This is my latest Genesis Oil painting but it's a lousy photo of it.
Someone said they'd do a tutorial on how to photograph paintings but I haven't seen it yet!
Anyway, the red is more vivid irl and the colors in the background are more subdued. But I wasn't as concerned about getting a painting masterpiece as I was in learning more about the paint.
I had an easier time of painting this time than the time before. I used a relatively cheap (Michael's store brand) stretched canvas that I was given some time ago and gave it a couple of coats of gesso. After it was all dried, I sanded it to give me a smoother surface. Ordinarily, I don't like painting on stretched canvas but this was ok for experimenting. However, I've found that the support definitely matters and will affect how the paint goes on. I saw where another artist recommends the Tara canvas by Fredrix because it has a coating with teflon molecules and the paints slide better.
I also found that the more you mix/mash the Genesis paints, the softer they become. I like that because you can control the firmness of the paint. There are just times when you need a softer or firmer paint and it's nice to be able to control that without adding a medium.
I had to bake the painting about 3/4 of the way through because I was painting dark to light and the paint tended to mix and give me mud. It went without a hitch and there was only a slight smell of pine when I opened the oven. This reinforces my previous observation that any smell comes from the support and not the paint itself.
I do recommend that you have a dedicated set of brushes for these paints just in case any paint gets left behind after cleaning. I had a high school art teacher who was a real bear about cleaning brushes so thorough cleaning has been firmly etched in my psyche! I cleaned my brushes until nothing could be seen and then cleaned some more but there was still a different feel to the bristles. I'm not sure if it's left over paint or what, but I don't think I'll use these brushes for other paints. I used a set of cheap brushes from Hobby Lobby and they were very satisfactory so I feel as if I can afford to have a separate set.
I haven't done the final baking yet as the painting doesn't feel finished. Any C&C or suggestions as to what it needs is always welcome. Even though it's just an experimental piece, it would be nice to end up with something decent.
Let me know if you have any questions or comments.