First, if you haven't visited my blog before, welcome! I'm glad you took the time to stop by. This is where I 'hold court' so to speak - in other words, this is where I spend most of my time posting my latest efforts and answering questions about those efforts. Feel free to peruse the entries and make comments and/or criticisms on any or all of them. I'm here to learn and part of that is to take your input and incorporate that into my learning process. I can't make any promises, though. I may be on a track that's taking me to where I think I should be. But the occasional reminder as to why I shouldn't be where I am is always welcome! ;-)
Now, on to the answers to the questions...
Q: What is your palette?
A: The last few paintings I've been using tubes from my initial foray into oil painting at the beginning of the year, those being Bob Ross Alizarin Crimson, Cadmium Yellow, Prussian Blue and Titanium White. I'm also planning on using Bright Red when I do tomatoes. Yes, that's Bob Ross paints from Weber and the answer to that question is coming up... Within the last month I've been playing around with different manufacturers' paints, like Utrecht, Rembrandt, M. Graham, Gamblin, The Art Store, and Grumbacher just to name a few. I haven't painted anything with them, just mixing different combinations to see what works and whatnot. I've also been watching out for results of painting with Yellow Ochre, Cadmium Red, a Black, and Titanium White, too. So, if you have any experience with that palette let me know what works.
Q: Is that really you in the picture?
A: ;-) Yes, it is. There are so few photos of me that I had to use one that my very good friend Judy took of me in August while I was in San Diego. Here's what she sent me:
And that's what I've had to work with. I look intimidating and MEAN in both, as if I'm waiting for hell to freeze over or something, but I liked the greenery in the background. When I get any with me behind an easel, I'll change it. ;-) And, no, I'm not mean and I'm not waiting for hell to freeze over.
Q: Your profile says that you are an Airline Trainer. Which airline do you work for?
A: I used to work for an airline that was based out of Minneapolis, MN, USA. Since the merger I now work for the world's largest airline based out of Atlanta, GA, USA. I'd mention names, but I don't want to wrangle with the legal department. They have enough to do right now.
Q: How did you get involved in oil painting?
A: Eating lunch. You might think that I'm kidding, but I'm not. While eating lunch one day almost a year ago, I turned on the TV. Now, mind you, I've only got five channels on a good day. One of them just happens to be PBS. I saw Bob Ross for the first time and he just happened to be on whenever I had lunch. So, as it goes, I was after-Christmas shopping and saw a Bob Ross painting kit. I bought it and the rest is history... I've been hooked ever since and cannot get enough!
Q: Your first painting en plein air appears to be done using a Soltek easel. All the others appear to be done using a Guerilla box. Which do you prefer?
A: Wow! Quite observant! Yes, I use both a Soltek easel and a 9x12 Guerilla Box with a tripod. And I've just ordered a 12x16 Open Box M which I should receive in a couple of weeks. And if you're REALLY observant you've noticed that I've been working with 5x7 panels exclusively and have had to improvise, adapt, and overcome based on that size. Notice the panel holders in the Soltek and the panel in the Guerilla box that I 'screw' my panels into. (Thank you, Thomas Kincaid for the 'screw it in 'til you're done' method) Now that I've mentioned it, TK is going to E-Mail me a 'Huh?'
Anyway, I love, LOVE, each one of my easels. But each has it's own time and place. Metal heats up quicker in inexcusable heat like you find in the Southwest USA during the summertime messing with the consistency of oil paint. And I imagine that it has the exact opposite effect, yet the same messing with the consistency of oil paint effect, in sub-zero weather, although I have yet to test that theory. That would apply to the Soltek easel. Wood, on the other hand, can stay loaded and ready to go in the car or truck - except in the most EXTREME cases, which, no matter which easel you're using, will probably make you question whether to go out or not.
As much as I LOVE each of my current easels, the Soltek AND the Guerilla Box, I've got the inside scoop working for an airline and all - if you travel A LOT like I do... the Open Box M is about the size of a laptop and doesn't make the red lights start flashing going through the x-ray machine - unless you forgot to put your 3.2 oz or less tubes of paint in a 1 qt. clear plastic bag, one bag per passenger - like the Soltek always seems to do. Whenever I travel on a weekend trip with my Soltek, I always feel like Vince, the Sham-WoW guy, showing off the Soltek easel to the new group of TSA agents. Did you get that, Camera Guy? ;-) Don't get me wrong, I love to show off my Soltek, just not to people that don't appreciate it for what it's used for.
As a side note, I am NOT compensated in any way, shape, or form by any particular easel manufacturer for what I'm saying here. Not that I'd be adverse to being compensated, but I believe in being trustworthy. And with that said, I should be officially off the radar of any other legal folks that might be looking to wrangle, except for those representing Vince and Sham-Wow. FREE ADVERTISING - Twice!! Enough said...
Q: Do you prefer still life or en plein air?
A: I don't do this very often, but I'm going to assume that you mean still life in studio or en plein air. My choice at this point would be hold the wind, hold the rain, hold the cold, stop the sun, with extra color en plein air. But until I'm fast enough mixing and laying down color, I'm going to keep TRYING en plein air. And as long as I need to keep practicing a new technique, which seems to be always at this point, I'll do it in studio, which ironically enough means 'in study'.
That'll do it for the Q&A today. If I get any more questions that need to be addressed, I'll initiate another Q&A session. I enjoy these sessions because this is how we ALL learn!! Keep the questions coming!
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