Figure Drawings These figure drawings, created in graphite, charcoal, coloured pencil, and occasional watercolour, capture the immediacy of the human form drawn exclusively from life. Quick studies and gesture drawings emphasize observation, movement, light, and proportion, and are generally executed in under an hour. Life drawings reveal both skill and spontaneity, making the genre compelling and insightful. Click to view. Acquisition & Collector Information These figure drawings are available by private enquiry. Each artwork is accompanied by full documentation and a certificate of authenticity. To request the Figure Drawings Collector Pack (PDF catalogue with selected works and…
Figure Study Paintings
Figure Study Paintings These figure study paintings span a range of artistic development, from earlier works executed with commercial pigments to later studies painted using hand-made pigments. Most were created as smaller, rapid alla prima studies from a live model, emphasizing gesture, proportion, and observation of the human form. Click to view. Acquisition & Collector Information These figure study paintings are available by private enquiry. Each painting is accompanied by full documentation and a certificate of authenticity. To request the Figure Study Paintings Collector Pack (PDF catalogue with selected works and contextual notes), please contact the…
Sirens Paintings
Sirens Paintings The Sirens Paintings represent the estranged wildness we may feel in the presence of untameable nature; the salty ocean wind lashing our face, the crushing fear of being dashed against rocks, of drowning, of being vulnerable, of being alive — the luring song of the unknowable. Click to view. Awakening Oil on board, 23 x 23 cm, 2020 Enquire About This Work Change in the Weather Oil on board, 23 x 23 cm, 2020 Enquire About This Work Edge of the World Oil on board, 23 x 23 cm, 2020…
Figurative Paintings
Figurative Paintings A collection of figurative oil paintings expressing the evocative and quietly mystical presence of the human form. Each work is created using rare hand-ground pigments and traditional methods derived from the old masters. Painted from life and imagination, these works explore dreamlike and symbolic themes rooted in myth and the archetypal psyche. Click to view. Acquisition & Collector Information These figure paintings are available by private enquiry. Each painting is accompanied by full documentation and a certificate of authenticity. To request the Figurative Paintings Collector Pack (PDF…
Constantia Valley Landscape Paintings — Catalogue Essay
Constantia — The Changing Valley The Constantia Valley Landscape Paintings are a rare body of South African plein air works, painted entirely from life in the tradition of the Barbizon School painters, from 2008 to 2018. They document a period of observation and engagement with the scenery of the Constantia Valley, one of South Africa’s oldest cultivated landscapes and one of the most prestigious wine-growing regions of the New World. From the perspective of an artist growing up and working for many years on most of the wine farms of the valley, these paintings convey a first-hand and…
Mixed Media Figurative Art on Paper
Mixed Media Figurative Art on Paper These figurative works on paper, rendered in ink, pastel, gouache, charcoal, and watercolour, were created from life or imagination. The mediums are generally hand-made in the studio in the traditional manner of the old masters, and many of the works serve as studies for later oil paintings. Acquisition & Collector Information These figurative works on paper are available by private enquiry. Each artwork is accompanied by full documentation and a certificate of authenticity. To request the Mixed-Media Figurative Works on Paper Collector Pack (PDF catalogue with selected works and contextual notes),…
How to Stay Focused as an Artist in the New Year — and Actually Finish Your Work
by Damian Osborne Struggling to stay focused as an artist? This is how I’m changing my mindset for a better workflow and to get more paintings done. This essay isn’t just for artists though. It applies to everybody! Setting the scene: It’s the first day of the year as I write this (without A.I.) and I’m feeling all the lethargy and depression of an overindulgent and undisciplined Festive Period. My wife’s elderly parents have been staying with us for the last two weeks. Her aunt, uncle and cousin also came to stay for a few days. The social…
Christ and the Role of the Artist
by Damian Osborne I haven’t written a reflective artist letter in a long time. So this morning I woke up naturally at 5:15, the day after Christmas, with the neighbourhood cockerels blaring their insane cacophony at the rising light, and decided to just do it and start. Also, I will not use A.I. to write this and influence the trajectory of my thinking. This is meant to be a bit like Julia Cameron’s Morning Pages from The Artist’s Way. This isn’t supposed to be an annoying ‘better-get-saved’ Christian letter. However, on the day after Christmas, my mind is obviously…
What’s the Point of Creating When No One Cares?
Watch this video on YouTube What’s the Point of Creating When No One Cares? by Damian Osborne Last night I had a dream where I heard this beautiful viola and piano sonata being played. It was in C or Am. I don’t know if I was playing, or if it was two other musicians, but the music was my own, and people were listening and enjoying it. I woke up with the deep nasal tone of the open C string of the viola still in my ears. Then I started wondering if I even wanted to start…
Fantasia No.6 in G minor (The Cockatrice)
Watch this video on YouTube Fantasia No.6 in G minor (The Cockatrice) by Damian Osborne The idea of painting The Cockatrice came to mind when I saw a large rooster walking with a snake in its mouth outside our house, and it made me think of the alchemical symbolism of this image. This mixed-media painting, ‘The Cockatrice’ was inspired by a friend’s art exhibition to celebrate International Respect for Chickens Day on the 4th of May. What is the Cockatrice? The Cockatrice is a medieval mythical beast composed of a serpent or dragon’s body and a cock’s head, or…
Rebirth: Starting Over as an Artist — Part 1
Watch this video on YouTube Rebirth: Starting Over as an Artist — Part 1 — Preparation and the Hidden Light in All of Nature by Damian Osborne ‘Rebirth’ is a painting inspired by my starting over as an artist and my compulsion to redefine my identity, direction and aesthetic. As I near my mid-forties, I am re-evaluating my goals and my voice as as an artist. What legacy would I like to leave behind? My personal reasons for starting over as an artist I had taken a prolonged hiatus from focused and steady work in the…
Sonata for Violin and Piano No.2 in G
Watch this video on YouTube Sonata for Violin and Piano No.2 in G by Damian Osborne This is my second violin and piano sonata. It is an original violin and piano composition inspired by my brooding midlife crisis vs my youthful exuberance. 🤣 I play violin and love composing for this instrument, so hopefully I’ll do a real recording at some point. I’m not very good at piano (only played in primary school), so please feel free to crit. This is mock up with Modartt Piano and Joshua Bell Violin vsts. The JBV is a bit maverick, despite the expression…
Constantia Valley Landscape Paintings
Constantia Valley Landscape Paintings The Changing Valley — A Contemporary Record of a Heritage Landscape Rooted in the tradition of rural plein air painting, this series of Constantia Valley landscapes explores shifting seasons, light, and atmosphere, and reflects a deep engagement with a dynamic land. Painted in oil from life, these works form a visual record of the soils, skies, and vineyards of a landscape shaped by history, cultivation and continual change. Read the Constantia Valley Landscape Paintings Catalogue Essay Click to view. …
Pencil Sketching on Vacation
Pencil Sketching on Vacation — A Landscape, a Still Life and a Portrait — by Damian Osborne Pencil sketching on vacation is a great way to unwind and get some sketching practice in, without needing to produce sell-able masterpieces. Sketching for me is relaxing and meditative. I put some earphones on with my favourite music, and zone out. I like drawing just for myself. Most of my drawings and doodles I don’t really show anyone. So I don’t have to care what anyone thinks of them. Drawing from life and not from photos is especially important. The best way…
Dopamine Detox for Artists
Dopamine Detox for Artists (A 14-Day Diary of my Insights and Infractions) by Damian Osborne The internet is beset with articles and videos by health and lifestyle gurus regarding this new trend of dopamine detoxing. I wanted to try it for myself, from the point of view of the artist. Be prepared for the ups and downs and a whole lot of creativity and productivity! If you’re struggling to focus or you keep procrastinating — whether it’s to do with your art or any other area of your life — a dopamine detox can be a pretty powerful…
Making Vine Black Oil Paint (and Drawing Charcoal)
Watch this video on YouTube Making Vine Black Oil Paint (and Drawing Charcoal) — The Alchemical Journey Series — by Damian Osborne 1 | What is vine black? 2 | Other names and methods of producing a charcoal black 3 | How does vine black oil paint compare with other black pigments? 4 | How do you make homemade vine charcoal for drawing? 5 | What will you need to make vine black oil paint? 6 | How do you make vine black oil paint? 7 | What are some examples of vine black being used by the Old…
Making Graphite Oil Paint
Watch this video on YouTube Making Graphite Oil Paint — The Alchemical Journey Series — by Damian Osborne 1 | What is graphite actually? 2 | Can you mix graphite and oil paint 3 | When was graphite first used as an art medium? 4 | How does graphite black oil paint compare with other black pigments? 5 | How do you make graphite black oil paint? 6 | Did any of the Old Masters use graphite oil paint? Continuing with my handmade paint series, The Alchemical Journey, I decided to experiment with graphite oil paint. Graphite black…
Thinking through the Nigredo — Avoiding Neurosis as an Artist
by Damian Osborne Thinking through the Nigredo is a catalogue of my ruminations and inner processes while working on the painting, Nigredo. If you missed the first part of this series on Thinking Through the Nigredo, see The Union of Darkness and Light. The Nigredo refers to the first stage of the alchemist’s psychological or spiritual journey. This is the stage of initial darkness or breakdown before the hope of rebirth or illumination. Creativity is the preventative and antidote to neurosis. Connection with Nature is the bedrock of self-realisation. I feel something wholesome and holy through the simple practice of grinding…
Thinking Through the Nigredo – The Union of Darkness and Light
by Damian Osborne I suppose things have changed forever. On a violet evening just before Christmas, I stood, studying the Western sky. A grey wall of the approaching cold front nearly hid the Great Saturn/Jupiter Conjunction; an amazing herald for a new Epoch. Whether through grace, luck or undiluted instinct, in the year 2020, I came to recognise the World-Wide Deception. Now I have come to accept, that the inner-narratives of many may never be dislodged. And there is no reason at all for me to believe that I can take down walls by running into them. In a…
A Little Nocturne Oil Painting
Click to view the painting. A Little Nocturne Oil Painting by Damian Osborne Light the scented candles, put on that old Chopin CD and pour another glass of red. I’m in the mood for a little nocturne oil painting. This scene made a very strong impression on me as I regarded the crescent moon hanging like a shining eyelash between the mountain buttresses one evening. It’s a little corner of wildness, this exposed section of the peninsula at the end of the mountain range, with incessant gale-force winds from the sea, slamming against the rock faces and my back.…
Taking Myself Seriously as an Artist
Taking Myself Seriously as an Artist by Damian Osborne Every year seems to be some sort of tribulation, but I learn a lot about myself as an artist, a husband and a person; and what I want for my life and my art career. It’s a slow process for a people-pleasing person like myself, but every year I’m taking myself more seriously as an artist. I realised it’s more important to be authentic as an artist (and in one’s personal life) and to be brave enough to say what you want to than to tiptoe around being worried about…
Making Bone Black Oil Paint
Watch this video on YouTube Making Bone Black Oil Paint — The Alchemical Journey Series — by Damian Osborne 1 | What is bone black pigment? 2 | How long does bone black oil paint take to dry? 3 | When was bone black first used? 4 | Bone black vs ivory black 5 | How does bone black oil paint compare with other black pigments? 6 | What does bone black symbolise? 7 | What equipment will you need to make bone black oil paint? 8 | How do you make bone black oil paint? 9 | What…
Final Stages of a Portrait Painting
Watch this video on YouTube Final Stages of a Portrait Painting — Nigredo by Damian Osborne 1 | What pigments will I need for painting a portrait? 2 | Should you add chalk to your oil paint? 3 | How do you mix colours for the Verdaccio? 4 | How many stages do you need for a portrait painting in oils? Here are the final stages of a self-portrait painting I called ‘Nigredo’ (or the crucifixion). Using my own oil paints, I show a quick summary of the various stages of the portrait, beginning with the Verdaccio.…
Allegorical Realism Paintings
Allegorical Realism Paintings These are some of my recent allegorical realism paintings, painted mostly from imagination. I often use myself as model too. These paintings were done with my own hand-ground oil paint and my own sun-refined linseed oil, using pigments from burnt bones, ochres, earths and stones I find, and various gemstones like lapis lazuli or chrysocolla. Click on an image to view larger file size. What are allegorical realism paintings? Allegorical realism paintings are a form of representational painting (i.e. not abstract), that contain some kind of allegory or deeper…
Recent Contemporary Realist Oil Paintings
Recent Contemporary Realist Oil Paintings These are some of my recent contemporary realist oil paintings, painted mostly from life or imagination. I used a combination of good quality commercial oil paints and my own hand-ground oil paint made in the traditional Old Master’s method for these paintings. Click on an image to view larger file size. The medium is always my own traditional hand-refined linseed oil, which is far superior and faster drying than the thin heat-pressed linseed oil found in art shops. The figure paintings are either from…
Underpainting Stage for a Self-Portrait
Watch this video on YouTube Underpainting Stage for a Self-Portrait — ‘Nigredo’ by Damian Osborne 1 | How do you begin the underpainting stage of a portrait painting? 2 | Can you oil paint directly over charcoal? 3 | Making my own oil paint from Bloodstone In this self-portrait oil painting, I start with a charcoal drawing, then make my own oil paint from bloodstone for the underpainting stage of the painting. This is a self-portrait oil painting called ‘Nigredo’. It comes from a pretty dark place. Nigredo is the first stage of the alchemist’s journey. The putrification. Annihilation.…
A Dead End
Yikes! It’s a Dead End! Where do you want to run to? Click to view full size.
Damian Osborne — Selected Contemporary Realist Paintings
Damian Osborne is a contemporary realist painter working in figurative and landscape painting.
Alchemical Dreams and Art
Alchemical Dreams and Art (Silver Monkey in a Golden Cage) by Damian Osborne For me, ‘alchemical dreams’ and art have always had a strong link. Sometimes I have dreams that feel heavily imbued with meaning. I think of these dreams as being particularly important and record them as soon as possible — before they are forgotten. I call them ‘alchemical dreams.’ As an artist, these dreams are filled with incredibly rich symbolism which inspires my art. How alchemical dreams inspire my art I’ve been recording my dreams for a while. This helps me to really pay attention to…
The Sirens 2019 – 2020
What do Sirens Symbolise? The Sirens represent the estranged wildness we may feel in the presence of untameable nature; the salty ocean wind lashing our face, the crushing fear of being dashed against rocks, of drowning, of being vulnerable, of being alive — the luring song of the unknowable. Click on an image to view I painted this series of figurative oil paintings between 2019 – 2020. The Sirens symbolise our disconnect with the mystical, savage and timeless nature of our unconscious. I have written quite extensively in The Siren Paintings on their symbolism, my…
Why I Love Realistic Figurative Paintings
Why I Love Realistic Figurative Paintings by Damian Osborne Realistic figurative painting has always fascinated me. When I look back through my old art history books and remember which artists and paintings were my favourites as a young, budding artist, figurative oil paintings felt especially vivacious, expressive, inspirational and powerful. And perhaps the genre of realistic figurative painting will always captivate me. For the language of the body speaks to us in an instinctive, primal way. As humans, we divine meanings and feelings through poses, postures and expressions that spoken words can not convey. Perhaps it’s because we…
Making Your Own Refined Linseed Oil
Watch this video on YouTube Making Your Own Refined Linseed Oil (Like the Old Masters) by Damian Osborne 1 | Linseed oil and yellowing 2 | Why make your own refined linseed oil? 3 | The salt and sand linseed oil refining process 4 | What you’ll need for refining linseed oil with the salt and sand method: 5 | How to refine linseed oil with the salt and sand method: 6 | What is the difference between cold-pressed, heat-bodied, sun-bleached, stand, and burnt-plate linseed oil for oil painting? Making your own refined linseed oil as a medium for…
How to Create More Meaningful Art — Part 2
How to Create More Meaningful Art — Part 2 by Damian Osborne 7 | Recording and painting your feelings — keeping a journal 8 | Get deep — explore your shadows 9 | Read soul-enriching books — the works of the visionaries and great thinkers 10 | Spend time communicating with nature 11 | Be comfortable with being alone 12 | Think about what is most precious to you In case you missed it, this is a continuation from How to Create More Meaningful Art — Part 1 on habits I’ve been trying to stick…
Figure Drawing
Figure Drawing Every Tuesday morning, I attend a figure drawing group. And oh, what a grumpy artist I can be if I skip a week. (My wife sure knows!) This is the place where I get to just sit and draw. No distractions, no emails, phone calls, social media, talking — in fact, hardly any thinking. Click on an image to view. Mindfulness in figure drawing When I’m drawing, my brain goes into a deep meditative auto-pilot. My fingers are getting sooty from charcoal; I’m aware of the minute changes in pressure and angle of my…
How to Create More Meaningful Art — Part 1
How to Create More Meaningful Art — Part 1 by Damian Osborne 1 | Getting serious about developing your artistic soul 2 | Draw in your sketchbook everyday 3 | Paint/draw from your own life 4 | Meditate and pray daily as an artist 5 | Close your social media accounts and reduce screen time (digital detox) 6 | Record and draw from your dreams There’s usually a point in an artist’s life when they feel the compulsion to take stock of themselves and of their work, and to create more meaningful art. Life is full of endless…
About Damian Osborne
Damian Osborne is a contemporary realist painter from South Africa, blending classical techniques with personal myth and alchemical processes. He crafts his own paints and oils in the original manner of the Old Masters. His work is rooted in life study, with music compositions complementing the emotional resonance of his pieces. Damian Osborne was born in 1980 in the southern suburbs of Cape Town, South Africa. He grew up with a penchant for drawing and for nature, playing and exploring on the fields and farms around the home. From an early age he was indefatigably drawing —…
Making Your Own Canvas Panels for Oil Painting
Watch this video on YouTube Making Your Own Canvas Panels for Oil Painting by Damian Osborne Making your own canvas panels is a great cost-saver when it comes to being a painter. This is how I make mine with my own homemade primer. Before the invention of oil painting on sailcloth canvas, artists during and before the Renaissance Period commonly painted on solid wooden panels. These were carefully selected pieces of hardwood, and painstakingly sized with hide glues and primed with gypsum or lead-based primers, in preparation for egg tempera or oil painting. Today, making your own canvas panels…
How to Stretch a Canvas for Painting — the Easy Way!
Watch this video on YouTube How to Stretch a Canvas for Painting — the Easy Way! by Damian Osborne As an artist, knowing how to stretch a canvas is important. Not only does it save you a lot of money. But by stretching and priming your own canvases, you’ll gain a better understanding of your materials, and the possible defects of painting in general. You’ll also learn of the various options available regarding painting supports. And, by stretching your own canvas, you’ll be assured of the quality of the materials at each step, since you’re the one who decides…
Best Ideas for Oil Painting Every Painter Should Try
Watch this video on YouTube Best Ideas for Oil Painting Every Painter Should Try by Damian Osborne So, you’re wondering what you should paint? Here are some of my personal favourite ideas for oil painting: 1 | Landscape painting 2 | Seascape painting 3 | Still life painting 4 | Figure painting 5 | Self-portrait painting 6 | Painting portraits of your friends and family 7 | Painting animals 8 | Dreams, fantasy, mythological, allegorical and imaginary painting Throughout the history of painting, artists have found inspiration for their art from these universal and personal subjects. What were…
Weird Questions Beginner Oil Painters Ask
Weird Questions Beginner Oil Painters Ask by Damian Osborne 1 | When does one do underpainting? And is that synonymous with a wash or blocking in? 2 | If you do an underpainting, what medium do you prefer to use? 3 | How many layers of oil paint can you pile on top of the underpainting? 4 | Do you paint an oil painting in subsequent layers by just adding more oil? Or is it more paint? 5 | Can I use acrylic under an oil painting? 6 | What is the difference between alkyd medium and linseed…
Press and Events
Press and events — the latest cool stuff happening in my career, like exhibitions, interviews, announcements, write-ups and publicity, etc. State of the Art Gallery Q&A with 2019 Award Finalist: DAMIAN OSBORNE After careful consideration of several hundred entries by artists from across South Africa, the judges have shortlisted 10 artists working in a number of mediums including painting, photography, digital art and printmaking. Tell us about yourself. Where are your from, and where do you currently live? I’m born and bred Capetownian. I lived in Constantia for many years where I painted a lot of plein…
Alla Prima Portrait Study in Oils
Watch this video on YouTube Alla Prima Portrait Study in Oils by Damian Osborne In this alla prima portrait study demo, I did an oil sketch of my sister in one sitting, using a limited palette. This quick oil portrait was done in my sketchbook, painting it wet-on-wet. I primed the paper with a basic white acrylic primer in order to paint my oil portrait studies. This is a great way to practice alla prima portrait painting in oils without the expense of canvas. Generally, an alla prima portrait sketch uses a limited palette (the Zorn Palette is…
Original Artwork Return/Refund Policy
Please unpack carefully and retain all packaging until you have decided that you are happy with your purchase. From the time you receive your original artwork, you have seven (7) days to decide whether to keep the work or return the artwork in its original condition for a refund. I also require all returned artwork to be shipped out by the buyer within three (3) days after confirming with us that the work will be returned. So, if you receive artwork you’ve purchased from Damian Osborne Fine Artist and are not fully satisfied, you have: Seven (7) days to contact…
Alla Prima Still Life Painting Demo
Watch this video on YouTube Alla Prima Still Life Painting Demo by Damian Osborne Painting an alla prima still life is a really valuable exercise for any artist. For this still life painting demo, I set up some apples in an African bowl. The painting was another still life commission for a collector in the U.K. In my last post, I showed how to stretch a canvas for painting. I showed how to make a strainer frame and talked about the differences between a strainer and stretcher frame, and the pros and cons of each for stretching canvas. I…
Privacy Policy
Damian Osborne – Fine Artist Welbedacht Estate, Port Elizabeth, South Africa It is Damian Osborne Fine Artist’s policy to respect your privacy regarding any information we may collect while operating our website. This Privacy Policy applies to https://www.damianosborne.com (hereinafter, “I”, or “me” or “my”). I respect your privacy and am committed to protecting personally identifiable information you may provide me through the Website. I have adopted this privacy policy (“Privacy Policy”) to explain what information may be collected on myWebsite, how I use this information, and under what circumstances I may disclose the information to third parties. This Privacy Policy…
How to Paint Flowers in Oils
Watch this video on YouTube How to Paint Flowers in Oils by Damian Osborne It’s time to paint flowers! I had these beautiful and exotic Amaryllis flowers from a house warming gift. They were blooming nicely. So I decided to paint them. The painting is a Christmas present for my mother-in-law. Flowers are easy to paint in oils since you can set them right up in front of you and paint them from life. If you’re new to oil painting, make sure you quickly read Beginning an Oil Painting – My 5 rules before you start. This is…
How to Draw an Abstract Drawing
Watch this video on YouTube How to Draw an Abstract Drawing (Abstract Still Life Drawing from Nature) by Damian Osborne 1 | What is abstract drawing? 2 | What is the point of abstract drawing exercises? 3 | Why is doodling important? 4 | What are the benefits of doodling? 5 | What is automatic drawing? 6 | What is abstract realism? 7 | How do you draw an abstract still life drawing? 8 | How are artists inspired by abstract patterns in nature? 9 | Isn’t all art abstract anyway? 10 | What is the role…
What is Gesture Drawing?
What is Gesture Drawing? by Damian Osborne Gesture drawing is quick, free flowing, simplified sketching of the human form. The drawing sessions are usually timed from 30 seconds to 2 minutes. They are normally done from a live model, hence the term ‘life drawings’. Usually, the model is in the nude, as this allows the artist to really observe and study the anatomy of the human form. Gesture drawing practice Gesture drawing practice is the basis for artists learning to draw the human figure. It is the practice of drawing from life, not photos. You can’t…
Original Paintings and Drawings for Sale
Original Paintings and Drawings for Sale Welcome to my world as a South African contemporary realism artist. Check out these original paintings and drawings for sale. Choose by category or scroll down to view all available artworks. My materials: Since 2020, I have been using my own handmade paints with my own hand-refined linseed or walnut oil. I forage for pigments myself, or make them from natural materials, gemstones, minerals or metals. Making made my own stretched canvas or canvas panels is very important to me as the quality is far superior than shop-bought canvases…
Those Bad Drawing Days
Those Bad Drawing Days by Damian Osborne Yup, it’s a bad drawing day. Those days when you just want to stab the paper with your pencil, or press so hard with your charcoal that it breaks. You grimace and shake your head. You keep tearing out pages and tossing them behind you. Why can’t I get anything right? Why does her face look like it was smooshed by a bus? And why do her hands look like claws? Her eyes look like they can see each other; her legs look like penne pasta. Have you ever felt like…
Final Stages of a Figurative Painting – Painting the Figure – Part 4
Watch this video on YouTube Final Stages of a Figurative Painting Painting the Figure – Part 4 by Damian Osborne Figurative painting has become the main ‘body’ of my work. This painting is part of my Siren Series, where I depict a female figure in isolation before the sea. If you missed the last blog, I started working on painting the skin tone. In this chapter, I complete this figurative painting with several stages of glazing. What are two different techniques for figurative oil painting? Artists who paint the figure in oils can usually be divided into…
Painting the Skin Tone – Painting the Figure – Part 3
Watch this video on YouTube Painting the Skin Tone Painting the Figure – Part 3 by Damian Osborne There are many styles, colour palettes and methods artists present and past used for painting the skin tone, and of course it won’t do to just mix a universal ‘flesh colour’. Although I like to study as much of the old masters and their palettes as I can, as well as living artists’ methods, colour mixing is pretty intuitive for me; I’m thinking more in terms of colour temperature and value than following someone else’s method, rules, or anything else.…
Painting the Halftones – Painting the Figure – Part 2
Watch this video on YouTube Painting the Halftones Painting the Figure – Part 2 by Damian Osborne So, what are halftones in oil painting exactly? After I painted the grisaille (or ‘dead layer’) in the first chapter of this series, I was left with a cool grey, almost bluish skin tone because of the cooling effect white has over the raw umber imprimatura. So now I need to consider the values (light and dark), the colour hues (what actual local colours I need for the skin tones), and what colour temperatures I want to use for the skin,…
Painting the Figure – Part 1
Watch this video on YouTube Painting the Figure – Part 1 by Damian Osborne This painting is actually part of my Siren Series. I have broken up this figure painting demo into 4 parts. So stay tuned for explanations of the various stages. How do you start a figure painting with charcoal? Vine charcoal is the best medium for starting a figure painting because it’s easy to wipe away and make corrections to your drawing. It is also perfect for drawing on canvas. Unlike graphite, it is soft, and does not create the typical graphite sheen that…
Where Do Artists Find Inspiration?
Watch this video on YouTube Where Do Artists Find Inspiration? On finding inspiration as an artist; some art musings and studio soliloquies. by Damian Osborne While working on this painting of my wife, I decided to talk about where artists find inspiration and the methods I use to overcome artist’s block. Well, this is where I get my inspiration from. Check out the video above to see some of the behind-the-scenes stuff while I’m working on this portrait. Where do artists find inspiration? • From your own life • Being in nature • Looking at other art…
Being Authentic as an Artist
Being Authentic as an Artist (and Not Stressing About Selling) by Damian Osborne Why is selling art so difficult? Making art is difficult. Being an artist is difficult. Being authentic is difficult. It sounds like an enviable, romantic, easy life, and yes, making art does provide deep and important fulfillment. But believe me, it’s not all about wearing bandannas and dungarees, sipping wine during the day and flicking paint onto large canvases in spacious studios with lofty ceilings and 80’s rock blaring from the boombox. In most cases, creating art as a career is really not a financially…
The Siren Paintings
The Siren Paintings by Damian Osborne “You will come to the Siren (paintings) first of all; they bewitch any mortal who approaches them.” —Homer, The Odyssey Click on an image to view. To view all figure painting archives, go to Figure Paintings. Sirens You see, they sang to me in my own voice,how was I to know?They wove the gauze of waking sleeparound my heart, I learnt to love the flightlessyearning in their voices, carried on the windfrom the island where they starve,for company, their wingfeathers lost to the Muses in a singing contest,plucked and planted…
Dealing with Criticism as an Artist (and Slapping Idiots)
Dealing with Criticism as an Artist (and Slapping Idiots!) by Damian Osborne Dealing with criticism as an artist is tough. But unless you’re able to deal with criticism in a manner that empowers, rather than defeats you, you’ll never ‘make it’ as an artist. In a way, I’m lucky that my wife doesn’t pander to my ego. And for that, I’m grateful. Although sometimes I wonder what it would be like to be hero-worshiped. LOL! I’d probably find it uncomfortable. Where’s the catch? I usually don’t agree with what she says, because I’m extremely stubborn and strong-willed. But…
Why Does Art Exist?
Watch this video on YouTube Why Does Art Exist? (A Painting is NOT Just a Picture – Part 2) by Damian Osborne I continue asking my line of questions relating to What’s the Point of Art? in this second part of my ‘A Painting is NOT Just a Picture’ series. I have asked myself, what makes art vital? Why does art exist? You do you need art? Why is Art so Vital? I spoke about the difficulties and travails of being an artist in the last post. Why then are there still so many people in this world who feel…
What’s the Point of Art?
Watch this video on YouTube What’s the Point of Art Anyway? (A Painting is NOT Just a Picture) by Damian Osborne In this two-part blog and video series on ‘A Painting is NOT Just a Picture’, I delve a little into my own personal take on what makes art good and the resurgence of representational art, why art is so hard, why art is so important, and basically, what’s the point of art? Because a painting is NOT just a picture hanging on the wall. Art is so much more vital to our lives and our society than…
Final Stages of a Figure Painting in Oils
Watch this video on YouTube Final Stages of a Figure Painting in Oils by Damian Osborne Usually when I’m working on a figure painting in oils, I write down ideas I have about the painting and the next steps I should follow. So once the painting is dry after a few days, I can pick up from where I left off. My journal becomes quite important near the final stages of the painting, because this is when things really start coming together, and I want to be sure I’m getting things right and not forgetting stuff. I also…
Glazing Skin Tones in Oil Painting
Watch this video on YouTube Glazing Skin Tones in Oil Painting by Damian Osborne Glazing skin tones creates a transparent and beautiful glow of realistic looking skin that is impossible to achieve simply by direct painting methods. Following the classical Flemish method of oil painting, I have thus so far painted the imprimatura, the verdaccio, gone over the figure with terra verte, and completed the first semi-opaque flesh tone layer. You can follow these previous steps on my blog or on Youtube if you’ve missed them. Now comes the first glazing layer. Oooohhh… Ahhhhh.. What is glazing…
Painting the Flesh Tone
Watch this video on YouTube Painting the Flesh Tone by Damian Osborne After the verdaccio and going over the figure with terre verte, it’s time to start painting the flesh tone. I guess this is where it starts feeling like the real painting business is beginning to happen, with the underpainting stage complete. Now we are starting to work with a bit more with local colour. But I try not to fall into the trap of thinking one layer is less or more important than another. What is the best colour for painting the flesh in oils?…
Painting the Figure with Terre Verte
Watch this video on YouTube Painting the Figure with Terre Verte by Damian Osborne What is Terre Verte? Terre Verte, or ‘Green Earth’, was commonly used from Medieval Times and through the Renaissance for the underpainting of flesh tones. The Romans used this pigment on their wall paintings even before then. The green is complimentary to the warm reds and pinks of the flesh and makes the skin appear more natural. The pigment is made from iron silicates and the most famous was mined in Verona, Italy. It’s a transparent, non-toxic pigment with a low-tinting strength and high…
Painting the Verdaccio
Watch this video on YouTube Painting the Verdaccio by Damian Osborne What is the verdaccio? Verdaccio is an Italian term for the greenish-hued underpaintings common to Early Renaissance Italian art. The root word ‘verde’ means green. In English we would say ‘verdant’. Back in the Middle Ages, when religious frescos and egg tempera paintings were mainstream, artists commonly applied a verdaccio layer as an underpainting. After painting the imprimatura and brunaille as I mentioned before, they knew that a cool, greenish tone in the underpainting would cause the flesh in their subjects to appear more realistic in the…
Painting the Imprimatura
Watch this video on YouTube Painting the Imprimatura by Damian Osborne Ok, so I’ve just completed the burnt umber imprimatura or brunaille. This is the second part of the figure painting I’m working on, called ‘Transformation’. If you missed the first part, go back and view the first video where I do the underdrawing. It shows how I begin the painting by toning the canvas and drawing the figure with charcoal. What is the imprimatura in oil painting? Imprimatura means ‘First Painting Layer’ in Italian. Having a charcoal drawing on the canvas helps to get the design…
Charcoal Underdrawing for an Oil Painting
Watch this video on YouTube Charcoal Underdrawing for an Oil Painting by Damian Osborne What is a charcoal underdrawing? A charcoal underdrawing is the first stage in traditional oil painting. In the classical method, doing a charcoal underdrawing on the toned canvas helps to quickly visualize the placement, composition and proportions of the subject before starting the painting stage. Using vine charcoal, it’s easy to wipe off and rework sections of the underdrawing. I love the tactile feeling of working with charcoal; smudging and blending with my whole hand, erasing with a rag, drawing with my fingers. Stepping…
Beginning an Oil Painting – My 5 rules
Beginning an Oil Painting – My 5 Rules by Damian Osborne Before even beginning an oil painting, I have 5 rules as an artist for this year. Hopefully I will maintain them strictly for the rest of my life. Art isn’t easy. While you don’t really have a boss to report to for work, it can definitely be exhausting to keep pushing yourself. The many voices inside can gang up on you. Sometimes you have to dig really deep to get working on that painting, to find your inspiration, to give your best 100% of the time. To…
Painting the Traditional Way – Part 5 – Final Glazing in Oils
Painting the Traditional Way – Part 5 – Final Glazing in Oils by Damian Osborne After painting the background surrounding the figure in the last post, it’s time to begin the final glazing in oils. This is the last stage of the painting process. This is the final part of this blog on painting a Woman in a Tropical Pool. If you missed the start of this figure painting, check out out Painting the Traditional Way – Part 1, where I begin with priming and toning the canvas. Finishing a painting usually takes longer than expected. This is…
Painting the Traditional Way – Part 4 – When Should You Paint the Background in Oils?
Painting the Traditional Way – Part 4 – When Should You Paint the Background in Oils? by Damian Osborne After painting ‘the Dead Layer’ in the previous post, and refining the anatomy of the figure, I had to start on painting the background. But when should you paint the background in oils? When should you paint the background in oils? Sometimes, depending on the composition of the painting, it may be necessary to paint the background in oils before the main subject or the foreground objects. If you paint the background before the foreground, you are able…
Still Life Painting of Apples
Painting a Still Life of Apples by Damian Osborne I had a commission to paint a still life of apples for a collector, so I decided to share the process as a still life painting tutorial. I set up a rustic-looking grass bowl with pink lady apples and a pretty brown and blue pashmina on the table. Then I lit the still life with a spotlight to simplify the shadows but also made sure I could see the canvas I would be painting on. It was better to paint it at night when the room was dark, but…
Painting the Traditional Way – Part 3 – The Dead Layer
Painting the Traditional Way – Part 3 – The Dead Layer by Damian Osborne After completing the underdrawing in charcoal, and going over the lines with a burnt sienna imprimatura, it was time to refine the anatomy and work on the ‘dead layer’ or underpainting stage. Refining the underpainting (the anatomy) In the next step, I started refining the underpainting a little more. Using burnt sienna, raw umber and some ultramarine blue, I refined the drawing of the woman’s anatomy, paying special attention to her spine and scapular, the trapezius muscle of the back, the buttocks and…
Painting the Traditional Way – Part 2 – The Underdrawing
Painting the Traditional Way – Part 2 – The Underdrawing by Damian Osborne After sizing, priming and toning the canvas, it’s time to begin the underdrawing! If you missed the first part, just go back and check it out quickly. In the previous chapter, I show how I prepare the canvas for the underdrawing stage. I was commissioned to create an oil painting of a woman bathing in a tropical mountain pool. A waterfall and lush green foliage add to the peaceful ambience. The painting was destined for Australia, to a natural health clinic. So I wanted to…
Painting the Traditional Way – Part 1
Painting the Traditional Way – Part 1 by Damian Osborne When painting the traditional way, the most important thing to consider is that patience, finesse and forethought should be part of every stage of the painting. Cutting corners jeopardizes the whole, as well as your reputation as an artist. There are actually many ways to paint and I don’t always follow a set path. But this post is about a basic method that I used to build up this oil painting. What is the old master painting method? The old masters did not necessarily use a single…
Painting a Portrait with the Zorn Palette
Painting a Portrait with the Zorn Palette by Damian Osborne I gave a live portrait demonstration with the Zorn palette at the Blaauwberg Art Society in Cape Town. The model was my friend Rohan and the duration of the demo was about an hour and 20 minutes. It was quite intense giving a demo lesson to a room full of artists. Especially since I was trying to create a near enough likeness of Rohan in a really short time. And talk about my process while painting. And so, for my first ever live portrait demonstration, I learnt quite…
Searching for Meaning: Where Does Art Come From?
We’re all searching for meaning. And artists, at their core, are visual philosophers. Yet, the ‘art world’ is so full of pretenders. The funny thing is, many artists, and curators, draw a blank when searching for meaning in their art.
Who Am I and What Am I Doing as a Full-Time Artist?
Who Am I and What Am I Doing as a Full-Time Artist? by Damian Osborne This is my first blog post as a full-time artist and marks the beginning of a new journey. I have girded myself with all the inspiration and optimistic hope necessary to believe that this is going to be a great and revolutionary path for me. The reality of suddenly finding myself as a full-time artist That’s it! I just quit my job! And I’m now a full-time artist. As perhaps you could imagine, after the initial hurrah of leaping forth, I struggle…