Conch Shell - FINISHED!

oil on panel, 9 x 12 inches
See previous post about this painting

(detail)

Over the last month blogging has taken a backseat to finishing the final paintings for my upcoming show at M Gallery in Florida, also setting up my new studio, starting private classes and workshops at the new studio, and teaching MFA candidates one day a week at the Academy of Fine Art.

Phew!

Oh, and I also started an amazing, inspiring ecorche class (sculpting all the bones and muscles of the human body in clay) with Andrew Ameral, master anatomy teacher from the Florence Academy.

So yes, I have been very busy, but really never happier!!

Comments

[Claire Beadon Carnell]

This is exquisitely rendered. I love the subtle coloring, and the compositional elegance.

[Deborah Elmquist]

This is amazing. I hope it will be part of the show at the M Gallery. Looking forward to meeting you in March.

[Carolina]

Wow, Sadie, I've been comparing the finished conch with the photo on the Dec post, I can hardly find any difference at all! It's a great piece of art, I love it!
Congratulations on all your classes, shows, exhibitions, you're really active, good for you and I wish you the best on every single of your initiatives :)
Best regards,
Carolina

[Gregory Becker]

You are such a good colorist. How quickly does your work sell?

[Gregory Becker]

After reading your posts on your workshop experience with Juliette Aristides, you said you had trouble with the paper you were using.
Can you recomend a good drawing paper for charcoal?

[Sadie J. Valeri]

Hi Gregory,

Hm, hard to say how quickly the work sells, it really varies piece to piece. Maybe a couple months to a year?

Drawing paper for charcoal is tricky... it's all either too rough or too smooth. Try Canson Tientes, the smoother side. Or Stonehenge papers.

I usually work in pencil now, so I'm not much of an expert. The problem with the paper I used with Juliette was that it was printing paper, which is very absorbent for taking ink, but has no binder in it, so the fibers of the paper lift off with even the tiniest abrasion.

[Sadie J. Valeri]

Thanks everyone for your comments!

Deborah, the piece will be in the show at M Gallery :)

[Anonymous]

This is gorgeous! Wow, I'm blown away.
-Lauren G.

[Gregory Becker]

Thank you Sadie

[lee]

WONDERFUL..was wondering if you use quick drying mediums, if not, how long do you wait for each layer to dry?

how many layers are in this painting?

[Sadie J. Valeri]

Thank Lee!

I use simple mediums, just linseed oil, stand oil, and sometimes turp. You can find the recipes I use if you click the "materials" link in the right column of the blog.

The under-painting medium dries overnight, the more oily over-painting medium takes 2 days to dry. I work on different areas of the painting while I'm waiting for an area to dry.

Hard to say how many layers... 3-6, depending on how complex the area is.

You can see my whole daily step-by step record of my process for earlier paintings, like "Sterling Boat", which will give you an idea of how long/how many layers.

Thanks for the questions! :)

-Sadie

[Paul Coventry-Brown]

The detail just blew me away and could stand as a painting in it's own right.
Absolutely wonderful colour and form, it is truly magical and I couldn't stop studying and marveling at subtlety of it.

[Sadie J. Valeri]

Paul I think we painters paint more for each other than for anyone else! Thanks :)

[Camie Davis]

Stunning!

[Sadie J. Valeri]

Camie thank you :)