So today is my birthday, and my family knowing my sense of humor added an appropriate candle to my cake. 🤣

#birthday #cake #candle #celebration #fuckimold

So after a couple of weeks taking care of getting my health in order (or starting to), I'm back to working on my mini portrait of @krishnadraws.

I had to make a big decision. The reference photo of Krishna is black and white. So I had to decide if I wanted to stay with black and white, or add color. As you can see I decided for color. While I have worked in black and white before, I'm just never happy with the outcome because it looks so bland to me. So in this case I chose to add skin tone.

Finally working in oils. This 6x9 cm canvas now has the under painting of @krishnadraws . Once this has dried I can start adding other colors.

I don't typically use black from a tube but use Burnt Umber and Ultramarine blue to mix a black tone, and then add white to get grey tones.

In this case I've thinned the color out with a lot of oil to allow me to basically sketch onto the canvas. It's a little more permanent than a pencil, but I've not found good pencils for working directly on canvas

Back to working on making study drawings of @krishnadraws. The glasses got out of control, and the nose is still rather wrong, but I think I'm getting the eyes looking in the right direction and the head shape is pretty close.

Hopefully this weekend I can get a sketch on the canvas and I can start with actual paint.

My first study of @krishnadraws profile picture for a project I'm working on.

I've still got a ways to go. I'm still learning how to do people's faces and it's one reason I've started this project.

Finally broke through my procrastination and started working on this piece again.

#CharlesBridge #Prague #OilPainting #LandscapePainting #OilOnCanvas

Our first Rose bloom this year.

#Flower #Rose

Our Peonies have bloomed too soon. At least they are pretty and smell good.

#springtime #flowers