Framed oil painting

14 x 16 (image size) oil on board

Texture ~ Adding a third dimension!

In my latest painting, Windswept, I intentionally added texture where I could to give the painting added interest.  Usually I produce a fairly smooth painting surface, but this time I thought it would not only be fun to use a palette knife and apply thick paint, but it could very well enhance the painting.  The idea came to me because of the windblown upper feathers of the Brown Pelican, which create a ruffled appearance.

Texture in oil painting can evoke a feeling of wanting to reach out and touch the surface.  It pulls you into the painting.  Beyond that, the raised edges, if applied judiciously, can catch the light and add a sparkle or a highlighting affect. It also can be used to create a sense of depth; to bring objects forward and make them stand out. I used this technique on the feathers of the Brown Pelicans in my painting Balancing Act, and the effect was what caught the eye of the buyer.

Beaches aren’t always fine, white sand.  Sometimes they are a pebbly surface, and sometimes they are covered with shells.  I decided to create this appearance of a not so sandy beach by thickly applying multiple colors in a varied pattern.  I had used this technique for painting the water in another painting entitled Morning Light.  It’s a somewhat time consuming process and it tested my patience both times!  ☺

The texture in the Pelican’s feathering was also challenging.  Careful thought was given to the angle of the palette knife with each application of paint, in order to put the highlight on one edge of each feather.  Where the feathers become smaller, the palette knife is a great tool for implying feathers.  It allows you to put little, clean dabs of color where many times painting the same feathers with a brush will become muddy.  

With the water I used brushes to create the smooth water’s surface and a palette knife to create the action in the waves.  

I love the versatility of oil painting.  Oil paintings range from glass-like glazed surfaces to thick impasto, with an unbelievably wide range of techniques in-between.  Personally, it allows me to take on each new painting with enthusiasm.  

I never get bored because even if I were to have to paint the same bird over and over, there are so many ways to paint him with oil paint.  

My first art class in college was an oil painting class and I’ve been painting with oil paints ever since.