Oil painting in progress on 16×12″ board
Click images to enlarge, select “All Sizes”
Previous first layer of same painting
I’ve been trying to figure out how to resolve this dilema: Since I started posting daily sketches and small paintings to my blog about 8 months ago I haven’t been working on any larger paintings, preferring the immediacy of plein air painting and direct sketching and painting daily. Now I’m working on paintings that take more than one session to complete, in both watercolor and oils. On days like this when I’ve spent my art time working on a painting in progress, what do I post at the end of the day? Do I post the work in progress, an older sketchbook piece, or nothing at all? Today I decided to post what I worked on today plus the two reference photos (below) I’m combining to make the painting.
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This painting has been my practice piece to relearn how to paint with oils. Today was a huge breakthrough. First I read an article about oil painting without using solvents that gave me some good clues and then I finally received the book I ordered, Janet Fish: Paintings. In looking her paintings and at my books of two other oil painters whose work I love, Alice Neel and Jane Freilicher, I got inspired and started painting. Instead of the frustration and left-brained how-to thinking that I’d been experiencing with oils I was able to just paint and enjoy the seeing deeply. That’s how it is when I’m painting with watercolors: I don’t have to think too hard, just work intuitively. Pretty exciting!!!
Jana Bouc, Artist 
10 replies on “Painting in Progress”
This is coming along beautifully. I like the idea of posting works in progress so that we can see how it evolves
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HOLY CROW!!!THIS IS GLORIOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I HAD TO LOOK AND LOOK TO SEE IF IT WAS THE PHOTO OR YOUR PAINTING! WHATEVER YOU’RE DOING — KEEP ON DOING IT!!! FANTASZMORIFFIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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This is going to be gorgeouser because it is already gorgeous!!
I know what you mean about getting caught up in the everyday.
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Thanks Casey, I was hoping people would give me their point of view on this question. Jana
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You are making great progress. Can’t wait for the next instalment.
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Gosh, i’ve never done anything with oil, so for me it’s a lesson in how to go about using it. I am wondering where you will take things from there. Will you do more with the background? I think the table cloth with the shadow is gorgeous. And about the vegetable: i see them as done. Maybe you don’t. But wow, what detail — the broccoli in particular. Stunning, Jana.
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very much enjoy watching the progress on this and seeing your reference, really like the colors, the bowl of fruit looks great against the yellow tablecloth, I also see it as nearly done
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Looks like it’s coming along great, Jana. I’ll look forward to your next progress shots!
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It is nearly done but I still have to paint the design in the tablecloth and touch up the carrots and mushrooms and maybe adjust the color of the upper background. But it’s getting there.
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You captured the glass of the Mason jar so well. I love storing dry goods in these. Speaking of trying to avoid sweets, it’s ironic that the painting below is of “good for you” veggies. Both are great.
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