Scent of Success

This blog post may contain more than some of you lovely email followers care to read and if so please scroll down and just see my paintings if you prefer. Bloggers - I hope you can stand to read all that follows, it is maybe a bit more than I would usually include in just one post.

Scent of Success was a term I applied to myself yesterday. Before you jump to the wrong conclusion and think I have made super sales of my art or been spotted by some mainstream gallery - NO it is purely describing how my day was shaped. Let me share this as it was quite full on and rarely happens like this.
I did paint for 7 hours, I started early as I had in fact been up from 3.30am due to not being able to get back to sleep. I used this time though to find out how many people from the other side of the world were actually live on FB where normally when I log on most of you are asleep. I caught up on your blog posts too until it was a reasonable time to venture out into my studio.
Fleurieu Figs
11" x 15"
Firstly - already feeling like half a day had happened I tackled the finishing touches to this painting which I had worked on and off for two days. I had experimented with using Hot Press (smooth) paper after reading Jean Lurssens blog and thought well thats another challenge for me. I did not really like the paper but had done a lot of work with this detailed painting and did not want to give up. I was pleased in the end to call it finished and signed it. It it what I call a heavy, high temperature piece and each time I have tackled figs they always end up like this so maybe thats meant to be.

What next? On Tuesday we went with a party of friends down to Bremerton Wines to take a look at my Wild Faces exhibition. On the way out I snipped off a couple of sprigs of a highly scented Jasmine growing outside the cellar door. Its lovely scent has filled my studio even from this tiny piece so you can imagine the intensity of the perfume on the actual creeper at the winery.
Little sprig to paint from life
Starting my next painting at about 9am I decided to try another new paper - 425gsm High White Saunders Waterford Cold Pressed as I thought the bright white would help me with the little white blooms of the creeper. It was lovely paper to paint with and I think my joy and free abandon comes through creating a painting in my most favourite way- no drawing and compose on the fly. I first started with it in portrait view but quickly decided to turn it landscape.
Scent of Jasmine
11" x 15"
But Still more - At this stage I did stop for some lunch and had to remain indoors as the rain was coming down so hard I would never make it back over to the studio. During this time I ventured on facebook and found a challenge ( by Memories are made with Portraits) to paint a Barn Owl. I thought yes - this would be good to work on this afternoon. Back to the studio as soon as I could.

Reference supplied by
Memories are Made with Portraits
I am showing you the reference image they provided along with my painted version where I have also worked to create my own drama and texture for a background. Hope you like him.  I was on quite a high when I finished him by 4pm totally exhausted from my 12 hour day already and so considered my day had in fact been filled with the scent of success and so I am Taking the High Position for today.
(PS thanks if you have read it to the end of my Novel!!)

Taking the High Position
15" x 11"

Comments

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  2. Wow what a productive day. Sorry you did not like the hot pressed paper. I only use Arches hot pressed where the paint really sits on top of the paper and you can paint really loose watercolors. I don't really use it for detail painting. I have just changed over to Saunders Waterford cold pressed paper and absolutely love the way it takes paint. Your barn owl is lovely and I like the textured background. Looks like you used some salt for the textures. Really nice.

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    1. Thanks Jean,productive for sure, yes I did use salt, glad it gave me the look I was after as sometimes even with the same pigment the result is not always what I am after

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  3. I really can't get on with hot pressed paper. I think I need more practice with it as it seems to dry too quickly for me and leaves me with hard edges I don't always want!! I love the Jasmine painting... just how I like to paint.....letting something evolve on the paper but not an easy way to paint and doesn't always turn out, so Kudos to you!!

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    1. Thanks Judith, its my love painting like the Jasmine. Not sure I will be bothering with hot press paper much

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  4. Lovely post. I read every word. I don't like hot pressed paper and prefer to use rough, I think it holds the water longer and is better for texture. It's not fun when you can't sleep but in the end you had a wonderful day.

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    1. Thanks for reading my novelette Polly, never sure whther to write little or lots. I have predominately used Rough but of late have been using the medium CP and just go back to the rough for rougher textures if you know what I mean

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  5. I've read the whole novel :) and what a productive day you had! All paintings are beautiful!

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  6. Wow, a sleepless night really brought some great results ! Love how you made the owl come to life, but they are all great works !

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    1. Thanks Jane, not sure if it was lack of sleep but then again maybe it was LOL

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  7. Look a like you had a productive day lorraine ... We have fresh Figs i re ally like the composition ...keep playing with hot press it is a beautiful paper to work on .... Ja semine is succhi a delicate flowers i like the light ness of your painting ... You must have bene re ally please the owl ... Great RESULT

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  8. Worry lorraine ....i have the italian spell check on ... My reply comment is full of mistakes

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    1. Not to worry Jane, I understood the comment and thank you. Having feed back makes it so worthwhile blogging,I cannot possibly exhibit even 10% of what I paint so showing it here at least gets some exposure

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  9. I would say that you should stop sleeping(LOL) ... too nice to have a number of productive hours of work so beautiful and so well done!
    Congratulations !!!!!

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  10. Wow! I'm exhausted just hearing about your day!!! These are all nice but I really like the figs and the looseness of the jasmine. Can you send a little of that fragrance over here?

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    1. Thanks Joan, the perfume is still in the air in my studio 4 days later and from such a tiny piece.

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  11. Wow Lorraine! I really like your fig, jasmine, and owl! Very productive and great results!

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  12. I would have been out cold by the afternoon, you have energy! I love your figs, jasmine and owl paintings. Beautiful work on all three!

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    1. Energy that day Celia but I have not painted since, just a bit of framing

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  13. Dear Lorraine - Hurray! - what a gorgeous perfect painting day - all your work speaks of success too. I love your owl, figs and jasmine. Thank you for sharing. I love seeing what you are always painting. Hope you have a great week-end. God Bless

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  14. Thanks Debbie, great weekend for sure, it's is our grandsons first birthday on Saturday and our wedding anniversary on Sunday so lots of celebration

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  15. A very productive day indeed, Lorraine. Incredible amount of energy - I am duly impressed. Your paintings are inspired.

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  16. Hello Lorraine:) How beautiful! My favorite is the owl but the flowers are also amazing and I'm glad you stig to the figs. Such warm colors. You did a great job and I love your art!! Hugs. xx

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    1. You are so kind Renate, lovely to be sharing art with you

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