Wednesday, September 4, 2013

Small Portraits in Oil

Quiet Manner
oil on 5 x 7 inch paper
available on Etsy

As I have mentioned before, I love working with oil on paper.  These are all 5 x 7" with no border...I painted them laying flat.  I used 140 lb paper which holds up nicely to the oil.  The only thing I don't care for is that they are very dull when they dry, so I spray them with Kamar varnish and that really shines them up.

I have been gluing these small paper works to a firm matte board...also 5x7"... and that makes them so easy to place in a standard frame.  

Blue Wallflower
oil on 5 x 7" paper
available on Etsy

Night in White Satin
oil on 5 x 7" paper

Since my art show Friday night, I have watched a ton of movies...I think vegging helps the recuperation process.  :)   We spent a lot of time with family this past weekend too.  This week I am hard at work on a commission painting for someone in western U.S.  It is coming along nicely and I will show it soon...I have a long way to go...it's a 30x24".   It is so fun to work on big canvases!  I like small too though, they are easier to store.

Tonight, the newlyweds are coming over for dinner.  We love getting to spend time with them!

Have a great day whatever you are doing!!
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26 comments:

  1. Sue Marrazzo Fine ArtSeptember 4, 2013 at 8:12 AM

    So SWEET!

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  2. AnonymousSeptember 4, 2013 at 8:19 AM

    Nice way to work small. Love blue wallflower...xox

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  3. JanineSeptember 4, 2013 at 8:40 AM

    Love these pieces!

    Thank you for your compliment on my blog Lisa!

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  4. Katie Jeanne WoodSeptember 4, 2013 at 9:01 AM

    It's nice to take a break after working really hard. I do the same thing. :)

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  5. myra andersonSeptember 4, 2013 at 10:40 AM

    i love all of these and thanks for the art tip! i must try this paper! have fun with the newly weds!

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  6. DortheSeptember 4, 2013 at 12:25 PM

    Dear Lisa, they are so beautiful,- I love your : Night in white satin....
    Hugs,Dorthe

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  7. Paper rainbowSeptember 4, 2013 at 1:48 PM

    Nights in white satin my favourite.. lovely work, how I wish I could use oils this well!!

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  8. UnknownSeptember 4, 2013 at 3:22 PM

    These are wonderful, Lisa. Each with her own personality. As a pencil artist, I've been back and forth with that 'do I spray it or not?" issue. I'm starting to get braver about it. Do you use the clear gloss? I've been hearing that's the best for works on paper, but I'm not an expert on that!

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    1. Lisa Graham September 5, 2013 at 6:05 AM

      I already answered Katherine's question by email and then it dawned on me others might want to get in on the answer.

      As far as I know Kamar varnish does not come with options like matte or satin or gloss. I have a UV clear varnish as well, but have not tried that one yet.

      Thanks again Katherine.

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  9. JanetSeptember 4, 2013 at 4:03 PM

    These are great! They each have their own personality. Keep 'em coming...I enjoy every one of your paintings.

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  10. padmajaSeptember 4, 2013 at 6:18 PM

    I would hang night in white satin in between the other two, they seem like making deep conversations, enjoyed them all Lisa!

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  11. juliefordoliver.blogspot.comSeptember 4, 2013 at 11:46 PM

    I love them all. Neat mounting them on board so you can frame them easily.
    Because they are on paper does that mean you have to use glass?
    How lovely, a family supper. I miss my daughter who used to come once a week when she lived here.

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    1. Lisa Graham September 5, 2013 at 6:13 AM

      Hi Julie, and thanks! No glass needed since they are mounted onto the matte boards...they are nice and rigid. When the "glue" (matte gel medium) is drying, I place them face down on wax paper onto a firm surface and then place a stack of books on top of them. This way, they are nice and flat and won't bow/bend while the glue is drying.

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  12. hmuxoSeptember 5, 2013 at 6:23 AM

    I LOVE them all but "Quiet Manner" is a favorite. Nice work Lisa!

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  13. Martha LeverSeptember 5, 2013 at 8:12 AM

    They are wonderful, Lisa. Arches makes a paper just for oil paint. I have some and I like it but I don't see that much difference between that and regular WC paper. I bet when you spray them the colors just pop out!

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  14. Libby FifeSeptember 5, 2013 at 9:06 AM

    I just love the expressions on numbers 1 and 2!

    Glad you had a nice family dinner. Very lucky:)

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  15. UnknownSeptember 5, 2013 at 12:28 PM

    I always love seeing your work Lisa. These look amazing..

    Hugs~

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  16. Tammie LeeSeptember 5, 2013 at 1:13 PM

    these are each quite charming Lisa!
    i hope your show made you happy. So much work can go into doing them.

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  17. Irene RafaelSeptember 5, 2013 at 1:18 PM

    hi, these paintings are charming. thanks for discussing your process. i paint with acrylics but your oils give me some courage to try them.

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  18. Joan Princing ArtSeptember 5, 2013 at 1:52 PM

    Hey There Lisa,

    Mentioned you today at my art blog ...

    :o)

    Joan

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  19. CoreopsisSeptember 5, 2013 at 4:15 PM

    These are small! I never would have guessed that. But they are so charming. I love how different they all look, and how sweet their expressions (and I don't mean that in any kind of negative way). I've never tried oil on paper before. I still have all my oils paints from a million years ago, but they're probably all rock hard or something by now. The smoothness sounds good.

    Your show also looks like great fun. I'd like to wander around there looking at all the paintings too! Fabulous paintings!

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  20. CoreopsisSeptember 5, 2013 at 4:17 PM

    Now I'm looking at other folks' comments--I wasn't the only one who said "charming". And they are--in a lovely slightly off-kilter sort of way.

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  21. Magic Love CrowSeptember 5, 2013 at 8:43 PM

    Your new art is stunning, as always Lisa ;o) Congrats on the commission! I would love to do a larger painting! I should one of these days ;o) Take Care ;o)

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  22. Kim Henkel CreationsSeptember 5, 2013 at 10:48 PM

    Lovely portraits Lisa! Your show looked wonderful too - you have been so busy, and you say you needed to take a break and yet you still had new paintings to show us, and a large commissioned piece on the go! You are amazing!

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    1. Lisa Graham September 6, 2013 at 5:44 AM

      Thanks Kim! Don't be too impressed, these were finished two weeks ago. The only thing I am doing this week is the commission painting and to me, painting is resting. :)

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  23. PiaRomSeptember 6, 2013 at 6:23 AM

    Your art really grows every time I look at it :) Night in white satin is my very favorite...love the contrasts in it so much ♥ Conny
    http://piaromsartjournaling.blogspot.de

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