Painting Shapes

Welcome to a week where painting shapes is happening, gentle reader. Guess what this means? Or if you would rather not guess, read on. First though, a warm welcome to you whether this is your first visit or fiftieth to this blog. Here’s more information about it’s purpose, if you’re new. To ensure you get each week’s colorful posts, sign up here. OK here’s the focus of this week’s painting post.

Practicing and Painting Shapes

If I were a musician, I would suggest that the work I have done on the canvas, this week, is the equivalent to a musician practicing scales. Why is that relevant? Well, each are helpful tools to put the mind in a productive place. Even though we don’t hear musician practice scales, they are a part of a musician’s took kit towards proficiency.

The same goes with shape painting. And, so, as I share a detail of this week’s painting, keep in mind it is a work in progress with more shapes to come! Here’s a larger version of the detail.

Wait…you might be saying to yourself. Is that a toothpaste tube and a toothbrush? Yes, that in fact is a part of this painting. Why paint this you might ask? One reason is because I heard an amazing painter describe her approach to every painting she does: she seeks out interesting shapes. That’s it!

This is relevant because some painters only want to paint what is meaningful to them. Or painters only get “in the flow” if the subject matter is…well…fill in your favorite adjective here. Now, don’t get me wrong!

Yes, I want to paint meaningful paintings. Yes I want to be “in the flow.” But I have (only recently) discovered that telling myself I am painting shapes, helps my mind work on nearly any object with care. I love the idea of keeping the mantra for what I paint simple. Hence my desire to think of this painting as an exercise in shape making.

This Week’s Shapes

Yes this week’s shapes are, let’s just say, toothbrush, toothpaste and dental related. Why? Maybe because I am getting a crown this month? Or maybe because I love the colors and shapes of the objects and wanted to combine them in a fun composition.

And, I also love the panel size of this painting: 6×12 inches. There’s something about that longer (or wider) format that pulls me in every time.

The Palette Star

As for the palette, I continue to work with a total of seven colors plus Titanium White. They are Alizarin Crimson, Cadmium Red, Yellow Ochre, Cadmium Yellow Lemon, Phthalo Turquoise, Ultramarine Blue, Ivory Black.

This week’s star is Phthalo Turquoise. Without that color in my quiver, there’s no way I would be able to paint the luscious greenish blue color of the toothpaste tube or toothbrush handle. Confession: I have had a rocky relationship with this color. Why? It carries a powerful pack of pigment and can immediately overwhelm any other color you may mix.

In fact, I love to read other painters’ description of their relationship with this color. Check the very last comment in this fine painting blog, where the painter said it took him 40 years to embrace Phthalo!

Palette Plan

Fortunately, I am using two each of red, yellow and blue. This means I must mix any other colors before I start to paint. This tactic is helping me understand Pthalo Turquoise’s wiley and overwhelming ways. And, I have to say it behaves no more boorishly than a little dab of cadmium red! Each needs to be used sparingly. But when used correctly, the colors are just a delight! Here’s a photo of my messy and delicious palette at the end of a good painting day. Ahhh! And, the left over piles get combined into one delicious color at the end of the day. Why? So I have a nice colorful grey all mixed up and ready to go at my next painting session. Here’s the pic:

One More Thing

Before I sign off, I would be remiss if I didn’t share a photo or two of a recent, delightful house guest here. Belle is her name and look at that sweet face! Insert fifty million heart emojis here.

She and Chloe had a good time together these last several days. Belle’s owner is moving back to the area…woohooo! So, we’re all looking forward to more visits and biscuits and wagging tails and doggie walks. Here’s the two of them after a busy day.

How About You

What’s happening in your world, gentle reader? Any realizations or helpful phrases, such as ‘painting shapes’ that are helping you in your creative endeavors? If so, I would love to know. Please share in the comments below. Thanks, as always, for reading here today!