A Study in Multiple Mediums

Image source: Merlina McGovern

My last painting project was a landscape done in water-soluble oil paints. It took me a long time to finish, and now that I'm done, I’ve been thinking a bit about what I’d like my next art project to be. I’ve decided to work on a still life in multiple mediums. I had just purchased a lot of limes and lemons. They sat on my counter ripe and inviting. I have always had a hard time painting and working with yellows and greens, so I thought, yes, this is the challenge for me.

I’ll try to paint these citrus fruits in the following mediums: watercolors, gouache, oil paints, and colored pencils. If I’m not tired of those studies, I may try to tackle acrylic paints and just plain old graphite sketching.

I’m kind of all over the place in my art learning journey, but I really like the idea of having a long-term project where I can explore one style (still life) through a variety of mediums. I usually save my painting time for after work, and that means that I don’t have very much time for these projects. I believe that, ultimately, slow and steady wins the race for me, and I’m OK with chipping away at these projects a little at a time.

The first study I’ll be tackling is the watercolor version. I’ve already started my light graphite sketch, and I’ll think a bit more about the colors I’ll be using. Stay tuned for a post on colors, paint brands, brushes, and more!

And a quick note on the frequency of my blog posting. I’ve found that trying to post a blog post every single day was quite tiring, so I’ll be dropping down to a blog post every weekday (leaving the weekends for relaxation and maybe some other types of writing). I suppose I was overly enthusiastic when I first started, fueled by my angst after my layoff. Now that the waters have calmed somewhat, and I have settled into a more regular freelance routine, five posts a week seems much more sustainable.

What’s your blogging routine? Share in the comments what your writing regimen is.