Second Pin Cushion Study

4" x 4",  house paints on watercolor paper

A new, small study of my pin cushion. 

I've been exploring instagram lately and posting more there than here.   

This is how you find my feed but I wasn't sure how to make it an actual link: instagram@gabelkarsten

Tomato Study

Experimenting more with house paints….

and with space...

.

and with painting using a palette knife.

#2 Study of Two Paint Tubes

in color...

A Study of Two Paint Tubes

The young and the old...

Study of Three Bottles

and possibly the culprit of my allergic reaction when using oils.

Study of a Cup and Spoon

Four versions of a teal cup and silver spoon: 

Study of the Whole Sink

Now stepping back...

My family has asked if I'm moving my studio into the bathroom!


(These are three separate studies, not a progress sequence.)

Study: Sink Rust

A little closer still….

Those rust stains---those beautiful layers of yellows on the white enamel in contrast to the black holes and that scraggly drain---are what got me all started on these studies of our bathroom sink.

Study: Sink Objects

Little closer study of our bathroom sink...

Study: Our Bathroom Sink

Some of my first subjects for painting were of the sinks in a house I was renting at the time. From there I went on to paint many different sinks, lots that belonged to my friends and others I found in my travels. Well, here I am again, at my bathroom sink. I'm actually surprised it's the first time I've painted it!

Study of Yellow Flowers and a Jar

Continuing my studies in gray but I couldn't resist adding a little color this time...

Gray Study of Two Cups

With these I tried something different: I premixed my grays.  I made the darkest gray I could with my red, yellow and blue.  Then, using white, I mixed five incrementally lighter shades and started painting. I tried to limit myself to my six choices.  It's a good exercise in really seeing and comparing values.  Since doing these studies, I find myself staring at scenes or objects and imagining how I would paint them in grays.

Gray Study of a Single Cup

Studies in Gray

Study: Little Green Pin Cushion

4" x 6" Acrylic on watercolor paper

I'm back to working with house paints---interior latex satin, my favorite.  Back when I was doing my pigeon studies in oil I started getting blisters on my hands---an allergic reaction to something in my paints or with the solvent.  It has happened before but this time it was pretty bad. The sores have completely healed now but I haven't felt yet like trying to figure out what exactly I'm allergic to nor have I felt like wearing gloves. I do miss working in oil though.  So while I get back into the swing of painting and contemplating how to return to oils, I'm practicing all the basics. Coming soon are a series of gray tonal studies with the house paints.

#11 Study of Two Pigeons

8" x 10" mixed media on watercolor paper

This is Beetle (on the right) and Robert on the railing of our porch right outside from where I paint. I tried to capture them being sweet with each other. This is the same porch that I have the large cage from which I nursed her back to health.  I keep the cage door open and put food in there once a day.  They both go in to eat and then hang out throughout the day on the railing.  I have read that pigeons mate for life but that must only be in the complete wild as I have seen otherwise in our flock.

#10 Study: Pigeon Turning

!0" x 8" mixed media on watercolor paper

I'm further enjoying the crayons and house paints.  The combo seems perfect for these quick studies.    Instead of a pastel sketch then a separate oil painting ---I draw quickly then paint directly over my marks. It's really quite fun. I'm tempted to add some regular acrylic paints for more color variety but I'm challenging myself for now to keep the palette simple with just the three colors and white.

Study: Jar of Safflower Seed

10" x 8" mixed media on watercolor paper

Our pigeons favorite treat is safflower seeds.  This is a jar that I keep by the door to the back porch. All I have to do is shake it and they come right away.

I did this with caran d'ache (water soluble crayons) and house paints.  Some of my first paintings were done with house paint. I often return to this medium, it's feels refreshingly uncomplicated. I keep the palette simple---red, yellow, blue and white.

Double Study of Pink Soap

5 3/4 " x 6",  acrylic house paints on panel