All Quiet on the Western Front

4" x 6"   "All Quiet On the Western Front", oil on gallery-wrapped canvas

I spent several hours this weekend working on some small oils, mostly some prosaic

landscapes. The occasional coconut, of course.  The above painting is a view of a
deserted Negril Beach with slightly stormy seas -- a rare sight.
This beach is usually crowded with tourists and the seas typically have as
much wave action as your bathtub.

As far as the other  paintings I started? Nothing too earth shattering,
just some pretty views and a good way to loosen up with oils.
And avoid the several large portraits looming,  virtually staring 

at me, from my studio walls. They need my attention but I've been avoiding the challenge.

These small landscapes give me some immediate gratification. Sometimes I am

just such a lazy painter. I want to paint and have it finished and DONE. 

And soak up the satisfaction on the spot.

But no great thing is created suddenly.

Oils demand waiting time to dry in between layers. Watercolors move so much

more quickly, I've become spoiled. Marks made are marks played, washes of color dry in 

a few minutes, ready for the next. Oils? Not so much.

Patience is not one of my virtues.

The above painting is the only one I consider finished. Here are a few more

in various stages of completion. I juggled several at once, moving on to

another when one simply became too wet and layered with paint
to make any more changes.

Here's another beach view, in stages, from the opposite direction.This
one will have still waters and a handful of figures. It is also 4" x 6".

Next step.......

Going to let this one sit and dry for a few days before I go back to it.

Here is yet another beach view,  IN PROGRESS -- note the big white blob in

the center - which is waiting for me to add some chaise lounges. This is

slightly larger, 6" x 8" on canvas board. My youngest daughter has

first dibs on this one when it is finished:

And, shocking surprise, I worked on some coconuts. I dragged out an

older painting which had just pissed me off and frustrated me. It's an

8"x10" canvas. I last left it in this dreadful state:

 

I decided to really change it up, use a palette knife and slather on

the bright colors. The coconuts have gotten a little misshapen and

lumpy in the process, but I like the direction it's heading:

 Hard to get a good photo without the lights causing the wet oil to glisten

and create some glare. Here's another shot from the side:

It's funny but I've found that taking photos of these helps me see

the problems I've inadvertently created for myself. I can refer to

an earlier stage of the painting, some of which was correct, and

see where I went down the wrong road and adjust.

I started another painting of the same bunch of coconuts but on a

smaller 4"x6" canvas:

First stage, blocking in shapes:

Then slathering on the high key colors, primarily with a palette knife, but 

the coconuts got lumpy and misshapen again. I just don't

have the control with a knife that I would like:

I mixed these two photos in Photoshop

to see where I lost some of my definition:

It helped me see where I have to define the forms more when I go back to it. 

Well, that was a lot accomplished in one weekend. Or, better said, 

at least I got a lot started. I'll be adding these small oils to my Etsy shop

as soon as they are finished and fully dry. They'll be a nice,

affordable alternative to the other items for sale. 

Let me know what you think!

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