Monday, January 10, 2011

Session 4 with Thomas Kitts

9 x 12
oil on canvas panel


set up at Thomas Kitts' studio

It was a full session today with Thomas Kitts! First, critique of some of my practice pieces since my last session with him. Feedback is so helpful! In some pieces I hit the mark, in others I did not. That's to be expected. I think that if I were to hit the mark every time, it would indicate that I'm not stretching and trying hard enough. So speaks this over-achiever!

Next, an introduction to mediums and resins and other stuff artists add to their paint for various effects. It was truly interesting to hear and see what Titian, Velasquez, Rembrandt, Turner and others used to create their masterpieces.

Then, I got to paint with the mediums. Today I used Liquin, cold wax, and marble dust in a gel slurry. And my palette? A limited palette, sort of an Old Masters selection of Yellow Ochre, Umber, Ivory Black, Transparent Iron Oxide, and Alizarin. I like the old world quality to the painting and I will paint more with this limited palette to figure it out and experiment.

Any day spent painting is a good day. I'd count this one doubly good!

By the way, Thomas is holding a workshop February 7-9, 2011 "Essential Alla Prima Oil Painting Techniques." He is a good teacher and I think that this will be a wonderful workshop! Click here for details and contact information.

8 comments:

Nancy Van Blaricom said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Nancy Van Blaricom said...

I'll try again... (had to delete my last attempt at commenting)I did such a messed up version of what i wanted to comment on. I wanted to say congratulations on such a great painting. You must be very proud of it. I'd love to attend the one day workshop. I'll see how schedule is.

Celeste Bergin said...

Beautiful! Great shapes and color harmony---! Five stars!!!

Casey Klahn said...

Very balanced composition - both the linear and the color comps. 2 thumbs up!!

Unround the apple - my only small and humble crit. I admire your approach to learning oils, and value your posts about the lessons.

loriann signori said...

beautiful painting Kvan. Very old world feeling. It looks like the limited palette is really working for you. How did you like the different mediums? How were they different?

Katherine van Schoonhoven said...

Hi Nancy! Thomas said that there is still some room in the workshop. I hope you can make it!

Thanks, Celeste!

Casey: I agree about the apple. These learning pieces are all about being present in the teaching time with Thomas, and not at all about the finished painting. I am thrilled with the progress I'm making with oil.

Loriann! I used the Liquin detail and really liked that! I will use that more in the studio, too. I also like the cold wax and how it built up the surface (I used it on the pitcher handle and on the highlight on the light part of the pitcher). I bought cold wax to play with more. I'll post more results when I have any! Thanks for the comment!

Brenda Boylan said...

I think if I switch over to oils, I'd check in with Thomas first. He's fun and really smart about all things oil (notes to myself while pa painting with him). Nice progress and this has some real body to it. Delicious!

Katherine van Schoonhoven said...

Thanks, Brenda! I can't say that I have "switched to oil" because I love pastel, too. But, it's great to learn about oil and Thomas has been a knowledgeable teacher!