How to start an oil painting as taught by Lucy McTier. A portraitist since 1979, Lucy has the unique distinction of having both her sons to not only love art, but to be blessed with the talent to paint as beautifully as she does.
Among the highlights of Lucy McTier's career in art was her opportunity to paint President Ronald Reagan and present him with his portrait in the Oval Office of the White House along with her then five-year-old son, Jace, and her husband, David, in 1985 (http://www.mctierart.com/Lucy_McTier_Portraits.html). Lucy has work hanging in over 350 public and private collections, and in several gallery locations. Lucy also paints children's illustrations, writes prose and poetry, and paints abstracts as well as realism. View her work @ www.mctierart.com
Even if you are slightly challenged in the kitchen area you can make a great “gourmet” meal… All you really need to know is how to boil water!
Take your fish fillets – Salmon, Halibut, etc. and place them in a skillet - they can even be frozen – you will just need to boil them slightly longer.
Fill the skillet with enough water to cover half of the Fish Fillets – this will not be a lot of H2O : )
Bring them to a boil.
Add some black pepper.
After around 5 minutes has passed flip all of your Fish Fillets.
Add a little Garlic Powder and Parsley and let them cook another 4 – 7 minutes.
Take a fresh Lemon, cut it in half and squeeze a nice amount of Lemon juice onto your Salmon Fillets.
Remove the Salmon from the water and serve – I usually squeeze more Lemon onto the Fillets after I put them on the serving plate.
This is a SUPER easy way to cook GREAT tasting Salmon! Cook up some rice and the vegetables of your choice and you are ready to go! And if you are feeling really romantic throw some candle light and roses somewhere in the mix!
I started this portrait several years ago. Originally the subject was almost completely in silhouette and the painting had a very stagnant feel. That happens sometimes… It was great that I had the luxury of working on this painting at my leisure, devoid of deadlines… but also of inspiration. I would get frustrated and only work on it every now and then – I was truly stuck!
So I put it away…
Several years later, the subject of the painting transformed to my fiancé… I knew I had to finish it… And through a photo shoot for a portrait that her mother commissioned - I found an image… I started working on the painting again about 3 weeks before the “big day.” Having several paintings that were on strict deadlines before December 15 - it was a challenge (the wedding was on the 20th).
Needless to say, I did finish the painting and it was only slightly wet on the wedding day : )
This is the way I begin most of my oil paintings – after doing thumbnail (small) pencil sketches o n paper and deciding on the best composition, I will then stretch the canvas (I use imported Belgium Linen Claessens 13dp) and sketch out the painting using a thin layer of paint or a pencil.
Here is how I started the portrait: “Rachel’s Sunrise”
1. Find the image that you wish to paint… From a photograph or your imagination! 2. Do several thumbnail sketches until you find the composition that fits you’re the vision you have for your painting. 3. Stretch or buy a canvas to paint on. 4. Sketch out your painting by using a pencil or a thin application of paint. I mix a brown or grey with a good bit of turpentine so that there is no paint buildup when I begin – it is easier to correct mistakes at this point. I used a very loose pencil sketch for this particular painting. 5. Find your color scheme and direction – I really wanted to keep the entire painting very golden and not have a severe change of value throughout the painting. 6. Begin your painting by using broad strokes – don’t get too bogged down in detail! Have fun with it! 7. Finish it!
How do I know when it is finished? Salvador Dali said a painting is never truly finished until the artist is dead – but you can get it close : ) Work on it until it makes YOU happy – that is when it is truly finished!
Let me know what you think and how your painting turns out!!
