XVIII Certamen Nacional de Pintura Rápida de El Capricho en Otoño 2022

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Capricho park in Madrid is a gorgeous historic park. I signed up for this fast-painting competition because I like to paint in the parks here in Madrid and this one is fabulous.

I set up in front of a fountain. Painting fountains are my favorite subject matter in the park. I like to hear the water trickling and try to capture the look of it as it falls. The water sparkles and glitters as it falls and this is what I like. Here is a picture of the fountain. It’s a simple, yet beautiful fountain.

The photograph doesn’t even come close to the stunning variety of green colors.

The painting competition was from 9 to 2. Usually, I can never finish a painting in such a short time. I tried really hard to finish this time or a least to make it look finished. Below is a photo of my painting.

I turned in the painting on time and although I didn’t win any prizes, I am happy to say that my painting was selected for the exhibition.

I was number 40.

Here it is hanging on the wall at Cultural Center Gloria Fuertes in Madrid. It will be hanging there until the 25th of November 2022.

Here is a little clip so you can see the ambiance of the Capricho Park Fast Painting Competition.

Thank you for reading my little story.

Painting the Crystal Palace of Madrid, Plein Air -Landscape of Light – World Heritage Autumn 2021

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I started the pencil drawing on the 18th of September 2021.

I returned the next day on the 19th of September and added a little color in the sky.

I returned again September 26th. It had been raining in between sessions and the landscape became more beautiful.

September 28th

October 7th

Thanks for the photo Nuria
Thanks for the photos, everybody.

It was a lot of fun painting the Crystal Palace. I met a lot of nice people.

Thanks for the photos Equipo Ardilla

The Crystal Palace was granted World Heritage on the 25th of July 2021.

Thank you for reading my little story,

Victoria

Retiro Park World Heritage

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The Crystal Palace here in Retiro Park has been granted status of world heritage in July 2021.

This is the first of a series of paintings that I plan on making of Paisaje de la Luz. In English, Landscape of Light. Here is a little clip of the painting and the Landscape.

As I was painting, someone I had just met that day gave me the perfect name for my series and named it ‘Landscape of Light’. Nice idea Carmen, Thanks.

I got up really early this morning to continue with my series of paintings. Monument to Alfonso XII has also been granted the status of world heritage. It is not surprising at all; the monument is so magnificent. Here is a little clip of the painting with the monument.

I’m not finished yet, so I’ll be going back tomorrow.

Ozzy, thank you for this cute clip!

Enjoy the summer everyone,

Victoria

The Retiro Rose Garden, la Rosalera.

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The Dolphine Fountain
The Dolphin Fountain at the Retiro Park in Madrid.
I just started this painting last weekend.  I’m still working on it.  I take photos of the process of painting to have a look at later…

The Dolphine Fountain

The same fountain as above around five hours later.

I only paint with natural light.  On Friday, Saturday and Sunday.  I turn off all devises, disconnect for the weekend and paint all day.

Figure Painting

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Dante’s Inferno Canto IV in process – Mixed Technique:  Tempera Under-painting and Resin-Oil Finish.

ILLustration in Process of Canto IV, Limbo

Almost finished…(Inspired by Dante Alighieri’s  The Divine Comedy)

Canto IV Session 17

Canto IV Session 20

The mixed technique is oil paint and egg tempera. The resin-oil drying time is more than a few days.

When drying a painting with this kind of mixture make sure the painting is isolated for a few days since all varnishes are volatile and harmful.

The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri is as Divine as Epic Poetry gets.  There’s nothing pretty about the poem to paint and art has never been about painting a pretty pictures.

I’ve posted three sessions, the other sessions in between were mistakes taken off of the canvas.  ;).

 

 

 

 

unfinished

Session 19

 

Canto IV Limbo

Canto IV Limbo Session 10

 

 

 

 

 

 

Figure Painting

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Dante’s Inferno Canto IV in process – Mixed Technique: Tempera Underpainting and Resin-Oil Finish.

Illustration in Process of Canto IV Limbo.

Canto IV Limbo

Canto IV Limbo Last Session

Canto IV Session 8a

Canto IV Session 12

Canto IV Session 8b

Canto IV Session 11

Canto IV Session 8c

Canto IV Session 10

Canto IV 8d

Canto IV Session 9

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Canto IV Session 8

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Canto IV Session 7

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Canto IV Session 6

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Canto IV Session 5

canto-4-limbo-underpainting-session-4

Canto IV Session 4

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Canto IV Session 3

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Canto IV Session 2

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Canto IV Session 1

 

 

 

Dante’s Inferno Canto I Modern Language Version. Written by Jim Belton and Illustrated by Victoria Olson

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Canto I (49-50)

Canto I (49-50)

“and I lost hope of reaching the hilltop. I was like a man who takes his gains willingly, but when the time comes to lose, weeps and is full of sadness. The beasts came at me and little by little pushed me back down the slope toward the dark wood, where the sun did not shine.” 

 

I found Jim Belton’s  modern language version on word press; he’s been re-writing The Divine Comedy – by Dante Alighieri.  Click here to read Canto I.

 

 

 

 

 

Egg Tempera Figurative Painting Process

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Here I’m posting some of the steps of mounting a canvas and starting a tempera painting.
primed-canvas-on-easel
Here is the stretched and primed canvas on the easel ready to use.

In the spring there’s a lot of light and colorful motif, but it all goes away when the fall comes in.  That’s the season I prefer to do tempera painting; when it’s not too hot.

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This is the first step; stretcher bars.

Make sure the corners are squared.

3-stretcher-bars-on-canvas

Step 2; Canvas Material.

This is called Duck-Cloth.  It’s made of good quality cotton and is inexpensive.  After stretching the canvas, it is sized with glue.  I use rabbit skin glue ( in the white coffee cup) brushed on the canvas lightly with a wide brush.

Primer

Primer

Once the canvas has been sized and is completely dry, it is primed. It’s made by mixing  3 equal parts of zinc oxide, calcium sulfite and rabbit skin glue.  I buy these ingredients here in Madrid; most art stores have these products. 

Primed Canvas

Primed Canvas

Primed.

It takes about a day and a half to stretch, size and prime a canvas because of the drying time.

charcoal-drawing

Charcoal drawing on canvas

I made a quick charcoal drawing on the canvas to put everything more or less where it belongs.

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Mixing the Emulsion

Here is my set up with newspaper, brushes, spray bottle, pigments,  water container. This is a water-based medium.

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Pigment mixed with emulsion and water container

When the emulsion and the pigments are mixed together, they should stand up, not run to meet the surface of the table.

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Session 1 Light egg tempera under painting

This is the first session.

session-2-building-up-color

Session 2 Building up Color

Session 2. Building up Color.

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Session 3

This is the 3rd session.  One of the things I like about painting is that I don’t know exactly what it will look like when it’s finished. This painting is still in process.