A Garden Path by Janice Tingum

A Garden Path

3.5" x 7"

Palette Knife Painting

Oil on Panel

Janice Tingum Fine Art

Janice Tingum's Art Page (Facebook)

This summer, I've been part of a group of artists who meet at a park to paint and sketch local scenes. This is one of my recent paintings, done entirely with a palette knife. When I paint outdoors, I apply the paint thickly, in the consistency it comes out of the tube. This allows me to create wonderful texture. Also, by using a palette knife, rather than a brush, I don't need to carry mineral spirits or other mediums to thin or clean up paint.

I usually stop working on a plein air painting when I figure the piece is 90 to 95 percent done. After I get back to my studio, I'll let the painting sit for a while before adding any final touches. I find this process prevents me from overworking a painting in the field and gives me a bit more objectivity to decide whether the piece is finished.