It’s a long haul this oil painting lark. Today was a 4 hour block in session. I’m working larger today on a 16″x20″ panel which was a lesson in itself. More paint, bigger brushes, and trying to keep the shapes interesting at a bigger scale.
First the drawing.
![](https://i0.wp.com/micheleclamp.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/21-08-23-11-41-46-3324.jpg?resize=640%2C468&ssl=1)
All the main colors were pre-mixed as we’d already done a color study.
![](https://i0.wp.com/micheleclamp.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/21-08-23-13-23-18-3325-1.jpg?resize=640%2C853&ssl=1)
The main rose colors went in along with some of the dark greens to check values.
Starting the block-in with light and shadow colors
![](https://i0.wp.com/micheleclamp.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/21-08-23-15-44-40-3331-1.jpg?resize=640%2C515&ssl=1)
More colors on the background flowers.
![](https://i0.wp.com/micheleclamp.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/21-08-23-16-00-18-3333.jpg?resize=640%2C511&ssl=1)
The final block in with all hard edges
![](https://i0.wp.com/micheleclamp.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/21-08-23-16-24-34-3334-1.jpg?resize=640%2C488&ssl=1)
Final Block-In with Softened Edges
And the final block in with all edges softened. Next will be refining the drawing, sharpening up some edges and putting in detail. Phew!
![](https://i0.wp.com/micheleclamp.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/21-08-23-17-04-28-3339.jpg?resize=640%2C510&ssl=1)
Dear Michelle
Through following Paul Foxton i came across your beautiful roses. I love your shadow colours.
I am in the middle of trying to make shadow colours. Was used to do that by mixing with complementing colours but Paul’s teaching munsell opens a whole new shaddow world. Still having to get used to mixing grey/black for warm/cold shadows.
I would like to ask you if you would tell me the name of the easel you are working on. I need to sit in front of my panel and yours seems to function as a table. I would really appreciate it if you could help me out find a good adjustable aesel.
Thank you in advance.
Yours sincerely from the Netherlands
Pia
Hi Pia,
So nice to hear from you!
The easel I use is this one
Richeson Lobo easel
I like it for watercolor as I can angle it flat as well as having it upright. I put a large drawing board on it so I can have my painting surface and also my palette on the same level. The drawing board is a lightweight wood one in the largest size (24″x36″)I could get (ultralite drawing board). The setup works well. I put loops of masking tape on the back of my canvas panels to stop them moving about. I also do this with the value scale as I’m always losing it. I can stick it to the board and it won’t go walkabout.