Works in progress 'Hands Knitting' Oil on board and paper

Oil on board, first wash

Marked and measured, oil on board (looking at the work of Euan Uglow), first oil wash

Sketchbook piece oil on paper

Nearly finished, oil on board

Underpainting and painting from moving video

We did a group crit as interim project feedback the other day and I was advised to continue painting these under painting type pieces. I feel that these are improving my observational skills and making me look more at composition rather than just making studies. I like the way in which these paintings are just two hands hanging in space, not attached to anything but still making, in this case crocheting.

Much as I love the bright and frenetic paintings in primary colours, these under paintings feel much more considered (maybe much more grown up). Really starting to consider the mechanics, measurements and tonal variance just in two hands.

I am working on two more larger pieces, the drawings are on, but I'm not sure how well they will show up on here. I have been looking at the work of Uglow, beautiful measured, almost mathematical structures and would like to combine some of this way of working into my drawings and paintings.

Hands knitting, so far pencil on gesso board.

Video of hands knitting to work from movement rather than still photos.

Traditional underpainting and luminous painting - Observational skills in oil - Still painting hands!

It was suggested that I used traditional renaissance under painting techniques to get tonal values to make the shapes. Generally I find it easier and more natural to use line than tone so this has been an interesting movement for me (and quite a frustrating one). I have used olive green oil paint, as again it was often used during the renaissance. The second photo, showing just painting in green didn't have the freshness that I was hoping for, although in parts it felt like it was working. At the last stage (so far) I added red (scarlet lake - I think), where it has been added tonally I think it works but where it has made lines, it doesn't work so well. I'll keep going with it and update.

I have been looking at the work of Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Durer in particular.

 

Another very simple olive green under painting, I felt this worked better especially the hand on the right, the wrist and arm let the other hand down.

 

 

I also worked green into this, I liked the starting place for this painting and didn't really want to add to it, but it clearly wasn't finished. I have added olive green oil paint and some yellow ochre and white oil bar. The thumb is developing 3-dimensionality but the rest is yet to come, there is a freshness and looseness to the thumb but the fingers look totally solid and overworked. 

Nb. Looking at photos of my work let me see it in a different light, until I saw these pictures I had no idea that the first finger of the thumb hand was so large and out of proportion. I must learn to keep looking or at least keep taking photos and looking at them.

I do love these luminous oil paintings, this one is worked into the wet paint with a stick to create an outline where the paint has been moved exposing the paper underneath. I plan on doing a large painting in this vein. I like the movement, it enhances the subject matter and creates vitality.

This last painting was a quick sketch from an idea that jumped into my head, but I think it works, again right side is better (have to look at that).

This white oil bar over a blue acrylic background, drawn into and wiped away. Again - hands crumpling a piece of paper. I will use this technique more often, especially as as a starting place for paintings.

I am working and reworking these same images to really get some depth and understanding of them, to get to know all the shapes and movements of the hands.