Valta's Blog | valta.nl

An isle of traditions I am very proud that my painting "Winter. Hollum" is now a part of the Amelander Winters exhibition in the Sorgdrager Museum. The old island tradition of riding a horse-drawn wooden sleigh is being cherished, praised and remembered. An impression of the exhibition

Copying the Master Time to learn more about oil colours. I believe one of the best methods to learn is to copy something you like. So, back to whiskey and to my favourite "virtual mentor" Julian Merrow-Smith then! I adore his way of playing with light and colours. By trying to copy his work I am learning to understand more about the magic of light and about the techniques of painting with oil. So here is the result, still far from what I wanted and miles away from the original, but I enjoyed the process and I hope I've learned something. Here's to Julian! a master copy after J. Merrow-Smith. Oil, cardboard 15 x 20 cm.

Oiled and on It took me ages to finally dare and give the oil painting a try. I am still not certain about many things and especially about how to accept the enormous drying time and get used to the idea the painting has to wait at least a year to get varnished (yes, I'd like my oil to be thick I suppose, and for me not varnished = not finished). But I will find out. I am happy I am trying. I love to learn. I suppose I will need to study the process and techniques from scratch again. Glad I have some great books and great teachers on YouTube. And I will not stop with acrylics, I don't think I will. Acrylic is a great medium and I still have lots of tubes with it to use. So I started with some small studies in oil colours on well-gessoed acid-free cardboard. Unusual feeling your paint doesn't dry out on your palette within an hour; I still can use it the next day, and the day after. Happy with that. I love the viscosity of the paint as I am trying to paint alla prima. So hap...