Deep Ocean Waves, 2nd Try

I've been working on painting some deep ocean waves.  After scrapping the entire first try, I made it through a second painting---with different deep ocean waves.  It doesn't look all that great, but, I am happy with it.  :-)  I was working from an art brochure that was produced back in the late 60's to early 70's that my mother had laying around.  In the brochure, I found a wonderful picture of a painting with blueish, lavender, purple, and turquoise waves.  I know the rest of the photos had lost a lot of their colors over time, but, this particular picture of the deep ocean waves seemed to have survived the hands of time.  Here is my painting of it:

I did find out while painting this that I wasn't observing the original painting well enough and I was missing out on lots of stuff in it that was critical to the outcome.   So, I need to relax and focus better on my subjects.  OK.  I'll definitely try that. 

Now, I think I will go back and try first deep ocean wave painting again.  But, I will be painting it MY way, not the way listed in the book.  I'm not stubborn,...I tried the books way first and that is when I got my disaster.  I just went and looked at it and it is far less complicated than the 2nd one I did, posted above.   I'm excited because now I feel ready to challenge the 1st one again. 

I wanted to do waves and sunsets for a change, and I must say it is challenging.  But, you get much better rewards this way,...than when you already know how to achieve a certain result with the brushes and oil paint. 

Oh, I forgot to mention that this painting is on an 11" X 14" stretched canvas.  I first started out applying Magic White to the canvas, so, this painting was painted using a wet-on-wet technique.  Plus, there were NOT any instructions in the art booklet as to how to paint this particular painting.  I found that kinda nice because it left the freedom up to me as to how to go about painting it all.....no cheating....hehe.   Don't get me wrong, because there are numerous places I love getting directions on how to paint other paintings.   

Take care and I'll post the next painting of deep ocean waves when I tackle it very soon.....................Amy

2nd Sunset Painting

I would love to learn how to draw and paint more birds and incorporate them in my art work.  There is this book that I want to get from Amazon.com.  It features song birds and has the pictures of many birds, including a branch or something of their favorite tree they like to be in.  It includes neat ways of making backgrounds to show off the birds at their best, but, I don't have the $$$ to invest in all the supplies needed for all that.  I think I could  at least make use of the bird pictures, though. 

I also painted another one of the lilly pads --just like I painted a while back.   However, I wasn't up to digging it out from behind what I was working on today in order to photograph it.  I will try and do that tomorrow or the next day for you all.  

Another painting I've been working on is of a mountain scene with a lake in front of it.  I just need to put something on the right side of the painting and it will be all done. 

This is what I painted today ~~~~~>>>>>>  For some reason in the photo, the orange in the water is showing up as more yellow.  So, just know that I did put some orange down there and blend it in. 

This sunset is painted on an 18" X 24" stretched canvas---kind of a big painting for me.   To paint this sunset, I followed a Wilson Bickford DVD.   He makes painting so easy and enjoyable.   I like the techniques he uses. 

For this painting, I had to learn a new brush technique for the tall tree and the grasses up front.  I didn't quite master it, but, it is bearable;  I do need more practice time with it though.   

I really like Wilson Bickford's wet-on-wet technique of painting a sunset.  It just seems to make so much sense and just flow.  I did go through and try a sunset a diff way on my 1st sunset painting last month, but, not only did it not turn out good, but, it was a much harder way to learn to paint a sunset.  

But, we all are so different and what works for me might not work for the next person. 

I hope you all enjoy your art work..........Amy