LESSON #66 - Watercolour to Oils

[Daisyblue77]

Harald your painting is gorgeous !!  Beautiful color.   I also like how you painted your background.
Very nicely done.   

[jrhall036]

Truly beautiful, Harald!  Your colors are gorgeous!  The flower looks so realistic, almost like a photo! (And that is a compliment, my dear!) 

[Val]

Banner work Harald!  The flower looks as bright and vibrant as the ones just up on the shore. The background leaves are as deep and luscious looking as they are here by the jungle. You've done a wonderful job. Good on you for having a go. 

[thebryce]

Sorry for the wrong picture but I felt this Magnolia fit the topic.  I tried the Bird of Paradise in water and found it complicated so opted for the good old Magnolia class water color picture for my 1st oil painting instead.

Details Oil vs Water Color

Oil vs Water Color

****Story:   I went out to Hobby Lobby  and spent $200 on easels and  oil paint, special mediums and fancy bristle brushes. I  sat down and  panicked!  I went back to the computer and watched all of the free lessons on oils by Dennis and Nolan then I sat down and panicked again!  So this time I went back to the computer and watched the free lesson on how to paint oils in Acrylics.  I felt I could make the attempt in acrylics.  I realized then I only  had oils I did not have any Acrylics. Back to Hobby Lobby and $200 US $$ Later I was fat, happy and broke.  My Kids and wife are gone for the week. I had all night if needed!   Several attempts later at using a bristle brush, a painting knife and a white tile pallet and I had somthing on canvas! I am not sure what it was at first but I was off to the races with the Acrylics in Oil Style in my own way!  Wow, they dry fast and blending is so hard!  Everything is Bass Ackward to water painting and no happy accidents.   Now, several hours later, I have a feel for canvas and the bristle brush.   I might just try the $200  in oils on the Bird of Paradise flower,   but if I do it will have to be soon because my wife and kids return this weekend and the mess will not be tolerated.  Water painting I am told is bad enough!  I love it!!!

[Val]

  Bryce, you are starting to sound like Pat with his messes!!

Well, it sounds like you are well set in whichever medium takes your fancy! For your first oil painting I think you've done a banner job  Especially so, because you went ahead and did one that had no directions/coaching.  Brilliant! 

[jrhall036]

WOW, Bryce!!  Look at you!! What a wonderful job!!  I loved the magnolias in watercolor, and it's even more 3-dimensional in oils!   

[Happychappy]

    Wow Bryce, you did an awesome job on the magnolias.  Good for you to even attempt it without any experience in the medium.  You are one brave guy.  However, if there is a will, we will find a way.   Patricia

[MSWcrane]

Wow Bryce, $200 Oil painting supplies... you got off easy  LOL  I have spent at least 3x that... but well worth every slippery penny, 'cause I love   

Your Magnolias are neat!  try some of those classes you will be hooked.   

[thebryce]

I am afraid I am hooked on all mediums. Watercolor seems to naturally generate patterns that are complementary to painting flowers.  I like the control I have with the Acrylics but they dry so fast I need to have an idea of what I am doing no time to sit and think about what is next. Thanks for the complementary words. I will try the true oils shortly.

[thebryce]

Details

Here is my attempt of the Strelitzia in oils except I am still scared of oils still so I tried it in the acrylic in oil style medium.  Let me know how close Oils and Acrylics are so I can gain some faith that I can work in the oil painting medium.  I am concerned with the skill needed to clean and mix with chemicals.

[Ray3]

Thebryce your painting are very well done   I know the feeling of your panic attacks before starting to paint its like having butterfly's in the stomach which is ok it's just getting them to fly in formation keep the good work up

[Happychappy]

    Bryce, Well done with your Strelitzia. Love the leaves which frame the flower and am in awe of your smooth, even background.  Patricia

[jrhall036]

Lovely, Bryce!  I think you're really getting the hang of the oil painting method!   

[Val]

Great work Bryce  If you're worried about the chemicals, have you considered the water soluable oils? I'm hoping to have a go with them one of these years! 

On the 5th of August the class is acrylics watercolour style. You're just a bit ahead of your time! 

[MSWcrane]

Bryce, for oil painting I prefer regular oil paints rather than water based ones. 

I use 'Odorless Mineral Spirits' from Wal-Mart (rather inexpensive) instead of Turpentine and it works fine and really has very little smell. 

To finish the clean up of brushes after painting I use 'Murphy's Oil Soap' also from Wal-Mart or grocery stores.  This combo works well to keep my brushes clean and the chemicals at a minimum. 

Only other chemicals are ones in actual oil paints.  I paint in my TV room so when I paint I put all my paper towels in a plastic bag as I work and remove them from the room when I am done for the day.  The Painting stays in the room as it drys (sometimes more than one) but that does not seem to be too bad with odors.

Try Oil  it great