PS I Love You – Eye Study #2

It has been about a year that I have been painting in oils on a consistent basis. Most of you that are familiar with my work (www.jennpratt.com), know that I come from a dry media background. Pencil and Coloured Pencil have been my mainstay for years. However, it is time to grow and develop, hence the new media of oils. I am loving it!

Aside from playing in new media, I am continually developing and exploring my own personal style. Detailed with an old masters feel or loose, free and more personal. I bounce between the two, practicing and experimenting.

There are a few images that I routinely go back to paint after a few months to mark my improvement with the media. This image of PS I Love You is just one. I posted it in early March, and while at that time I was happy that I pulled off a painting in a ’painterly’ style, when I looked at it this June, I realized that I could improve the image and make a better painting.  I had grown and knew my media just that much more.

I always visualized the painting with the colours pumped up a bit beyond the natural.  This time the colours are cleaner and brighter. While the figure is still loose, it is more definite. However; the one thing most apparent to me, is that my brushstrokes are more deliberate. There aren’t the little stabs at the canvas, saying, ‘geez..I’m not sure if you should go here..?’ the strokes are long, natural and with purpose. I don’t think so much about what to do next, I just do it! It’s a great feeling

feedback and comments always welcomed!