Warm-Ups

Sometimes, when it has been a while since painting, I’ll just do something, anything to warm up the creative juices. These three paintings were some of those. When they are more realistic, I call them sketches. I don’t really know what to call these — warm-ups?

Even though it’s hard to tell from this photo, these are all the same size, 12″ x 16″ and all are oil on paper, which was a new medium to paint on for me. Instead of putting them on the easel, I put them on the glass top of my studio desk, and painted them flat. It was quite difficult to paint to the edges. I started by using palette knives and then as much as I tried to avoid it, it turned into a finger painting project, which of course, took me back to my childhood and the magic age of five. What was more fun in kindergarten than finger painting day? I had to use my fingers to keep the paintings from slipping all around the desk. I was a mess at the end — paint everywhere — face, ears, hair, arms, and hands.

The ones on the far left and in the middle will probably get cut in
smaller pieces for note cards or something. I don’t know yet about the
one on the right. It reminds me of something – not sure what – seems
like it has a story…..maybe your story. What story would you tell to go with the painting on the right?