An artist friend gave me a copper panel from Raymar. I may be in love….

It is little- 10″ x 10″ which is tiny for me. I figured it was just big enough for a small, snuggly portrait of my daughter and my grandson. I started it a few months ago and recently varnished it. You may have seen the video on Instagram this week. 

https://www.instagram.com/christine_swann/

This painting has made me smile every time I look at it.  

And I found I love the surface. So slick and so that makes for lovely textures. You would think that would make the oil transitions soft and blendy, and yes, I can do that too, but it really enhances the mark making. Which is something I have been trying to work on recently. It has been a nice change of pace for me and a challenge to learn on a new surface with a limited palette. I had a lot of fun with it.  

Here are some photos in development below. It is cool to go back and see what I liked early on and what changed. I later added more layers and then even scratched into the surface in the hair and for her earrings and dath piercing. Funny story- when my daughters got their dath piercings I was going to get one with them in solidarity. They were getting them done to help with headaches-  which worked, btw- but the tattoo shop said my ears did not have right shape so it would not work for me….ah, bummer (sarcasm) It was pretty painful apparently. The copper has a lovely warmth to the metal showing through the skintones and as you move around the piece the copper glows and shimmers. I left a lot of the copper peeking through and it will not oxidize over time. Very cool. 

Anyway, so today I took it to the framer and we found a lovely little frame which will let the panel free-float in the middle of it. I can’t wait to pick it up and hang it on my wall. I know it will keep making me smile. Especially since they live so far away. I will see them again at the holidays so more paintings are to come I am sure! 

Until then I bought more copper panels and some aluminum ones too. I am actually foreseeing some florals in my future. Weird. I’m not really fascinated by florals, but I want to try some on these panels. And if anyone is interested in getting a commission of any of your family members on copper, I will make you a good deal this month. Holiday special! Makes a great gift… just saying….

Just reach out to [email protected]. I want to paint more of these. Give me a reason to do so! This felt great to do a little commission just for me. More next week.