My Palette

I've just started another painting, and I thought I would take a snapshot of my palette. I use a piece of wax paper taped to the palette, because it makes cleanup really simple. My paints are all Shiva Signature Oil Colors: Zinc White, Ivory Black, Raw Sienna, Prussian Blue, Yellow Ochre, Cadmium Yellow Medium, Naples Yellow, Shiva Orange, Cadmium Red Scarlet, Alizarin Crimson, Burnt Sienna, Raw Umber, Burnt Umber, Sap Green, and occasionally (not shown here) Shiva Green, and Ultramarine Blue Deep. I mix some of the colors based on the palette used by Daniel Greene, and some I've made up. Even though I mix the colors before beginning each painting session, I still often end up mixing further before or after applying the color to the canvas or board.

Richeson 75

I am getting ready to ship my portraits Ethan and Christian to Wisconsin, as they have been accepted into the Richeson 75 Figure / Portrait 2011 International Art Competition. The exhibition will include seventy-five figure and portrait paintings in oil, water media, and dry media, and is put on by the Richeson School of Art & Gallery, a division of Jack Richeson & Co., Inc. I have tried a variety of oil paints, but Richeson Oils - The Shiva Series is my favorite brand, and the one I use almost exclusively. I prefer these paints for their rich color (particularly alizarin crimson, which I tend to use a lot), and more uniform texture. For more details on the exhibition, please see my Events page.