Sketch Marathon Day 3: Berlin Turnpike
May 2, 2016
Berlin Turnpike. 8x10, oil and cold wax on linen panel. 2016 As I work through the sketches each day, every painting becomes a learning experience. I slowed myself down and took a little longer with this painting, for example. I also added warmer light to the tops of the trees and telephone pole to ...
Sketch Marathon Day 2: Winter Dawn
Apr 30, 2016
Since I have a large number of panels on hand, I'm going to spend the next couple of weeks working on some sketches and studies based on notan designs. By producing at least two oil sketches and a dozen or so notan sketches each day, I aim to start generating some ideas for larger works that I can p...
Sketch Marathon Day 1: Morning, 25 December
Apr 29, 2016
Morning, 25 December. 8x8, oil and cold wax on linen panel. 2016 I remember this morning like it was yesterday. We'd had a light snowfall overnight and the morning was cold and slightly misty. The light was so captivating that I grabbed my camera and ran outside to take some photographs. We could of...
A Painting Taken Down from the Shelf
Apr 28, 2016
Retired. 20x24, oil on linen. 2015-16 Finally! I managed to finish a painting that has been sitting around in my studio for ages. This was originally posted as a WIP here: http://www.portraitsbysimonbland.com/blog/post/retired-a-horse-at-little-fiddlers-green I started wok on this last summer. When ...
David and Max
Apr 21, 2016
Here's the final version of a portrait that I've been working on over the winter. The painting is based on a photo taken by Smiley's Studio in Fort Worth, Texas, and used with permission. I changed the setting considerably, removing most of the setting and props in order to promote a feeling of ligh...
How Do I Make My Own Painting Panels?
Apr 21, 2016
Some tips and techniques for making linen and canvas painting panels for a fraction of the cost of store-bought....