This is something I've been wanting to do for some time now: record a time-lapse of me doing an oil painting.
Usually I use a set of painting knives to lay the paint on the canvas. However, this time I decided to use brushes since I have not used brushes in a long time. First, I start with a ground of burnt sienna on stretched canvas. The burnt sienna sparkles through the semi-transparent layers of paint, adding a vibrancy to the finished painting. I then draw in the shapes of the lily pads. Next comes the water. I finish the painting by embellishing the lily pads, adding the lily flower, and signing the painting. I did it all in one day. There is something about painting that makes you forget the passage of time.
The time-lapse was taken with my Canon 5D Mark II. I used a 24-70mm f2.8 L lens. In retrospect, I should have stuck with using one of my old manual Nikor lenses so as to avoid flickering between shots. I attempted to use LRTimelapse to deflicker, but something went wrong that I could not figure. Oh, well... I continue to experiment with it. I love the idea of documenting the development of the paintings I do. It helps me to remember the process I used for each painting. Having a record of the creation of the painting would, I think, also enhance the value to my customers who purchase the painting. They now have a record of how it was created, adding an additional connection with the artist.
Below is the finished painting. Yes, it's for sale. Contact me by email if you are interested.
The Jade Pond - Oil Painting By Carl Olson, Jr.
