As Far as the Eye Can See II, ©John O’Grady,
2014 Oil on Panel, 8″x 10″
SOLD
A few of you have sent me questions lately about how I go about making a painting.
So I thought it’s about time to bite the bullet and put a little video together. Now it is a small 3 minute video but in terms of putting it together, it took longer than making the painting. Put it like this, it was a steeeep learning curve.
I managed to edit over an hour of recording to just over 3 minutes.
Here is my first effort.
“Gone with the Wind” it is not but I hope it gives a little insight into what I do.
The first part of the video, the painting is flat while I apply an acrylic underpainting wash. Then, after about 30 seconds, the painting is on my easel for oil painting.
After I completed editing the video, I reworked the foreground so the painting you see above is slightly different from the one on the video.
I’d love to hear what you think.
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John-you make it all look so easy-the mark of real talent.Well done.
Hello Mary,
I hope you are keeping well and thanks very much for your encouraging words. This piece came together quite straight forwardly, that is more than can be said for the video but it got there in the end.
Excellent, John….it would be nice to hear comments along the way to know what you are thinking and how that drives what you are seeing. Love the painting and all of its detail, as well. I’m sending Sandy back to work so we can buy more!!! LOL!! (Just kidding!!)
Thanks Terry, I’m building up to the commentary but yes that’s the plan, I need a little bit more red wine for that though!
This is fascinating. I am intrigued by process. The vivid orange underpainting was a big surprise, but I can see it now coming through in the warmth of the foreground. The interaction of warm and cool elements really invigorates this piece. Interesting also to see how you use your tools for various effects. (How do you keep your hands so clean?) The video is very well done (cross-fading and all!). I appreciate how labor intensive this is, but I hope you will make more when you’re up to it!
Hello Josephine,
I am glad you found it intriguing. I have been talking myself out of doing this for a while but the bullet has been eventually bitten. I’m really trying to find a way to connect with people, so they have a richer experience when they visit. It was labour intensive but it’s early days so it will get easier to edit. To be honest it really helps me when I look back and review how I have made a piece. Thank you for your comment, more to come, hopefully with some commentary some time in the future. With regards to the clean hands, the larger the piece the grubbier I tend to end up.
Hi John, I thought your video was excellent and appreciate your openness to sharing your process: a sign of a truly successful artist 🙂 The painting has a lot of class and style also!!!
Take care.
Hello Jayne,
Thank you for your encouraging words, I learnt a lot about my process when editing the video, so I am glad you found it of interest too. kind regards John
Hello John, we sat and watched it with absorbed fascination.
I am in awe; even though I can now see how you do it I still can’t work out how you know WHAT to do but I suppose that is where talent, imagination and inspiration comes in. I feel really privileged to be allowed into this process. Congratulations on the making of the video which although slow and painstaking was well worthwhile – onwards and upwards!
The painting now has another dimension to it for me as I recall the original colours and how it all started.
Hello Christine,
That’s great that you both enjoyed it. The what to do part is linked to what I saw when the under painting was finished. I waited a day for it to fully dry before putting it on the easel to paint in oils. Then as usual, this is the point of entry, where it reminds me of a place or time. In this case it reminded me of standing on the Hill of Tara looking west across the Midlands and the patchwork of fields. Thank you very much for your comment
A fascinating insight, John, and an amazing process. What a brilliant visual memory and imagination you have to see images and landscapes amongst the initial blobs of paint, not to mention the artistic talent to realise them! The video showed the complexity of the process, I am amazed at how you can do this. A commentary would add another dimension and I am sure you will get there when you have mastered the videoing techniques.
The painting itself is beautiful and gives a real feeling of perspective and depth – brilliant work!
Hello Tisha,
Thank you for your comment and words of encouragement, that means a lot to me. It is a work in progress with the video and although it did take a long time it was rewarding to put it together. Glad you like the painting too,it does have a strong feeling of depth I think.
Well done with the video John, it was really interesting to see you work. I didn’t realise that you used the knife so much. amazing also to see the beginning stages too, ( I must say that I liked the blue and orange stage ) I think the video was a great idea, no harm that there wasn’t a commentary, in my opinion, it was very informative as it was. I look forward to seeing the next one! eoin
Hello Eoin,
Thanks a lot for that, this painting is a bit atypical as I wouldn’t be using the knife as much usually but it seemed to work in getting the distance towards the horizon. I am wondering about the commentary myself, that’s why I hesitated with this one, maybe an accompanying text might work better, we’ll see what the next one brings.
John, I found this video quite hypnotising to watch, and what a process to get such a wonderful end result, the technique was good to watch, and gave me an insight into your work, and to the painting that I have in my house. Well done I think this is a great idea, keep going!!!!
Hello Julia,
Thank you so much for the encouraging words. I am really glad you found it interesting, after the steep learning curve,I got a lot out of it myself. More to come over the next few weeks hopefully. I think it is a good way to connect with what I do Julia. kind regards to you both