Daily painting #84: Nocturne 2.0

Again it was too hot to paint outside during the day, so I waited until evening and then took another run at the house across the street. I had more time this evening than I did when I first tried this subject, so the drawing is a bit more careful. I’m getting closer to the look I want, but not there yet.

A big challenge is seeing the canvas and the palette. Sometimes I just couldn’t see what I was doing, and I lathered the paint on too thick. I do have a nocturne easel light, but I cleverly left it at home, so I had to make do. Great fun, in any case.

Geoff Watson, “Nocturne,” oil on linen, 5” x 7,” 2019.

Geoff Watson, “Nocturne,” oil on linen, 5” x 7,” 2019.

Looking up

Today I spent a couple hours on my back porch looking up. In particular, I was looking up at the dormer or eaves above the porch, and at the windows and roof and gutter. The result is still a work in progress, but I'm happy with what I have so far.

Obviously I need to add a sky. Right now the gray background is the unpainted surface of my gray-tinted panel. I'm inclined to add a sky with no trees, to keep the composition clean and simple. I also have to refine the shapes and colors of the architecture. Alas, it's going to rain this weekend, so I may not get back to this for a few days. It's a good start, though!

Geoff Watson, "Looking up" (work in progress), oil on panel, 8" x 10," 2017.

Geoff Watson, "Looking up" (work in progress), oil on panel, 8" x 10," 2017.