Gently Cleaning a WIP (work in progress) Mermaid Painting

I pulled out a work-in-progress mermaid painting I had tucked away, ready to dive back in, but lo and behold, it had acquired a layer of dirt!

While acrylics are sturdy enough for a soft cloth and water, this was my first time facing grime on a water-soluble oil painting. Normally, I'd know what to do, but for this, I turned to Gemini for advice.

Gemini suggested Picture CleanGel. I applied the product by spraying it onto cotton balls and gently rubbing the surface. Then, I followed up by softly wiping the painting with distilled water on fresh cotton balls.

Voila! The painting is clean and prepped for its next stage! It's such a relief to have it ready.

Meet Athena: German Shepherd Underpainting WIP Work in Progress

 

I'm happy to share this work-in-progress view of Athena, a beautiful German Shepherd. This is the underpainting stage of my traditional pet portrait.

Although this original is already spoken for, I wanted to share a glimpse into the process. The painting is created using duo oils on an 8"x10" panel.

Happy World Art Day! WIP Work in Progress Painting of a Spring Dryad with Daffodils in her Hair!

 

Happy World Art Day!

In this WIP work in progress view, I am working on the skin tones and lips of my spring dryad with hair adorned with daffodils painting.  To celebrate World Art Day, I hope to work on her some more today.  To be fair, painting is how I pretty much like to celebrate any holiday or day...

The original painting is duo oils on panel and measures 8"x10"

WIP Work in Progress Underpainting of a Spring Dryad with Daffodils in her Hair!

 

Here is a WIP work in progress view of the underpainting of my spring dryad with hair adorned with daffodils painting.

The original painting is duo oils on panel and measures 8"x10"

WIP Work in Progress! Original Crimson Topaz Hummingbird Bird Painting Inspired by Birbfest 2025!

 

I've painted the background for my crimson topaz hummingbird WIP Work in Progress bird painting inspired by #birbfest2025.  At this point only the bird's lineart is showing, but I hope to begin painting its brilliant plumage in the not too distant future.

The original painting is duo oils on a panel and measures 5"x7"

WIP Work in Progress! Original Big Eye Mermaid with a Seashell Crown Fantasy Painting...

 

I've blocked in her eyes and lips and worked on the skin tones of my WIP Work in Progress big eye mermaid with a seashell crown painting.  She still needs quite a lot attended to, but I feel like I've made solid progress.  

The original painting is mixed media on an oval gallery wrapped canvas and measures 16"x20"

WIP Work in Progress! Original Female Masked Trogon Bird Painting Inspired by Birbfest 2025!

 

I started blocking in my female masked trogon WIP Work in Progress bird painting inspired by #birbfest2025.  I think I'll begin work on her tail next.  Her chest is a red #orange for #FebruArty

The original painting is duo oils on a panel and measures 5"x7"

WIP Work in Progress! Original Big Eye Mermaid with a Seashell Crown Fantasy Painting...

 

I have pretty much finished the underpainting of my WIP Work in Progress big eye mermaid with a seashell crown painting.  I think I'll work on her skin tones next.  

The original painting is mixed media on an oval gallery wrapped canvas and measures 16"x20"

WIP Work in Progress! Original Big Eye Dia de los Muertos / Day of the Dead Fantasy Painting...

 

I've made some progress on my Dia de los Muertos / Day of the Dead Xochitl painting.  I've mainly worked on her hair, headdress, feathers, and #eyes for #FebruArty.  Her feathers and eyes need a bit more work and she'll have more make up; but that's coming... 

The original painting is duo oils on cradled wood and measures 16"x20"

WIP Work in Progress! Original Big Eye Mermaid with a Seashell Crown Fantasy Painting...

 

I am working on the underpainting of my WIP Work in Progress big eye mermaid with a seashell crown painting.  I have a bit more to go on her face and then I'll start working on her hair.  

The original painting is mixed media on an oval gallery wrapped canvas and measures 16"x20"

#29facesFebruary2015 #29faces 

WIP Work in Progress! Original Big Eye Dia de los Muertos / Day of the Dead Fantasy Painting...

 

Here is where I am on my Dia de los Muertos / Day of the Dead Xochitl painting.  I've been working on her face and neck.  She'll have more make up, but I'll add that in towards the end.  I think I'll work on her hair next... 

The original painting is duo oils on cradled wood and measures 16"x20"

WIP Work in Progress! Cute Purple Snake for Chinese Lunar New Year Oil Painting...

 

This is a WIP work in progress image of my Year of the Snake painting for Chinese Lunar New Year.  It has delicate purple and lilac hues.  The next part that I'll work on is the snake's rainbow hued eyes...  I'm excited to be sharing the early stages of my traditional fine art!

The original painting is duo oils on cradled wood and measures 7"x5"

WIP Work in Progress! Portion of Original Big Eye Rococo Maiden with Lovebirds Fantasy Painting & Close Ups of the Birds...

 

This is a WIP work in progress image of my refined birds from my big eye rococo maiden with lovebirds in her hair.  This portion includes her rococo wig and the roosting birds.  The birds have a folk art feel, but the entire piece has an avantgoth feel to it.  I need to put some shadows in her hair and finesse some details, but I think I've made solid progress with this painting.

The little birdies told me they were ready for a close up, so I've humored them...  I plan to have the lovebirds available as individual prints, but at this point I haven't cropped them correctly or color corrected the images.

The traditional art original painting is duo oils on a wood panel cut to fit a vintage frame that measures approximately 12"x20" and will be approximately 14"x22" when framed.   It is titled Feathered Refuge.

This is Whispers of Love, my chibi green lovebird nestled in pink.  It is a close up portion of my big eye rococo maiden with lovebirds in her hair painting and will be available as an individual print when I've cropped it correctly and color corrected the image.

This is Feathered Dreams, my chibi orange lovebird nestled in pink.  It is a close up portion of my big eye rococo maiden with lovebirds in her hair painting and will be available as an individual print when I've cropped it correctly and color corrected the image.

This is Whispers of Love, my chibi green lovebird nestled in pink.  It is a close up portion of my big eye rococo maiden with lovebirds in her hair painting and will be available as an individual print when I've cropped it correctly and color corrected the image.

WIP Work in Progress! New Years Year of the Snake Painting, Rough Sketch Stage...

 

It's a new year and this is a new project!  Here are a couple of rough sketches of my top two snake contenders for this year's Chinese New Year painting.  I've decided to go with the top snake, with a few adjustments.  The original painting will be duo oils on wood that measures 7"x5", I will possibly play with adding some iridescence to the snake...

Happy New Years wishes!  I hope your new year will be an even better year than you hope it will be!

WIP Work in Progress! Portion of Original Big Eye Rococo Maiden with Lovebirds Fantasy Painting...

 

This is a WIP work in progress image of two of my birds from my big eye rococo maiden with lovebirds in her hair.  They have been roughly blocked in.  Next I will refine them a bit; however Alex likes the unrefined feel of the birds and cautions me to keep them loose, so they won't be getting extremely tight.  

Some may remember the little bird at the top as one I have painted before in small format.  It's now a much brighter colored bird!  Initially all of the birds were going to be blue, but my painting became brighter in hue and I was loosely inspired by my friend's green bird and those two things changed everything...  

The original painting is duo oils on a wood panel cut to fit a vintage frame that measures approximately 12"x20" and will be approximately 14"x22" when framed. 

WIP Work in Progress! Portion of Original Big Eye Rococo Maiden with Lovebirds Fantasy Painting...

 

Happy snuggles!  This is a WIP work in progress image of part of my big eye rococo maiden with lovebirds in her hair.  The original painting is duo oils on a wood panel cut to fit a vintage frame that measures approximately 12"x20" and will be approximately 14"x22" when framed.  I've loosely blocked in the bird couple; I have not yet decided if I will refine this couple a bit first or move on to blocking in another bird next and come back for refinements after I've blocked in all of the birds...

WIP Work in Progress! Original Big Eye Rococo Maiden with Lovebirds Fantasy Painting...

 

This is a WIP work in progress image of my big eye rococo maiden with lovebirds in her hair.  The original painting is duo oils on a wood panel cut to fit a vintage frame.  The panel measures approximately 12"x20" and will be approximately 14"x22" when framed.  I've blocked in her glorious pink hair and am looking forward to starting work on the little birds...

WIP Work in Progress! Original Big Eye Dia de los Muertos / Day of the Dead Fantasy Painting Underpainting...

 

Here is where I am on my 16"x20" duo oils Dia de los Muertos / Day of the Dead painting.  I've loosely underpainted the entire painting and need to begin finessing additional layers.  So very many feathers and so much more to come... 

WIP Work in Progress! Original Big Eye Rococo Maiden with Lovebirds Fantasy Painting...

 

This is a WIP work in progress image of my big eye rococo maiden with lovebirds in her hair.  The original painting is duo oils on a wood panel cut to fit a vintage frame.  I'll try to remember to measure it before the next time I post her.  I've been working on blocking in her face, features, and hair.  The hair is partly underpainted and partly blocked in, the silhouettes of where the little birds will be is visible...

WIP Work in Progress! Original Big Eye Dia de los Muertos / Day of the Dead Fantasy Painting...

 

Still plugging away at this 16"x20" duo oils Dia de los Muertos / Day of the Dead painting.  I'm just blocking in some basics, much more remains to go for just the underpainting itself, but I hold that some progress is better than no progress at all...