Golden Afternoon 8x10
Hello and welcome to Tonalist paintings by M Francis McCarthy.
Today's painting is 'Golden Afternoon' 8x10.
Today's video narration follows the progression of this painting from its initial drawing stages, on up through the final glazes. The video has been sped up about 12 times faster than the painting was actually painted and also features my usual off-the-cuff, rambling narration, so please check it out.
I've been working on completing paintings this week. I'm feeling like I'm way behind because the folder that I'm saving these final videos of the finishes is titled, October-November and here we are in January. I'm thinking that I may go back to doing about 10 in a given series so that we are getting a more rapid turnaround. Those of you that follow this blog will be aware that I do my paintings in stages and these days, I go after about 15 to 18 motifs at a time.
I like doing this because it gives me time to look at the painting in between the various stages as it is drying, and to think about what it is that I'm going to do next. The downside of course is that as I increase the number of motifs it takes longer for a series to be completed. Back in 2011 when I first moved into the Quarry Art Center, after my initial one-man show at the Hangar Gallery, I attempted to do a series of 50 scenes.
Everything was fine until I left for vacation and came back only to discover that many of the paintings I had done were seriously in need of help. After that, I spent a long time working on fixing the paintings of the 50 that I could. Then I started to working on a series of 10 paintings. I think I'm going to get back into that soon.
On today's video I spoke a bit about dry brushing. Dry brushing is something that I have put a stronger emphasis on since completing the Hundred Days of Tonalism project. I really like dry brushing when it goes well. Dry brushing is essentially taking a brush lightly loaded with paint and dragging it across the surface of a painting that is dry. This can accentuate textures and is a great way of keeping a lot of what you've done before but also smoothing things out. This technique can add a lot of luminance to a painting but it can also be overdone and create monotony in areas that should be more varied. It's a bummer when things go monotonous.
I'm still learning about this technique and how to use it properly in my own work. I think the real key is to have the painting looking really good before you start in with the dry brushing and to use the dry brushing subtly and minimally. In other words, dry brushing is not going to help you save a painting that is in bad shape, but it can really enhance a painting that is already good. A good (successful) example of my current dry brushing technique would be the painting 'Evening River' 12x 12 that has been featured on this blog.
Cheers,
M Francis McCarthy
Landscapepainter.co.nz
A bit about 'Golden Afternoon' 8x10; I'm happy with this painting and it's currently hanging up in my studio. I get a lot of nice comments about it and it is in an antique frame that I'm really fond of and will not be selling. I will sell this painting one day though, I'm sure of it because it gets so many positive comments. Also, I sold the study not long after painting it. So, I know the motif has appeal and attraction.
I've recently done another version of this scene in a horizontal format and I'm happy with it. It does not have the same golden quality that I did here, but it does have a nice pearlescent feeling.
To see more of my work, visit my site here
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| Golden Afternoon by M Francis McCarthy, 8x10 Oil Painting on Wood Panel |
Today's video narration follows the progression of this painting from its initial drawing stages, on up through the final glazes. The video has been sped up about 12 times faster than the painting was actually painted and also features my usual off-the-cuff, rambling narration, so please check it out.
I've been working on completing paintings this week. I'm feeling like I'm way behind because the folder that I'm saving these final videos of the finishes is titled, October-November and here we are in January. I'm thinking that I may go back to doing about 10 in a given series so that we are getting a more rapid turnaround. Those of you that follow this blog will be aware that I do my paintings in stages and these days, I go after about 15 to 18 motifs at a time.
I like doing this because it gives me time to look at the painting in between the various stages as it is drying, and to think about what it is that I'm going to do next. The downside of course is that as I increase the number of motifs it takes longer for a series to be completed. Back in 2011 when I first moved into the Quarry Art Center, after my initial one-man show at the Hangar Gallery, I attempted to do a series of 50 scenes.
Everything was fine until I left for vacation and came back only to discover that many of the paintings I had done were seriously in need of help. After that, I spent a long time working on fixing the paintings of the 50 that I could. Then I started to working on a series of 10 paintings. I think I'm going to get back into that soon.
On today's video I spoke a bit about dry brushing. Dry brushing is something that I have put a stronger emphasis on since completing the Hundred Days of Tonalism project. I really like dry brushing when it goes well. Dry brushing is essentially taking a brush lightly loaded with paint and dragging it across the surface of a painting that is dry. This can accentuate textures and is a great way of keeping a lot of what you've done before but also smoothing things out. This technique can add a lot of luminance to a painting but it can also be overdone and create monotony in areas that should be more varied. It's a bummer when things go monotonous.
I'm still learning about this technique and how to use it properly in my own work. I think the real key is to have the painting looking really good before you start in with the dry brushing and to use the dry brushing subtly and minimally. In other words, dry brushing is not going to help you save a painting that is in bad shape, but it can really enhance a painting that is already good. A good (successful) example of my current dry brushing technique would be the painting 'Evening River' 12x 12 that has been featured on this blog.
Cheers,
M Francis McCarthy
Landscapepainter.co.nz
A bit about 'Golden Afternoon' 8x10; I'm happy with this painting and it's currently hanging up in my studio. I get a lot of nice comments about it and it is in an antique frame that I'm really fond of and will not be selling. I will sell this painting one day though, I'm sure of it because it gets so many positive comments. Also, I sold the study not long after painting it. So, I know the motif has appeal and attraction.
I've recently done another version of this scene in a horizontal format and I'm happy with it. It does not have the same golden quality that I did here, but it does have a nice pearlescent feeling.
To see more of my work, visit my site here
 |
| Golden Afternoon 8x10 (Detail) |