I happily spent six hours today painting.  I enjoy sewing, but it doesn’t feed my soul.  Art makes my soul glad to be alive, regardless of the other problems in my life.

I attempted to work on the commissioned portrait, but found it was not quite dry enough for another layer yet.  “Familiar” was likewise too wet to work on.

Pentacle Candle and Apple – WIP1
3″x5″ oil paint on canvas board
Two sittings
Reference is my own photo

Base layer is thin alizarin crimson

Today I first laid down a very thin layer of black paint across the entire canvas. Next I added in a cadmium light red to create the glow on the apple and brushed black back into it to create the pentacle shadow. After that I added white to create the base lighting on the candle holder.

Project: Pentacle Candle and Apple

Glass Vase and Candle – WIP1
4″x5″ oil paint on canvas
Two sittings
Reference is one of my own photos

Base layer is thinly applied alizarin crimson.

The second layer started with a very thin application of black paint over the entire canvas. It then took a pale beige paint and defined the outline of the vase. Additional beige and white paint was added in places to create the base layer of lighting.

Project: Glass Vase and Candle

Complete Contentment – WIP3
5″x7″ Masonite board
Oil paint
2 sittings

I added a pale beige for the mouse.

Project: Complete Contentment

Samhain Candles – WIP1
11″x14″ oil paint on canvas board
Two sittings

Definitely not the prettiest point in any painting. The base layer is a tomato red. In this sitting, I outlined the figures in paint, and then laid one layer of the background. It will take at least one more layer on the background before that looks right.

Project: Samhain Candles