Start to finish with Lynn Cassels-Caldwell

It's the last weekend of NaMoPaiMo, and a lot of us are coming to the realization that we aren't going to finish our models. Not Canadian oil artist extraordinaire, Lynn Cassels-Caldwall! For the last eight Februarys, she has been the epitome of consistency. Every year, she paints a model in oils. Every year, she finishes. Here's the start to finish story of her 2024 project.

Start to Finish

by Lynn Cassel-Caldwell

Here is the first (still wet) oil layer on Luna. It's just a base coat, and yes, it looks terrible at this point! This is normal, lol. I'm aiming for bay roan.

I used mixes of burnt umber, burnt sienna, touches of raw sienna & titanium buff, and ultramarine blue (to darken the browns). Also a drop of Galkyd drier. Equal parts burnt umber + ultramarine blue makes a fast drying black.

I used Leather Brown coloured spray primer from The Army Painter.

Oil layer 2:  Roaning.

I mixed up some titanium white, titanium buff, and small touches of burnt umber & van dyke brown, plus a drop of Galkyd drier. The brush is an old round #9 stiff hog bristle brush.  The stiff bristles create tiny painted hairs. Lightly dip just the tips of the brush in the paint, tap on the palette to distribute the paint, then tap repeatedly onto the model, holding the brush upright.  If you want an area to be lighter, then repeat as needed.

Once done, then use a large, soft mop brush to VERY GENTLY barely touch swipe the surface in the direction of hair growth.   Don't drag the brush or you will lose all the hairing details.

Oil layer 3: More roaning.

I mixed up a lighter roan mix than Layer 2, using titanium white, and small touches of titanium buff, burnt umber & van dyke brown, plus a drop of Galkyd drier. I used the same hog bristle brush and applied it the same way as for Layer 2.

I added some black to the front legs, mane & tail, which really helps me to determine the relative lights and darks in the body.  Black oils from the tube are notoriously very slow to dry, so I use fast dry Winsor & Newton Griffen Alkyd oil black, which generally dries overnight.

Oil layer 4:  More roaning.  

I mixed up a lighter, slightly cooler roaning colour than the previous layer.  I used titanium white, and small touches of titanium buff, burnt umber & van dyke brown, plus a drop of Galkyd drier.  I used the same hog bristle brush and technique to add this mix primarily to the lighter areas over the body. I also added colour to the elbow, flank and back of the hind quarters, and started to work on more detailing throughout her coat.  Plus, with all four legs in black, it's easier to judge the lighter areas in relation to the darks.

Oil layers 5 - 6:  Refining.

Working in oils on each side separately, I started refining the roaning with a small brush, and working on the overall contrast.  

This NaMoPaiMo 2024 model is a follow up to my bay roan tutorial that was published in Breyer's Just About Horses magazine.

Details, details, details. Still using oil paint.

I'm calling her done, she's painted entirely in oils.  

Knowing she can't be sealed yet, I attempted to paint her hooves in oils, which I've never done before. So in the spirit of trying new things for NaMoPaiMo, I tried it. Will I do it again, not likely! Oh well, I won't know if I don't try!

Many thanks to Jennifer Bray Buxton and the entire NaMoPaiMo team for another great year! This was my eighth year of participating, and I look forward to next year!