Colour and Texture Explorations

[Hermes2020]

I have gone through a slump in my painting and sculpting activities in recent months. I just did not feel inspired to create anything, and I think my shingles outbreak probably played some part in reducing my energy levels. Over the last week or two the desire to make things has returned and I thought it would be a good time to try some new directions. One thing I want to try is a more spontaneous application of paint, along with a series of colour and texture explorations. Perhaps if I tell myself I am doing experiments and exploring possibilities, it will help me paint more loosely and unselfconsciously. If anything worthwhile results, it will be a nice bonus.

Here is the first one: Exploration 2025-08-27 on hardboard panel, size 600 x 600mm. I wanted to combine deep reds with black. It started off as a free splashing of a very fluid mixture of black iron oxide powder in acrylic medium and a bit of water. The oxide gave a slightly gritty texture to the mixture. After it dried, different shades of red Griffin alkyd paint and Liquin glazes were built up on the white areas of the board.

It has already been appropriated by someone who loves the dramatic reds!

 

[Donna T]

Wow! I can understand why this one has been spoken for already! I’m glad you’re feeling better, Hermes, and it’s always nice when the urge to create returns; you feel like you again. There’s a lot of wild abandon in the black splashes and the red glazes are so rich and deep. Keep experimenting and exploring!

 

[Hermes2020]

Thank you Donna! It really is a good feeling to get back into painting again.

 

[joe1It]

Is wonderful

 

[Hermes2020]

The photo I posted was generated in ACDSee Photo Studio Ultimate 2025, on my desktop PC with a Dell U2723QE monitor. The monitor is colour calibrated, and a side by side comparison of the painting and the image on screen was identical. However, I was shocked to see that the reds were off and too bright, without any subtlety, when I looked at the Creative Spark post on my phone and my Samsung Pad. I concluded this was due to their different screen technologies. I've now corrected the colours of the photo, but using an app on my Samsung Pad, to get them as close as possible to the painting. Here is the new photo, which I hope will look better on the devices I assume most of you guys are using. I would appreciate some feedback.

 

[Hermes2020]

Just checked on my phone, and I see that the colours are now very close to those in the painting. I learn something new every day!

 

[Jade]

Beautiful Hermes

 

[Hermes2020]

Thank you, Jade.

 

[Jade]

Thank you, Jade.

I meant to say sorry about your shingles but I lost my first post. I had it last year and it's so not fun is it?! I'm glad you're back to painting.. this is stunning.

 

[Hermes2020]

I meant to say sorry about your shingles but I lost my first post. I had it last year and it's so not fun is it?! I'm glad you're back to painting.. this is stunning.

Thank you. Shingles isn't fun at all. If only I had known about the vaccine, I could have avoided the discomfort.

 

[Jade]

Thank you. Shingles isn't fun at all. If only I had known about the vaccine, I could have avoided the discomfort.

Yeh.. horrible. I looked into the vaccine once I got it, for future ref and at 49 I'm decades too young to get the vaccine on the NHS in the UK and it's £££ privately. Though I had horrible pain i was grateful it was only that as I then heard stories of people losing their eyesight from it!

 

[joe1It]

Just checked on my phone, and I see that the colours are now very close to those in the painting. I learn something new every day!

Yes, It seems more like seeing live, the real drawing. I'm sorry about the fire of Sant'Antonio.

 

[Hermes2020]

Thanks, Joe. I can attest to the fact that the name "fuoco di Sant'Antonio" is very apt!

 

[Donna T]

The reds have more depth and subtle variations on my screen now, Hermes. Could you adjust every single thing I’ve ever posted please? Just kidding but it’s an ongoing frustration!