Shades of Blue: Returning to Oil Painting

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A Blue Kiss
Oil on paper
Alejandra Her

Have you ever returned to a passion you had forgotten about? Recently I decided to start painting with oils again after a long time without using them. For me, painting is a way to capture moments nd emotions with brushstrokes, without worrying too much about concepts or metaphors. Today I want to share with you a recent practice in which I used blue tones to create a small work on paper. Accompany me on this journey of artistic rediscovery.

On this occasion, I chose the color blue to represent a memory, something I usually do in most of my works. This painting in particular is based on a photo I took two years ago, capturing a kiss. Although many kisses have passed since then, I cannot remember them all. Blue is associated with sadness. I did not choose it because this was a sad kiss, but because it marked the end of a stage.

Choice of blue:

For this practice, I decided to work with two blue tones: phthalo blue and ultramarine blue, in addition to white, of course. I opted to use only these two colors to avoid being overwhelmed with an enormous palette. Also, the space I had available for painting was quite small, but that's a topic for another time.

Paper and process:

I used 300-gram cotton paper for this work. I began with a simple sketch and then painted directly on it, without doing an "underpainting" due to the characteristics of the paper. I wanted to ensure it did not deform or get ruined in any way.
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Mistakes and corrections:

During the process, I made some mistakes, most related to space management and organization. I even had some blue stains on my hands that ended up staining the paper, which forced me to correct those areas. I learned that in art it is important to accept mistakes and be willing to correct them to improve.

Every time I paint, I feel a deep inspiration that drives me to continue, despite any mistakes I may make along the way. Working with my hands in art gives me a feeling of relaxation and I find the process more fun compared to digital creation. It is a reminder of the importance of connecting with our creative side and letting it guide us.




My links

https://linktr.ee/alejandraher

Art and review By ©Alejandra Her