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| NaMoPaiMo Selfie 2026 |
I didn't participate in NaMoPaiMo last year. I had planned to finish my BCC entry instead, but well, that didn't pan out, and I was feeling rather defeated. I think it was the first year I didn't even try to enter NaMoPaiMo. This year, I signed up to paint a Stone Trotting Drafter in oils to a dapple grey (like me!). I am so grateful I was able to participate in the Stone Art of the Horse contest last year that I wanted to give it a go again this year.
Over the years, I've often ended February with an unfinished model, either due to long hours at work or my project being too ambitious. I'm fairly certain this year's model will fall into the latter category, but I'm okay with that. For me, NaMoPaiMo is about community, sharing my artistic journey, and making progress on a model or two. If I can finish, that is icing on the cake.
NaMoPaiMo is also about exploring, pushing boundaries, and challenging oneself. Although I've taken oil painting classes from Heather Bullach three different times, I have yet to finish a model in oils. My color choice is also challenging, because not only is it complex, but black and white oils dry slowly (so I'm told). I will also be out of town for a weekend, and I have the typical boatload of work to get done. If I can get the body color done in the month of February, I will consider that to be a great success.
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| Day 1 - Gesso/Acrylic Basecoat |
The good news is that I'm off to a solid start. He was prepped and primed before February, and today I added a basecoat of gesso and acrylics. He started with grey primer, but this should help ensure that the first coat of oils goes on well. I scrubbed the basecoat on with a fairly dry, soft, synthetic brush using a mixture of white gesso, black gesso, and a touch of burnt umber paint. The primer soaks it up, so you have to work fast in small sections to keep it from leaving brushstrokes. I generally prefer to airbrush basecoats, to ensure it's smooth, but I also struggle with the airbrush. I am fairly pleased with how well this basecoat went on! Hoping to put on the first layer of oils tomorrow!
