I used to work in Siikalahti bird tower. White wagtails had nest in the tower almost every year. These wagtail parents used to sit in willows next to tower. They picked insects from willow flovers.
Finished painting:
Today was the varmest day of this summer. Temperature did rice outside to 30C and in my studio up to 32. Maybe hotnes made me to paint cool winter lights again.
Arctic redpoll has been one of my favourite painting subjects. During years I have painted several arctic redpoll paintings. In this painting lonely arctic redpoll has found dried plant. One branch has been collapsed under weight of the snow. Seeds will provide food for this bird in cold February day.
This painting is painted with acrylics. First I painted all background even greyish blue. Next I painted roughly plants, snow pile and the bird.
Next I defined shadows and details of the bird.
In last layer I did add lots of details. Painting is now almost finished. I will have it on my painting table for couple of days. During this time I will notice if something has to be corrected or changed.
This is article of tools and paints that I use.
I made this easel for my studio. As you can see from pictures there is 3 different angle possibilities and it can be transported flat. You are free to copy this easel model!
Here is picture of brushes I use. I found that the oldest one was 22 years old. In another pictures there is some brushes that I have liked a lot. Winsor & Newton finest sable brush (11€) has been exelent, but Rotmarder-Kolinsky brush (3€) has been as good as the more expensive one.
Sometimes I use different natural sponges for making textures. Gras and trees can be painted easily with sponge. This sponge is nearly spoilt, becourse there is dry paint on it. If the sponge is damp drying is much slover.
I use Holbein aeroflas or Winsor & Newton acrylic paints most often. Ofcourse I have lots different acrylic tubes from past years.
I have painted the lid so choosing right color during mixing is easyer.
I also need different colored pencils and pastel pencils and vatersoluble pigment pencils. Jar holding the pencils is my first ever porcelain painting.
Mostly I use Harden & Steenbeck Infinity airbrushgun. It has been exelent tool.
And ofcourse artis has lots of another tools that they need more sheldom.
Winter light is wonderfull. Shadows are blue and sun paints birds with yellow or orange.
First layers of paint
Details are being done by paint and scratching
Cropping the painting seems to bring some tension
This is acrylic airbrushing and scratchboard WIP. First colour layer was airbrushed on Ampersand claybord smooth. I use Holbein aeroflash acrylic paints and Harden & Steenbeck Infinity airbrush. My plan was to paint very late evening scene in deep spruce forest. Tengmalm´s owl like this kind of forests and they are active during nights. In midsummer sun will set 11pm and there is light even during night.
Ensimmäisen maalikerroksen raaputusta
Ready painting:
