First Originals for 2018 in Oil!

It’s a New Year!

2018

And the first couple of pieces have been painted in Oil paints ~ yay!

I have been wanting to extend my painting technique by learning to paint with oils. It’s a beautiful medium. The paints are thick, buttery, and luminous! But they take a long time to dry. Having been versed in acrylic paints which dry very quickly, it has been a challenge which is kind of why I put off painting with oils last year. But they wrapped me around their little luscious painty tube fingers and I can’t stop using them now! I will still paint in acrylics too, however, this year oils are here to stay and will be used on a much more regular basis!

So…here is my very first Frida oil painting in progress! ~

‘Frida’s Beauty’ Original Oil on Canvas 18” x 36” ©️ 2018 Tanya Cole WIP

Her face has come alive with the richness of the oil pigments. I am looking forward to seeing her with the completed top layers of linseed oil which will make her pop even more!

With Frida still drying, I moved onto painting another piece I had been feeling inspired to paint for quite a few weeks and I couldn’t wait for Christmas to pass so I could get going!

A bit ambitious…well, a lot really! I am attempting to paint Leonardo Da Vinci’s ‘Salvator Mundi’. I was moved by the expression of his face when I first saw it. I felt inspired to try and capture the elusive and ethereal luminosity of this beautiful painting of ‘Christ Savior of our World’.

I have only painted a couple of layers everywhere except the face…where there are maybe four layers there. There will be many more as I have not got down to the small brushes for detail and additional shading glazes as yet due to having to wait for each layer to dry.

I have been communing with this piece as I paint, reflecting on my own relationship with Jesus and how he lives within me and guides me in my life. I can not gaze at Da Vinci’s painting and the ethereal quality and soft kindness of the eyes without my eyes welling up from a deep connection to the reverence and meaning I have found in this piece.

So here he is so far ~

‘Savior’ Original Oil on Wood Panel 16” x 20” © 2018 Tanya Cole WIP

Given that Da Vinci painted 17 layers in ‘Salvator Mundi’…I have a long way to go yet! I will perhaps write another blog post detailing what I am learning/have learn’t from this process. Da Vinci’s style and technique were unique and masterful and so much can be learn’t from emulating his approach, paint glazing and brushstrokes. I am also toying with a few ideas of adding some of my own elements to the piece too, so…stay tuned!

I am looking forward to a creatively inspired year ~ hope you are too!