Each new plein-air oil upto this one is progressing at a rapid rate, although I cannot promise to keep it up (in fact the next one kind of breaks the run, but I’ve not finished it so it might get better). This was an experiment in Liquin Impasto, which as well as an impasto medium (makes the paint easier to use thickly without using lots of expensive paint) also speeds up the drying.
The tree is on Heron Pond in Bushy Park, and yes the duck came and stood there and posed for me in that exact position. I don’t invent wildlife for my pictures, I’m not Bob Ross! I liked it so much and was proud I managed to get the duck in a few brushstrokes, so I left it.
Pretty much everything else got reworked – it got dark and I had to stop and after much reflection felt it needed a lot more work.
Also used some more scratching/ sgraffito with the end of the brush which I did on the first plein air. Seems to express smaller branches better… and I got rather mad and violent with the brushwork…rather than dabby-dabby which wasn’t doing for me.
I find action-painting works better for me in oils, than the more considered stuff. That feels more like the technique for watercolours or gouache to me. Oil feels more expressionist, freeform, moving, a moment rather than a long time. I’m sure that will change, but the pieces I’ve tried in that mode after this haven’t been successful.
Leave a Comment! Be nice….