CrashOctopus Blog

Larry’s Warrior painted by Meg Lyman

12×18 ish oil on masonite

I attended another of Larry Elmore’s painting classes in September. We all used the same drawing and he showed us how to paint it. Mine isn’t great – there are a few things I’d like to change – but I learned a LOT. It was so fun to be with other artists, painting 10-12 hours a day, learning, and having a great time. It was great to see how much I’d improved from the first class, and how much easier I find oils now than I did then. Much less frustrating. Fun, even! I itch to do larger, grander paintings, and gouache doesn’t do well with large, expansive areas.

This class also got me thinking about my career and life. More on that later.

Thanks, Larry! Also, critiques welcome.

D. Jobby Mabob by Meg Lyman

8×8″ oil on panel

$100 – e-mail to purchase

Hey everyone! First of all, I’ll be at Anime Weekend Atlanta in a couple weeks. If you’re going, stop by the table! I’ll have my 2012 calendars for sale. Don’t worry – I’ll post here after I’m done with cons for the year.

Also, I just got back from a fabulous art class. I spent a week with a bunch of other crazy artist nerds painting fantasy scenes at Larry Elmore’s class. It’s my third class with him and I learn so much every time. Plus, he’s a fantastic guy. I’ll post the art we did once I get the finishing touches done. Which may be months.

Finally, I’ll be at Con on the Cob next month in Ohio. Woohoo!

p.s. the critter in this still life is a plush by Lexi.

Rainbow Pig by Meg Lyman

6×8″ oil on cradled board

SOLD

I’ve been quiet lately because I’m preparing for my wedding. It’s just a giant formal party on steroids, but it takes waaaay too much time to prepare. Almost there! I hope to resume regularly scheduled arting shortly.

Octoleopard by Meg Lyman

16×20″ oil on canvas

SOLD

A commission. I love the feel of oil paint, but canvas is a bit bumpy for my taste. Also, the drying time… gaaak. By the time it’s dry enough to continue, I’ve lost my momentum and have to kick-start my interest. Gouache has spoiled me.

Lunch Surprise by Meg Lyman

1.25″ x 2.5″ oil on Claybord

SOLD

YUM.  eep!

Painted Shark by Meg Lyman

5×7″ oil on board

$85 – e-mail to purchase

Trouble by Meg Lyman

6×12″ oil on canvas

SOLD

I’ve been going crazy with the oil paints recently! I finally bought some new equipment to help me organize the mess, and consequently, have a system where I can switch from working on gouache to oil and back without much trouble. This was my first oil painting in 18 months, and it was a re-learning process. It made me remember that, at least on a small scale, canvas is a lot harder to work with than gessoed board. Larry Elmore mentioned the difficulties of painting an eyeball that’s the same size as the bumps in the canvas, and I’m nowhere near that level of detail, but I feel his pain. I think I’ll stick to loose, abstract work on the canvases I have, and buy boards for the future. The difference is in the details:

Art frustrations are always learning experiences. ;)

Greentopus by Meg Lyman

Oil on teeny tiny 2×2″ canvas

SOLD

Well, that was fun. Volunteering at a convention or other art-related event really makes it more enjoyable. You feel like you’re contributing, you meet all sorts of cool people, and you get the satisfaction of a hard day’s work spent helping others. I also went to fish class at the Georgia Aquarium and am now certified to stand by the cuttlefish tank for 4 hours, engaging guests about our charming cephalopod friends. I cannot think of a better way to spend 4 hours.

At FWA I did a lot of doodles and sketch commissions and even sold a mini painting of a blue leatherback turtle. Did you know they’re the largest turtles on earth? I didn’t, but now I do and so do you! Also I learned that boxer crabs have anemones growing on their claws and they look like little cheerleaders and I totally have to paint that now. Little skirt and all.

So I’m at it again… I broke out the oil paints. Every once in a while I get the urge. Sometimes it’s just that I want a break from gouache (as much as I love it), and sometimes it’s as simple as “hey I’ve had this cool-shaped canvas sitting here for months! I shall do something with it!” Since gouache doesn’t stick to canvas, I have few options.

Oils have this delightful quality to them that’s hard to explain. It’s something about the glowy transparency of the oil that makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. The ability to layer and create large, smooth areas is a great perk, which I take advantage of every time, since gouache can’t do that. And they smell good, too.

BUT. I don’t break them out too often. The main reasons: They’re such a mess. They try my patience. And they take up a too much real estate. The mess: oil, thinner, and sticky paint that doesn’t dry fast enough and all the sudden you put a thumbprint in your masterpiece trying to pick a cat hair out of it even though you painted it 3 days ago. Patience: see above about drying time. When I want to paint, I want to paint NOW DAMNIT. And space: again with the drying time and needing someplace to set it for 3 days that I could be using for my smaller gouache commissions. And everything’s bigger.

Oil on left. Gouache on right.

Here’s a comparison list of what you need to paint with each:

OIL

• paint
• canvas or masonite or etc.
• gesso
• palette knife
• thinner
• oil medium
• dryer (i.e. japan dryer)
• varnish
• brushes to paint
• brushes to blend
• brushes to varnish
• extra brain cells to replace those destroyed by inhaling varnish
• patience

GOUACHE

• paint
• paper
• brush

But despite all that they’re out and I’m enjoying it. Maybe it’s the Spring in the air, or maybe I’m just due for a little crazy.

Remember last year when I posted about accuracy of sky color and mentioned a painting I was working on? Well, I finished that painting in time to get it professionally photographed before delivering it a Christmas gift. I finally picked up the CD from the printer, so now I can share it with you. Finally.

Chicago from the Lake by Meg Lyman

12×24″ oil on canvas

SOLD – Limited Edition Canvas Giclee prints available

The biggest lesson I learned from the experience was: gesso your canvas before use. Even the pre-gessoed ones. I had one strip of canvas that would not hold onto the paint. It lifted off even after drying for several days. I nearly tore out my hair. *sigh*

Canvas doesn’t scan terribly well because of its 3-D texture. And most canvas is too big for household scanners. So I had my pals at Silver Dog Digital photograph it for me. Apparently it was tough because I used a lot of medium on the top layer and it dried all shiny. Pretty, but a bitch to photograph, with all those specular highlights.

They also printed it up (archival) on canvas, full-size, and stretched the canvas for me. Actually, they did it twice, since the first one’s color was wonky, but only charged me for one. (This is a sign of a good printer. And the more I order from them, the more perks I get. Yesterday I was waiting for some prints to finish, and the owner let me watch Transformers on his iPhone.) Varnish, frame, sign and number, print a certificate of authenticity, which is required in GA for large reproductions, and I was set. Now I just have to sell it, and cover the cost of the photograph, the canvas print, and the stretching. It was a simple process and the print is full of awesome.