The Stages of a in Progress Oil Painting

Oil painting is a time consuming process, and it can take about a month or more to completing an image. I paint in layers where each stage has to dry for a week before it's ready for the next step. It forces me to think about the image that's being created, because the individual layers will transform. Then when the next layer is being created I watch as the previous layer becomes unrecognizable.

So, I wanted to show the stages of my painting Underneath the Tree's. This particular image was inspired by a moment when camping in Southern Oregon, and I found myself alone underneath some big trees. I sat in mediation as I drew a creative observation of my surroundings.

The original Sketch in which was used as a reference for the painting Underneath Trees. 

Work in Progress stage one of Underneath the Trees

Work in Progress stage two of Underneath the Trees

Completed piece: Underneath Trees, 24.5in x 18.5in, Oil painting on Canvas,

May 2016

To see more art check out my Website: http://www.meganwainwright.com/
For some work in progress images check out my instgram: @roaming_creator
Any questions or comments feel free to email me: wainwrightmeganlynne@gmail.com

How to Master Color Theory

There are rules in color theory that I use when creating a color palette for a painting.

When I'm choosing the "Pure colors" to start my palette I think about how color is presented on the color wheel. I generally pick out one of each primary(red, yellow, and blue), secondary (green, orange, and purple), and tertiary colors (yellow-orange, red-orange, red-purple, blue-purple, blue-green, and yellow-green)  along with white (my preference is Titanium White).

When placing pigment on the palette I lay things out so that like colors sit next to each other. Sometimes I approach laying out color in a creative ways as you see in the example below.

It's important for me to spend at least 30 minutes to an hour mixing colors, so that I don't paint with any colors that come straight from the tube.

Knowing about these rules can help me figure out how to mix colors and create a palette:

1. Warm vs Cool: The color will either be warm colors (yellow, red, and orange) or cool colors (purple, blue, and green)
2. Hue: The hue means pure color, but some colors need to have tints and shades (to add black or white).
3. Saturation: The saturation is when the color is brighter or duller in the color intensity.
4.Analogous: Colors next to each other on the color wheel.
5.Complementry: Colors opposite of each other on the color wheel.
6. Split Complementry: Combines one base color with the two colors directly adjacent to its opposite or complementary color and not with the complementary color.

I hope this guild helps and inspires you to mix some colors. So, Happy Mixing!!!

Check out my website for images of my paintings: http://www.meganwainwright.com/

For some more in progress images check out my Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/roaming_creator/

To purchase some of my original art check out my Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/RoamingCreator?ref=l2-shopheader-name

Feel free to email me if you have any questions: wainwrightmeganlynne@gmail.com

#walkinginthewilderness #colortheory #oilpainter #pdxart #gamblingcolors #gambling #palette