How to Start a New Series of Paintings
In this series I was looking to do something different; I wanted to go back to painting with oil bar.
I started by attaching paper to a hard surface and painting the paper with gesso and pink acrylic. I then covered it with another layer of clear acrylic medium.
As I was doing this prep work I was contemplating life and the idea of doing things the same way again and again with no better results. At that point I chose to paint the series with my non-dominant hand, something I had never done in the past.
I began each session by practicing moving my energy out of my head and into my heart. You can learn more about that meditation practice here: Rohini Ralby's Practice For Us. The overall design and subject emerged from this practice.
The entire painting is done with oil stick, oil bar, painting knives, putty knives, razor blades and occasionally a brush. The diagonal line was created by snapping a string covered in oil paint. There is layer upon layer paint applied over 5 weeks. Texture was created by applying oil paint and scratching and scraping the surface when wet as well as when dry.
Oil Bar Painting Steps
Below is the progression of painting from start to finish:
Click on any picture to see a close-up
Some detail photos:
This is the first in the series Nondominance, To see works from previous series, On marriage, click here.
