Blank canvas to completed painting.

I love creating oil paintings. Let me share my “no mistake” technique.

Step 1.

Deciding to paint another garden scene, I moved my easel with a new canvas outside to where I could see my overgrown garden. Staring at the vegetation, I decide what to include and what to omit. There is no point trying to include everything. Composition is everything, so I selected the plants that will appeal to the viewer. I decided to Include the Mango tree in the background, the stone steps leading through the garden, the concrete pot and it’s spiky leafed plant in the foreground and also a variety of other plants. Of course, I include tall heliconias as I can then include it’s dangly red and yellow blooms and also cordylines with their maroon and pink foliage. Colour is important.

Decisions made I start sketching with wax crayon. I make lots of mistakes and I can erase lines with a kero soaked rag.

Step 2.

Satisfied with the sketch, I go over lines in dark crayon and erase any confusing and unwanted lines.

Step 3.

This is what I call ‘painting in fields of colour.’ I squeeze oil colours onto palettes, blend some and add some linseed oil. Most of this painting will be different shades of green, but there are also some browns, red, yellow and pink. Together, Viktor and I paint in the background colours for the entire painting. Once this is done, we leave it to dry for a few days.

Step 4.

Viktor and I outline all of the leaves, etc. in black. We do this to define the image and show us where we’ll add other coloured brushstrokes later.

Step 5.

I select paints again and prepare to add short brush strokes to the painting. The colours below will be completely covered by these small brushstrokes by the time we are finished. I aim to add highlights, as I add these short brushstrokes. I demonstrate the effect I am after and then I let Viktor, my studio assistant, loose with a palette and brushes.

Step 6.

To make the colours pop, I finally outlive all the features with black. The thickness of the black lines vary, depending on the size of the leaves or other features. Again I let Viktor assist me with the outlining. Why should I have all the fun?

Step 7.

The painting is finished so I sign it. If Viktor has assisted with the painting, he adds his initials and then it is displayed on a wall. Finished and ready to sell.

What’s next?

Tomorrow, I’m flying to Darwin, Australia for a week’s holiday with my sisters. For me the purpore of this trip is not just to catch up with my amazing sisters, but I also want to seek out inspiration for new writing and painting projects. My next blog will be called Inspiration.

Until then, stay creative.