Process

A glimpse into the creative process – oil painting, inspiration gathering, breaking out, paper/collage – enjoy!

Oil Painting

Charcoal sketch of the beach
Final painting of the beach, entitled August Afternoon
"August Afternoon" painting on an easel

I grew up on the east coast and several times a year I head back to gather creative inspiration and visit with my family. Many of my paintings are inspired by photos I’ve taken off of three southern Connecticut beaches — Russian Beach, Short Beach and Long Beach. This painting is inspired by a hot August afternoon on Short Beach. The afternoon clouds over the water were so amazing I just had to capture them in a painting! I usually start with a loose charcoal sketch and then begin the oil painting. “August Afternoon” is painted on masonite that has a gesso coating.

Charcoal sketch of the Flint Hills
The painting of the Flint Hills, entitled Evermore

For a commission piece I traveled to the Flint Hills in eastern Kansas. On a sweltering summer afternoon my husband and I walked the area so I could take reference photos to work from. Thank you for your support hubby!

After returning home I created a loose charcoal sketch and a small color rough to discuss with the client. Upon approval, I jumped into the final painting. I find it interesting that the inspiration the Flint Hills gives me is similar to what I feel when I am on the east coast looking out across Long Island Sound. Both can be so peaceful and serene.

Painting of the Flint Hills by artist Beth A. Grillo

Inspiration Gathering

flowers that became inspiration for artist, Beth A. Grillo
Rose Breeze watercolor painting by Beth A. Grillo
Beth's painting process
Rose Breeze pastel painting

While out on my walks or runs I bring along my iphone to capture quick inspirational photos. Nature is the inspiration for most of my paintings. I usually develop a quick reference board posting my inspirational photos, color swatches, papers, magazine clips, etc., all gathered to serve as a loose roadmap to where I am going and what I am hoping to capture in the painting. I enjoy having a variety of mediums to work with since sometimes the inspiration just calls for a particular technique to best capture my vision. In this case I created two paintings, titled “Rose Breeze” one in watercolor and one in pastel.

Breaking Out

Canvas laid out on the grass
Beth carrying the canvas outside
Paints arranged on a table with canvas laying on the grass in the background
Paint on canvas
View of painted canvas on grass from artist's perspective

For the large scale paintings where I’m really trying to break out and challenge myself to explore and let go, I head outside. The space provides freedom of movement and gives me the confidence to pour, splash, push and pull paint in new ways. Here it’s about exploring the unknown and being open to creative surprises.

Paper/Collage

Artist working with paper
Paper shapes laid out to make art
Paper art spread out on floor

In 2019 there was an open call for an exhibit sponsored by the National Museum of Women In the Arts, Washington DC. I’ve been a member of NMWA for years and thought it would be interesting to submit a few pieces. The exhibit was themed around the medium of paper. Eeek! . . . I’m a painter, I hadn’t worked in paper at all.

After thinking more about the theme of Paper and the awesome opportunity to exhibit in the beautiful museum, I decided to take on the challenge. In the end, the pieces I entered were not selected but the experience did take me down a really interesting creative path. I’ve moved from traditional realism into the abstract world.

My paper work started off gentle in tone and has grown to be impactful featuring bold colors and simplified shapes.

Lesson learned — go for it! You will always learn something and you may be very surprised and happy with an entirely new
creative dimension that’s within you . . . one that you hadn’t even suspected!

Framed paper art propped against a wall
Paper art piece framed and hanging on the wall

As I shared earlier, the NMWA call for the Paper themed exhibit took me down a really unexpected
creative path. I now have a small collection of about a dozen Paper pieces that are in the process of being framed.

I explored my local framing options by giving a few pieces to three different framing businesses. It has turned out that the most expensive framing business came in last place in my little framing evaluation exercise.

Framing is such an expensive part of the creative process so it’s important to find someone that delivers high quality results for a fair price. Through the exercise of giving my work to three different businesses, I’ve found my top choice, the framer that I will tum to over and over.