Imagination, Sperm Whale and 29 Faces

 

She Had a Whale of an Idea
oil and paper on hardboard - 9 x 9
Face #13

Things have been getting serious around here.  Seems that I've gone on some bird tangent and what better way to mix things up than to bring a whale into the picture :)

 

I also decided to mix things up a bit and try some different kinds of faces.  I was feeling a bit in the need to cut loose and be more imaginative.  I was talking to an artist friend a while back and asking what she does with her left over oil paint after she works on her portraits.  Her answer was that she plays - she paints some fun, not-for-real, imaginative stuff.  I thought that sounded great - but really I had noooooo idea how hard that is for me until I tried it.  Honestly, I've been feeling like I have no imagination at all - give me something tangible and real to paint like a portrait or a specific animal - a photo to follow... but to dream something up?  Total painter's block - like zero, zip, nada - nothing comes to mind.  Its been stumping me for a while on what to do about this - because art is fun.  Its imaginative (or real) or whatever - but it shouldn't be difficult.  So, I've set out on a side trip along the artful journey and that is to try some silly, imaginative, make believe things - just for fun + I've really been wanting to paint a Sperm Whale :)

 

Face #14
oil on paper

Spring
oil and paper on hardboard 9 x 9
Face #15

With these, I'm half way through 29 Faces.   I did a little research on framing oil paintings done on paper - it really didn't look good.  In fact, it sounded like less than ideal and difficult is more like the answer.  Oil paintings can't have glass.  So, I'm experimenting with first mounting paper on hardboard - then painting oils on it.  Does anyone know anything about this?