Time Passing...

Who can't help but think about time during this season, when we turn the calendar page to a New Year? One saying about the benefit of time is that "Time heals all wounds". On a less metaphysical level-- perhaps more mundane, but nonetheless very beneficial for the practicing painter-- the passage of time often allows us to see, and therefore to correct, problems in our paintings.

I'm not an expert on how the human brain works. But I do know that it's very common to get "too close" to a painting--to be so wrapped up in the struggle that you lose sight of the way forward. In those cases, it's smart to put the painting away for a few days, and work on something different. No peeking! Miraculously, when you pull the painting back out,

Christmas Cometh!

Many of us are busily wrapping Christmas presents, as December 25th draws nigh. I've put my special "ribbon" (pictured above) on a few gifts this year. It's an idea that came to me last year, and it has gotten such a good reception that I kept it up this year.

My preferred painting surface is oil primed Belgian linen. I buy it in big long rolls, like the ones you see hanging in fabric stores. This means that I roll out and cut pieces of linen for each individual painting, in the dimension needed for that particular painting. I have to trim off the selvedges. But I love the way they look, with their sprocket holes and raw linen showing on the side. So I have made a point of removing them in continuous, long strips, which I use as ribbons in wrappiing Christmas presents. It's fun, different, and good for the planet!

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas!

A Bouquet

"Hydrangea, Facing West"
16 x 12, Oil on Linen
(c) Lesley Powell 2018
(SOLD)

Thank goodness that Trader Joe's carries beautiful white hydrangeas all year round! During a recent spell of wet, gloomy weather, I sought a pick-me-up by painting some fluffy hydrangea blossoms. The hydrangea can be intimidating to paint, because each blossom is composed of hundreds of separate little "flowerettes". That's a lot of detail that can really bog you down!

"Hydrangea. Threesome"
18 x 18, Oil on Canvas
(c) Lesley Powell 2018
(Available)

For me, the key to a strong painting is to see the big shapes of light and dark, and to avoid getting mired down in too much detail. To identify and simplify the big shapes--now that is the challenge! Meeting the challenge involves a lot of squinting, and using my peripheral vision. If I stare directly at