Tessa Stanley Art
Tuesday, 5 October 2021
Update
Wednesday, 17 February 2021
Cold Weather Inspiration
16 x 16 Oil on Canvas - High Level at -35 |
16 x 16 Oil on Canvas - Winter Morning Spark |
These two pieces were done during our recent 'cold' snap. We had a beautiful, sunny day with wicked cold temperatures. It was -35 but with the windchill it was closer to -45 and being out on the pedestrian bridge over the river taking photos was rather chilly! But the beautiful shadows and light were almost worth it.
The paintings were both done on black gessoed canvas with oil paint.
Monday, 14 December 2020
Completed ...?
Wednesday, 9 December 2020
Hunting for a painting
Yesterday was an okay day. Not quite matching my vision in my head but elements were there. I had some open water, some lovely sky colour and reflected light. the rest I will make up as I go along.
... and so I have begun. I will try and post a process painting as I go along in the next few days.
Monday, 7 December 2020
Working on Commissions
My last two painting projects have been 'commissions', one of pets and one of children. I always start commission projects with some fear - what I want to paint and what the recipient wants may be two different things. I have to say they were both enjoyable - the first one was bright, acrylic and ink and this one above is more subtle oil paints. They were both requests from family members too - which makes it easier.
Commissions can be a tad stressful. First of all the photo references can be difficult to work from - unless you shoot them yourselves. The above photo reference I was sent is ideal - close cropped, great light coming from one direction, nothing but the subjects on the page. Made it easy to tackle. A commission can also be very stressful if the person requesting it wants to tell you exactly how to paint and gives you feedback requesting changes. I found that when this happens I start choking up! I become a little stressed and overwork things. I have taken courses where my instructors were quite adamant that when doing commissions you, the artist should show a sketch, get an okay and then that is it - you create it. I think most people are pretty happy with what they get. The biggest challenge is capturing a likeness with a portrait. I felt pretty okay with what I have got going so far on this one. I am letting it dry for a couple days then going to do some tweaking with glazes and then STOP! Off it goes and on to the next one.
Tuesday, 24 November 2020
A Different Painting Process
This awesome house in Edmonton had a yard full of tulips this past spring. It is screaming to be painted!
Tuesday, 17 November 2020
Painting Process Continued
So I am close to done on this painting process. I like to leave it sit for awhile and re-think things before finally signing it if I am finished.
Monday, 9 November 2020
Painting Process
First you must go on some kind of outing or adventure and snap a ton of pictures. This was a super day we spent cross country skiing near Fernie, BC |
Decide on a picture and do some ROUGH sketches to help determine what is relevant to paint |
I like a vivid acrylic underpainting that will show here and there with some pops of colour later |
Sunday, 1 November 2020
Handling the Down Times
I have found at some times during this past year I am somewhat unmotivated...surprise, surprise... I am sure many others are experiencing this too. I have done the recommended things to stay upbeat... exercise, get outdoors when I can, try new hobbies (sourdough still going), we even got a new family member who is loads of fun.
Recently, I grabbed the bull by the horns and found an opportunity at the Bountiful Farmers Market to place some of my art up on one of the market walls. It has been a great motivator as I sold some paintings on my first weekend there. Like me, many people are wanting to shop local, so now seems like a good time to tap into those places that people go to or look at on-line in our own communities. Now... to go paint some more pictures!
Friday, 22 May 2020
Covid Activities
Friday, 24 April 2020
Outside at Last
I did two fairly quick 'sketches' - one is the general view - very thinly done with thinner and oil - so the orange really shows through too much. The other was just a 'sketch' of the little tree in front of me. Both I 'erased' after to reuse the board for my next time out. I just made sure to paint the panel a light grey for next time.