a little scene. It was mid-afternoon, and the three-story barn next door was casting a deep, dramatic shadow, creating a spectacular play of sunlit autumn colors. I particularly liked the partly-paved drive that crawls up the hill beside the barn, diving into shadow and then out again.

I used Grumbacher Max water-miscible oils (red, blue, yellow, black and white) for this one. I find these paints a bit stiff, and they get a little "clotty" when water is added to them for a wash. There are mediums one can use, but I want to keep things simple, so I don't use a medium. I add just a few drops of water and avoid washes. My traditional oils and brushes are all packed up, so this is what I'll be using until we leave on Saturday.