23, 1-1/2 layers and 1 month later

Sky Pads 23–background

Left side has only the first pass, right side has the second. Painting will need a third, too.

Because a few weeks have passed since I posted the background, I thought it might be a good idea to refresh everyone’s memory. Besides art fairs and a horse portrait and a horse show stalling things (sorry about the unintended pun) I had quite a bit of manufactured delay because I couldn’t decide what colors the lily pads should be.

When indecision happens I have to just let it be until my brain has had time to consider various alternatives and somehow arrive, with no predetermined strategy on my part, to an answer that seems right. And that takes whatever time it takes. A mix of golden yellow and brown appears to be doing the trick. The brown is made from a combination that wouldn’t seem to be possible, but it’s one of my favorites and I use it for everything from trees to horses. Curious? It’s two transparent oil colors, Indian Yellow and Dioxazine Purple. I paint most everything with transparent oils because I want the background to show through. The last layer will probably be just purple.

By now you should be seeing the lily pads suggesting something besides lily pads. Feel free to comment…