Back at the easel again

Remember I said I wanted to get back to acrylic and/or oil painting this year after a hiatus of a couple or three years (with minor exceptions, when I had to produce something for a group show)? I've been madly drawing and playing with watercolors since I started this blog, three years ago next month.
Gosh, I'm finding it hard to change gears, but here's a painting of fish I'm declaring is at a stopping point for the moment. I probably need to do something about the ice cubes later. Later.  It's such a delicate thing, to retain freshness, looseness and gusto, and yet be sure the painting is finished.This is acrylic on gessobord, 8" x 10". If it weren't for this blog, I wouldn't be showing this to anyone because it IS my first effort in a while, but there you are. Here it is. (Click on image for bigger verson. you'll see that the ice cubes need a bit of fine-tuning!) And on the sketchbook front, here's a sketch I made at a doctor's waiting room the other day. It was very narrow and I didn't have much room to manouevre or draw unobtrusively, so I hid my sketchbook behind a free newspaper and furtively sketched.

Comments

[wagonized]

Ton traitement du poisson et des glaçons est une réussite!

[Steph Yellow]

You can tell in the fish painting, compared to the watercolours, that you're using an unfamiliar (by comparison) medium, because you're not using the 'practiced' strokes you often use. I love your watercolours, especially the muddier pallette you seem to be adopting recently. Please continue with the acrylics, it's like we're seeing the works of a different artist who has a similar style to the 'watercolour' you we love. But somehow different. I like it. It seems 'gutsier' if that's the right work.

[Maggie]

Hello Dear Laura,

I am again drawn to the sketches and paintings you create on brown paper. I love the warmth and the mixture of rich colors. I also enjoy the loose feel of the fish painting...really! You and I are both detail oriented people and myself, I always feel like I must continue to add more detail when of course, "less is more." The blues in the bottom fish are incredible, and you've captured that iridescent quality. Lovely!
XOX M

[Laura]

Thanks so much, you all! I am really enjoying (when I'm not being frustrated ;D) delving back into acrylics again! There is just a tiny bit of finishing to do on the fish painting and then I'll be happy. I'm not worried about overpainting. With acrylics, you can always go back and undo!

[Paris Parfait]

The fishes are wonderful! And how you can manage drawing in a doctor's office without someone noticing and asking what you're doing is amazing! xoxox

[Africantapestry]

I love your fish Laura...they are so rich and vivid and I can't see what you would like to do with the icve...they couldn't look better. It is really a gorgeous piece of work!
Ronell