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Paper, canvas, wood, board, cardboard, brick and stone – whatever the media, the surface used by Artists the world over has always interested me.  I find it fascinating that the choice of material can make such a difference to the overall  effect of the paint be it oil or watercolor and so on.  Canvas is of course the most common medium and very effective but I have always had a love of “board” which covers just about any wood or compressed fiber product.

Oil paints especially seem to have a wonderful depth and free flowing texture to it that I wanted to try and emulate a similar look using computer.  Here I chose a classical subject – “floral” or in this case a winter bush full of berries.  Used a dark background to accentuate and bring out the berry colors and to attempt to give more depth to the final work.

Oil on board "The Berries"

Spent a bit more time with this work and I think it’s worked out pretty well and maybe I’ve managed that classic “oil on board” look – so I’m quietly pleased.  And as usual if you  click on the image it will display much larger.

Funnily enough at a recent auction review I happened to spot a nice oil on wood painting in the Impressionist style I love.  A picture by an artist unfortunately now deceased (1979) and at a very reasonable price.  Indeed his works have sold all over the world and I think they are quite underrated in my opinion.  His expertise in the Impressionist application is as good as anyone and better then many costing much more.  Subject wise he has painted many French city scenes which are right up my street so to speak as I paint these myself.
However I digress – the point is that this particular work is to board not canvas and close up it shows in the way the paint lies of the surface – which can be wonderfully expressive.

The following image is a photograph of his work, this one depicting the Champs Elysees with the Arc de Triumphe beyond is typical of his more successful works and one which I’m pleased to say I now own.

Champs Elysees with the Arc de Triomphe beyond - by George Hann

Here there is a wonderful expression and use of the thick oil paint much of it applied with both brush and knife.  The figures close up are simply and quickly rendered by the use of the wrist and using adjacent contrasting shading of color to encourage the effects of the light.  One of his nicest works which now hangs in our library and which I admit to always looking at in passing as there is so much to see in his painting.

I’m attempting some city-scapes soon in this very style with the old computer and will be interested to see how they compare – and I’m looking forward to it…

As usual click on the painting above to open in a new window at greater size.