Painting on Copper, the Verdict.

© 2013 R.L. Delight, Wave Study #48 in progress

This is Wave Study #48 from yesterday. I decided that I wanted to paint a little bit more on the copper to explore how it handled with an existing painting so I took another hour and "finished" the painting. Here is the finished wave study.  I wiped some of the sand wiped off too:

© 2013 R.L. Delight, Wave Study #48, 4"x6", oil on copper

I am not used to painting the ocean in the sun! It was also later in the day and the sun was in my eyes. Too windy for the umbrella. There was a lot of dazzling light and the values where hard to nail down due to the sun in my eyes. The sky should probably be completely cleaned off to get the sand and repainted. If this was a painting I planned to sell I would do that.
So my verdict on painting on copper? I believe I am going to like it a lot. I love the way the colors look. I will have to make adjustments to the intensity and value of the colors when I paint on copper. They seem to work differently than when I paint on canvas. Holding this painting up to the wave studies I have done on canvas makes them look dull. It will take a little practice to get the painting technique down but I think I will be able to make the adjustment fairly quick.
I thought I would wrap up the post with a teaser of sorts. I am planning to paint two self portraits. I am painting self portraits because the model works for chocolate and, while she is not always patient, she is willing to keep showing up. I needed a reference model for an element in the painting I am planning. I thought I would show it here:

Sea Dragon

She is about the size of my hand. I plan to start work on the painting next month, at least the sketching phase. Now do you see why I love being an artist? You get to order toys for yourself and no one questions since they figure it must be an artist thing!
One last picture of my mate and my sweet girl Twill waiting for goodies from our UPS delivery guy: