Happy Fellow video is a partially accelerated oil painting session made earlier this year --a quick portrait of a friendly little goat. I met this sweet fellow a few years ago on my passage through the country on my way home from church. I always wanted to paint this image from the photo I was fortunate to have taken, and decided I would do so while recording the entire process. This video is about 13.5 minutes long, and has no audio (it just sounds like a lot of scratching and I realize now that I hold my breath and sigh a lot while painting --quite revealing! --like I have paint apnea!). Maybe other painters will be interested in observing some of the technique and method. It was very good for me to witness myself objectively and plan for my next paintings and any future videos which will definitely be shorter, narrated, and produced in a different manner.
This is an oil painting made on canvas that was previously toned and prepared with paint mixed only with linseed oil for a dried, smooth, primed ground. I prefer an oil primed linen or thick canvas that is not too absorbent. When using a cotton and gessoed canvas I will completely cover the canvas by scrubbing in and laying in large zones of color. I'll create an under painting of a buttery paint mix that when dry will accept new paint on top without absorbing it through or below. It is a technique easily accomplished and makes for such a pleasant painting experience. I think few amateur artists ever have this pleasure, for painting on canvas duck as most do is sort of like painting on a piece of carpet. Even those who work with acrylics would benefit from priming their canvas with paint and acrylic gloss medium to tone and begin to define their work. After it is dry, working on top of a glazed oil or acrylic is a dream! It is like working on glass and becomes more like sculpture than coloring. Too bad this is rarely expressed! If it was taught or demonstrated more people would probably stick with painting since it would be a hell of a lot more fun and produce much more acceptable results.
Happy Fellow is sold and in the possession of a happy young couple. I hope I will get to paint all their kids someday!
The painting is available as a custom giclée reproduction.
Enjoy! --Jack Anglin
