Showing posts with label paintings. Show all posts
Showing posts with label paintings. Show all posts

The artist's studio

 When the weather isn’t suitable for painting outdoors, I turn my attention indoors. Here is my interior painting of the artist Graeme Sims at work in his studio, painted on 13th June 2025.


84.
The artist's studio
8 x 10 in / 20.32 x 25.40 cm
oil on board
13th June 2025


I’m really pleased with this painting, as my aim was to construct the image using brushstrokes placed with precision in both position and shape. Simplification and minimalism were my main objectives.

Below are some close-ups of the brushwork:







This painting posed an exciting challenge for me: a figure in a colourful interior illuminated by three sources of light—the window on the right-hand side, the ceiling light, and the green lamp on the desk.

If you are interested to purchase this artwork, it's available in my  online shop.

Various studies

From 19th May to 10th June, I have been experimenting, studying, and wiping off.

My focus has been on tonal values and simplification through oil studies and pencil sketching. A couple of plein air paintings were done and wiped off because I wasn't confident enough to really see something new in them—and now I wish I hadn't done it. This is part of the learning process.

So, here is a mix of what I've been up to:


On 19th May, I painted this and then, in the studio, I decided to wipe it off.



Between 20th and 21st May, I focused on these four tonal value studies in oil on board:

four tonal value studies in oil on board


study 1

study 2

study 3


(Study 4 is in the first picture above)



Plus this little coloured study of trees and bushes:



From 26th to 30th May, I worked both in the studio and in the garden with sketches and an oil study.


A tonal value study adopting the sight-size technique for the first time
(not a great result, but I was curious to try it)


Tonal value preparatory sketch


During the plein air painting stage


Final version of the oil study


On 2nd June, I did two oil studies of a still life in the garden. The first was from direct observation, and the second was from observing the first study itself. Why? To try to loosen up my brushstrokes and be more spontaneous.


Work in progress with study 1




Study 1


Study 2

On 3rd June, I directed my attention to the Brecon Beacons National Park by looking through my window.

Here are two studies of the same panorama at two different moments of the day.





On 6th June, I did two more oil studies of flowers.


Tulips

Peonies and coffee cup


Finally, on 10th June, I went out for a plein air session and ended up with two paintings of the same subject because I wasn’t convinced by the first one.

This is the first painting, which no longer exists.


The second painting was finished the day after, and you can see it in my next post.

Countryside walk

 I've just finished this oil painting, based on a photo reference I took in 2016.

82.
Countryside walk
7.8 × 11.8 in / 19.8 × 29.9 cm
oil on board
16th May 2025

I decided to call it Countryside Walk because that was the moment when I saw this beautiful natural composition. As often happens when I walk with my dog in nature, I’m easily drawn to the beautiful play of clouds in the sky and the shadows cast on the ground.

For me, movement, freedom, and fresh air are the essence of nature – elements I tried to capture in this painting.


Below, you can see some close-up details of the brushstrokes I used to convey this feeling:

the clouds in the sky

the trees trees on the right

the distant trees

the grass in the field

I began this painting in January 2025, then set it aside for a while. Here is how it looked at the beginning of the process – just the main blocks of colour:


Stage 1

And here is a more recent stage:

Final stages of this painting


The washing line


"The washing line" is the first painting of 2025 and the first painting made in Ystradgynlais, the village in Wales where I live now.


Oil painting by Valentina Teghillo featuring a washing line in a back garden with the Brecon Beacons National Park in background.

80.
05/05/2025
The washing line
7 x 9 in / 17.8 x 22.9 cm
oil on board

05th May 2025



I painted it en plein air from my garden. I have always been fascinating by clothes lines and this is the first chance I had to capture it with my paint.

This painting has revealed me new aspects of oils and I like the fact that on the background there is the Brecon Beacons National Park.


This was my painting setting and view.




2024 paintings

 In this year I discovered oils.



38.
01/2024
my first oil painting
12 x 9.5 in / 30 x 24 cm
oil


39.
27/01/2024
Sun lovers
12 x 9.5 in / 30 x 24 cm
oil



40.
01/02/2024
The neighbour's garden
12 x 9.5 in / 30 x 24 cm
oil




41.
05/02/2024
The view from my grandma's home
9.5 x 12 in / 24 x 30 cm
oil



42.
04/03/2024
Welsh windowsill
13.8 x 9.8 x 0.6 in / 35 x 25 x 1.5 cm
oil





43.
12/03/2025
Spring messenger
11.8 x 11.8 in / 30 x 30 cm
oil



44.
29/03/2024
Landwork
6 x 8 in / 15.2 x 20.5 cm
oil



45.
04/04/2024
Tulips on display
oil


46.
02/05/2024
The green soul
17.7 x 23.6 in / 45 x 60 cm
acrylic




47.
15/05/2024
Nature at your doorstep
7.1 x 9.4 in / 24 x 18 cm
oil



48.
30/05/2024
The calendar flowers
11.8 x 9.4 in / 30 x 24 cm
oil



49.
24/06/2024
At the end of the road
23.6 x 17.7 in / 60 x 45 cm
acrylic




50.
27.06.2024
Dancing leaves
9.4 x 7.1 in / 24 x 18 cm
oil



51.
01/07/2024
Silent listeners
1.8 x 9.4 in / 30 x 24 cm
oil



52.
05/07/2024
Tea or coffee?
11.8 x 9.4 in / 30 x 24 cm





53.
09/07/2024
Carnations and chick-shaped figurine
11.8 x 9.4 in / 30 x 24 cm
oil




54.
17/07/2024
Bliss
9.4 x 7.1 in / 24 x 18 cm
oil




55.
21/07/2024
Back gardens
9.4 x 7.1 in / 24 x 18 cm
oil




56.
27/07/2024
Kaleidoscope
9.4 x 7.1 in / 24 x 18 cm
oil



57.
04/08/2024
Home sweet home
15.7 x 11.8 in / 40 x 30 cm
oil




58.
08/08/2024
Out of the blue
11.8 x 15.7 in / 30 x 40 cm
oil



59.
09/08/2024
Enjoying the view
7.1 x 9.4 in / 18 x 24 cm
oil





60.
11/08/2024
Immersed in nature
7.1 x 9.4 in / 18 x 24 cm
oil



61.
14/08/2024
A stroll in the park
7.1 x 9.4 in / 18 x 24 cm
oil




62.
19/08/2024
Sweet tooth
11.8 x 15.7 in / 30 x 40 cm
oil



63.
21/08/2024
Force of nature
7.1 x 9.4 in / 18 x 24 cm
oil



64.
23/08/2024
Easy peasy lemon squeezy
7.9 x 11.8 in / 20 x 30 cm
oil




65.
26/08/2024
Breathing nature in
7.1 x 9.4 in / 18 x 24 cm
oil



66.
28/08/2024
Shared nature
7.9 x 11.8 in / 20 x 30 cm
oil




67.
31/08/2024
Many greens
7.9 x 11.8 in / 20 x 30 cm
oil



68.
07/09/2024
Comfort zone
15.7 x 11.8 in / 40 x 30 cm
oil



69.
13/09/2024
The bowl of lemon
7.9 x 11.8 in/ 20 x 30 cm
oil



70.
17/09/2024
Happy flowers
15.7 x 11.8 in / 40 x 30 cm
oil



71.
28/09/2024
Breath deeply
6 x 8 in / 15.24 x 20.32 cm
oil




72.
28/09/2024
Late September
6 x 8 in / 15.24 x 20.32 cm
oil




73.
04/10/2024
Turning moments
6 x 8 in / 15.24 x 20.32 cm
oil



74.
11/10/2024
Moving clouds
7 x 9 in / 17.78 x 22.86 cm
oil




75.
21/10/2024
The blue boat
7 x 9 in / 17.78 x 22.86 cm
oil




76.
28/10/2024
2024 Self-portrait
12 x 8.1 in / 30.5 x 20.5 cm
oil





77.
31/10/2024
Capturing the light
8 x 12 “ / 20.32 x 30.48 cm
oil



78.
09/11/2024
Kitchenscape
7 x 9 in / 17.78 x 22.86 cm
oil



79.
30/12/2024
Winter light
7 x 9 in / 17.78 x 22.86 cm
oil


Summer garden