The Road Back Home

Finished

Here's one I started tonight. A big one for me, 30" x 40" on a linen canvas I stretched today. I've been stretching on 1 1/2" stretcher bars and like the sturdiness it gives.

I like how this painting is progressing, although I'm not painting in my usual way. For one, I usually paint alla prima, in one sitting/session. But not tonight for a couple of reasons... a) I'm tired and my elbow hurts. b) I want this first night's effort to dry a bit before I start adding color tomorrow. The ground is thin, and the darks are thinned Burnt Umber, so both should be good by the time get back to it.

The other difference is the use of a small brush at the beginning stage. Normally I'll use a big 1 1/2" or 2" bristle brush to throw down some big shapes quickly. Well, with this one I felt the need to slow down and get my center of interest correctly drawn and in the right place on the canvas before doing anything else. After I got the COI drawn I continued with the small brush, a #1 bristle, and sketched with it only, to the point you see here.

If someone could please play taps for my little brush I'd appreciate it. Or, you could call the cops on me, 'cause I killed it. It's a nub. But it did the job it was meant to do.

Now, it will be interesting to see if little nubbie died in vain. ;)

To be continued...