Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Spanish Harlem is Finally Finished!

Spanish Harlem
oil, acrylic, tea bag (the dress) , ink, gel, glaze, oil pastels, Pitt pen
on 24 x 18 x 1.5 inch canvas
SOLD

I have been a painting maniac lately and I probably have about seven paintings I could post, but Spanish Harlem deserves a post all its own because it was a bear-of-a-painting to do.  Lots of lines in the buildings, every little crevice and corner calling for a different tone or value from the other.  Oh how I wish I had this color thing down, but I am self taught and it is what it is.  However, I am happy with it. 

detail of Spanish Harlem

With this painting I learned don't like to work with oils on such a large surface or on canvas.  I prefer oil on paper and for right now probably on a surface no larger than a 9 x 12". Oil overwhelms me, which is why this painting came to a screeching halt after the block-in was done.  I have much more control with acrylic and it's so much easier to wipe away mistakes.  However, oil is so blendable and the soft look of them is so pleasing, so I will keep working with those too.   

testing it out on the wall

So that's that.  Done!  

looks so different in outdoor light

Happy Tuesday!  Thank you for all your kind comments and visits.  I love hearing from you and I am doing my best to reciprocate.  Without you, there would be no point to this blog.

♥ Lisa

22 comments:

  1. Well it was worth all the effort Lisa, this is a splendid painting. Love the title too, makes you think :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Good for you for finishing and you learned some stuff along the way!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Beautiful! I love the houses, well done Lisa! :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Oh Lisa she is beautiful. I knew I should pay you a visit after losing my painting mojo as of late. Thank you for inspiring me! Keep the great works up :)
    Manonxx

    ReplyDelete
  5. oh my good gracious, lisa... 18 x 24!!!

    i love the expression on her face - and her dress. and the flowers in her hair, and the windows... i love everything... if this painting were hanging in my art room, i'd feel like a friend was visiting me...

    love...

    ReplyDelete
  6. It is feakin fabulous! xox

    ReplyDelete
  7. Wonderful work Lisa!
    I love her dress and all the details you have made on this painting!

    ReplyDelete
  8. I agree with all the above. I would add that I LOVE the stories I find in your paintings and my imagination has a great time.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I love that painting, the color, the girl, everthing, I love the way it looks on the canvas

    ReplyDelete
  10. Ta da.... give yourself a big pat on the back! Congratulations!
    I've changed my Facebook page (only my mom, my girls and a couple of overseas friends) so I can focus on blogging again. It just became too much for me. Have a great week. xo Carole

    ReplyDelete
  11. Stunning stunning creation Lisa - I love all of it, but the colours in the buildings and windows is amazing - lots of work, but oh so worth it. Beautifully done!

    ReplyDelete
  12. This is gorgeous, Lisa!
    I love all the colors peeking out here and there...and the lines and patterns make for such an interesting piece.

    Of course, Miss Spanish Harlem steals the show :)

    ReplyDelete
  13. Looks fabulous on the wall, more so in the outdoors! Loved the building backdrop that has propped her up to gain attention!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Beautiful Lisa! You did a wonderful job! You should be very proud of yourself!!!

    ReplyDelete
  15. You should do more of your oils on wooden panels Lisa and then you can sand the gesso finely to get a paper like surface, it also will allow you to be more aggressive with scraping and pushing around paint. Well done for finishing it, I have so many unfinished pictures around me :-( I also struggle with oils on a large scale and not sure I will overcome it. You are such a hard working artist, you make me feel lazy!

    ReplyDelete
  16. As always on my visits I am in admiration of your work. Sorry I have not called by to comment recently but having just read your message to me, I know you understand why. I am back blogging again now and hope we will continue to keep in touch with each other, thanks for adding me on Google Plus I have returned the compliment.

    ReplyDelete
  17. A happy Tuesday indeed.
    Keep at it!

    ReplyDelete
  18. You finished it beautifully, Lisa!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Oils can be a bit tedious. I think if you paint in layers with medium it is tamable. I hated them when I first started too. I would end up with MUD. But the more I used them the more little things I picked up. Right now I am learning how to glaze and it really does make it easier. I have used the acrylics and they drive me batty because they dry to soon for me. But this painting that you have done is beautiful. The way you put your colors together are so attractive and the scene as a whole is "real". I can imagine seeing this woman looking just like that on a street just like that. Its wonderful.

    ReplyDelete