iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

J. Grant Merrill @jgrantfineart.bsky.social · 30/09/2025

It is always a great time at my local portrait group. Models volunteer and are paid in portraits. This is a 1 hour pastel portrait on paper. #portrait #art #artist #lifedrawing #pastel #painting

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J. Grant Merrill @jgrantfineart.bsky.social · 18/09/2025

I took a trip to Arches this summer and was blown away by the landscape there. The primary pigment in this painting is actually a rock from Moab that I ground and mulled into oil paint. It is 24" x 36 on Linen. #landscape #painting #Arches #art #oilpainting #landscapeart #artist

Oil painting of Arches National Park featuring some of the rock formations.

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J. Grant Merrill @jgrantfineart.bsky.social · 16/09/2025

It was great to be able to join the local portrait group tonight after missing the past few weeks. 1 hour portrait. #lifedrawing #portrait #traditionalart #figurativeart #artist

Woman sitting for a portrait next to the completed portrait drawing.

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J. Grant Merrill @jgrantfineart.bsky.social · 29/08/2025

After focusing on oils for the past year it has been nice to revisit my pastels. They are well suited for figurative work. I find I can work a little faster with them which is very beneficial during life drawing sessions. #lifedrawing #nude #figure #figurativeart #nudeart #pastel #softpastel

Nude painting of figure model seated and facing away from viewer.

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J. Grant Merrill @jgrantfineart.bsky.social · 13/08/2025

I went on a trip to Arches in Utah this summer and have really enjoyed trying to capture some of the landscape there. This was painted in soft pastel on a new surface I made. #landscape #painting #softpastel #art #artist #utah #nationalparks #arches

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J. Grant Merrill @jgrantfineart.bsky.social · 30/07/2025

I was very fortunate to have been able to visit Italy this summer. It was incredibly inspiring from an artistic standpoint with beautiful scenery and incredible museums. Here is one of the first of what will be many Italy themed paintings. #pastelpainting #softpastel #italy #landscape #art #pastel

Painting of a door in Rome with plants growing on the building.

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J. Grant Merrill @jgrantfineart.bsky.social · 22/07/2025

Nice to get back to drawing from life after a couple weeks off. This was a one hour portrait using sanguine and white chalk. I historically have always gone for heavyweight cotton paper, but really like this thin Japanese paper with a coat of shellac. #portrait #drawing #lifedrawing #portraiture

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J. Grant Merrill @jgrantfineart.bsky.social · 26/06/2025

Getting close on my second linocut! I was going to make this a single color, but decided to just do two colors. I then didn't let it dry between layers and lost some detail over inking. I am happy with where it is heading and look forward to trying it with washi. #linocut #printmaking #landscape

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J. Grant Merrill @jgrantfineart.bsky.social · 24/06/2025

A couple weeks ago I went out to the beautiful Flint Hills in Kansas to gather some reference material. I think I am about done with this first painting I based on a couple sketches I made. It is larger(24" x 36") than I usually work which has been fun. #oilpainting #landscape #kansas #flinthills

Oil painting of rolling hills with cows grazing and sun shining through the clouds.

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J. Grant Merrill @jgrantfineart.bsky.social · 21/06/2025

I made my first ever linocut print today! It is a very fun process and I am planning out some more and it is definitely pushing me to think differently about composition, line, and shapes. #printmaking #linocut #print #reliefprint

Picture of a linocut print of a heron walking through the water.

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J. Grant Merrill @jgrantfineart.bsky.social · 10/06/2025

1 hour portrait from life. I haven't made it out for a couple weeks so I felt pretty rusty, but it is always great to get some practice in! #drawing #portrait #lifedrawing #portraiture #art

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J. Grant Merrill @jgrantfineart.bsky.social · 05/06/2025

I really enjoyed working on this new painting. It was the first time I painted something this large completely on location. I painted it over two sessions of 1-2 hours each. It is oil on wood panel 16" x 20" #pleinair #landscape #painting #art #kansascity #oilpainting

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J. Grant Merrill @jgrantfineart.bsky.social · 03/06/2025

This was one of the quicker plein air pieces I completed in May. It is the Kansas City skyline. 6" x 8" on Arches Oil Paper. #pleinair #allaprima #oilpainting #oilsketch #art #kansascity

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J. Grant Merrill @jgrantfineart.bsky.social · 25/05/2025

Morning plein air in the rain. Turns out my trunk makes a decent umbrella unless the rain is really coming down. I would have liked another 10 mins, but am happy with how it turned out regardless. #pleinair #painting #landscape #artist #oilpainting

Oil painting of cloudy and rainy day. Easel is setup outdoors on location.

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J. Grant Merrill @jgrantfineart.bsky.social · 18/05/2025

Beautiful day to get out and paint! This is next to Shawnee Mission Lake in Kansas. 9 x 12 oil on linen panel. #landscape #painting #art #blueskyartshow #artist #kansas #pleinair

Picture of an easel setup outside near a lake.

Oil painting of a landscape with a lake. The foreground includes rocks and grasses.

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J. Grant Merrill @jgrantfineart.bsky.social · 16/05/2025

This is a winter landscape I painted recently. I like adding in figures to landscapes like this and enjoyed the challenge of trying to make a scene with so much snow a little more interesting. #oilpainting #landscape #art #painting #snow #utah #parkcity

Painting of the winter landscape with a small figure walking into the distance.

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J. Grant Merrill @jgrantfineart.bsky.social · 13/05/2025

One of the things I have been focused on lately is trying to vary my mark making and textures when painting. I finished this sunrise painting a couple weeks ago and ended up using a squeegee and palette knife for around half of the painting which was fun. #landscape #painting #impressionism #art

Painting of a sunrise over a lake with someone in a boat.

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J. Grant Merrill @jgrantfineart.bsky.social · 13/05/2025

Another 1 hour portrait drawing done this time with a blue colored pencil. #portrait #portraiture #drawing #lifedrawing #coloredpencil

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J. Grant Merrill @jgrantfineart.bsky.social · 10/05/2025

It was a beautiful night for some plein air painting! 2 hours didn't feel like quite enough time for 12x16, but it was a lot of fun. #pleinair #landscapepainting #landscape #allaprima #kansas #kansascity #oilpainting #artist

Oil painting of a small stream and a sunset.

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J. Grant Merrill @jgrantfineart.bsky.social · 09/05/2025

My wife isn't on bluesky, so I figure I will take the risk and share this secret Mother's Day painting I have been working on. It has been fun trying out some new textures and approaches with this one. She is a good mom. #oilpainting #mother #parenting #art #painting #portraiture #portrait #artist

Oil painting of a mother holding a child while seated in a chair.

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J. Grant Merrill @jgrantfineart.bsky.social · 07/05/2025

Soft pastels were my entry point into using color but I don't use them nearly as often as oil paints now. When I do pull them out I wonder why I don't use them more often! This is my most recent pastel painting of a pond in Park City, UT I visited in March. #landscape #softpastel #art #pastel

Pastel painting of a snowy scene near a pond.

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J. Grant Merrill @jgrantfineart.bsky.social · 06/05/2025

1 hour portrait in charcoal. These are always a little stressful but a lot of fun! #lifedrawing #portraiture #portrait #charcoal #drawing #art

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J. Grant Merrill @jgrantfineart.bsky.social · 01/05/2025

After the last goose I painted I wanted to try something a little looser. I also stuck with a limited palette which I enjoyed. This one is titled Deux Êtres dans le Froid and is 12" x 16" oil on panel. #oilpainting #art #artist #painting #birds #nature

Oil painting 2 geese walking in the snow together

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J. Grant Merrill @jgrantfineart.bsky.social · 01/05/2025

Here is another native bird painting I did this spring. Sparrows are a little dull looking but I like them. They seem to have a lot of energy and a pretty resourceful vibe. I once saw one in a parking lot make quick work of some bread crumbs. #bird #oilpainting #kansas #art #painting

Painting of a sparrow on a flowering tree branch.

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J. Grant Merrill @jgrantfineart.bsky.social · 29/04/2025

Here is another mini landscape I completed lately. I don't usually use such high chroma colors, but I feel like the small size benefits from a little more saturation of color. #sunset #landscape #oilpainting #landscapeart #mini

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J. Grant Merrill @jgrantfineart.bsky.social · 27/04/2025

I have never been great at keeping a sketchbook consistently, but I find these mini paintings serve a similar purpose for me. It allows me to try out painting ideas before committing to something larger and. I also think they are pretty fun. #miniature #miniart #oilpainting #art #landscape

Mini oil painting of a landscape with ocean. Painting is in a gold frame.

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J. Grant Merrill @jgrantfineart.bsky.social · 27/04/2025

This is a little scene I painted from a trip to Canmore which is the town just south of Banff in Canada. It is a lovely place to visit in the summer and I hope I can make it back someday! #landscape #oilpainting #allaprima #panting #landscapeart #banff #canada #canmore

Oil painting of a large mountain behind a green Canadian landscape with a bluish green river in the foreground.

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J. Grant Merrill @jgrantfineart.bsky.social · 26/04/2025

It was a beautiful day to do a little plein air painting today! This is at the Burr Oak Conservation Center in Missouri. #pleinair #missouri #kansascity #artist #oilpainting #allaprima

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J. Grant Merrill @jgrantfineart.bsky.social · 25/04/2025

Trying out some ideas for a new painting. I tend to use a pretty muted color palette, so this color study of a sunrise is stretching me a bit. The bottom right is a placeholder for a group of ducks. #landscapepainting #kansas #landscapeart #oilpainting

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J. Grant Merrill @jgrantfineart.bsky.social · 24/04/2025

This is the latest painting in my series of native Kansas birds that I wrapped up yesterday. This one is 12 x 16 on Arches oil paper. #landscape #landscapeart #wildlife #goose #wildlifeart #bird

Painting of a goose standing on a rock with grass behind.

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J. Grant Merrill @jgrantfineart.bsky.social · 24/04/2025

This composition was way too complicated for the 1.5 hours I had, but it feels like a good start. I may actually try to finish this one at home. #pleinair #allaprima #oilpainting #kansascity

Outdoor painting on location at a Japanese style garden.

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J. Grant Merrill @jgrantfineart.bsky.social · 23/04/2025

Quick little plein air sketch. I always forget something and tonight it was my paper towels. It ended up being mostly a palette knife painting since I couldn't clean my brushes. #pleinair #oilpainting #allaprima #oilsketch #artpractice #artist #kansascity

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J. Grant Merrill @jgrantfineart.bsky.social · 23/04/2025

This painting I completed is a little different from most of my work. The obvious reason is that I don't live in France anymore and Kansas looks a little different...I do have a trip to Italy planned for the summer and am looking forward to some new scenery to paint! #oilpainting #france #art

Painting of French street with bougainvillea flowers.

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J. Grant Merrill @jgrantfineart.bsky.social · 17/04/2025

This past weekend I went camping near a lake here in Kansas and saw a pretty great sunrise. This is a color study I did with a palette knife in preparation for a larger piece. #impressionism #oilpainting #art #landscape #landscapeart #painting

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J. Grant Merrill @jgrantfineart.bsky.social · 07/04/2025

I did a little plein air study recently. It felt a little boring, so I decided I would take a risk and I painted over it. Now it is a sunset and I don't regret it...at least for now. #landscape #pleinair #oilpainting #landscapeart #art #artist #impressionism #tonalism

Prairie land landscape painting with bright sunset.

Prairie landscape with bright blue sky and fluffy clouds.

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J. Grant Merrill @jgrantfineart.bsky.social · 05/04/2025

I worked a little more on my winter series today. This scene was feeling a little boring, so I shifted to more of a tonalist palette. It is a path near Park City, Utah. 11 x 14 oil on panel #oilpainting #impressionism #tonalism #artwork #artist #utah #parkcity #painting

Snowy scene with a man walking along a path near a small stream.

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J. Grant Merrill @jgrantfineart.bsky.social · 02/04/2025

I needed a break from painting snowy landscapes and love this piece of farmland nearby. I have painted different parts of it many times. #landscape #oilpainting #midwest #kansas #farm #landscapeart #painting #art

Midwest landscape painting with open farmland and cloudy blue sky.

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J. Grant Merrill @jgrantfineart.bsky.social · 28/03/2025

Alla Prima dog portrait I just wrapped up! I'm trying to loosen up with my portraits and feel like I am starting to make some progress. 9x12 oil on linen panel #portaiture #pets #dog #animalart #petportrait #artist #art #oilpainting

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J. Grant Merrill @jgrantfineart.bsky.social · 21/03/2025

Here is another small preparatory oil sketch for the winter landscape series I am starting on. It is a 5" x 7" scene in Salt Lake City, Utah #painting #snowscape #landscape #landscapeart #impressionism #art #artist #oilpainting

Impressionist landscape painting with snow and a dirt path leading to a tree.

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J. Grant Merrill @jgrantfineart.bsky.social · 21/03/2025

Here is another small preparatory oil sketch for the winter landscape series I am starting on. It is a 5" x 7" scene in Park City, Utah #painting #snowscape #landscape #landscapeart #impressionism #art #artist #oilpainting

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J. Grant Merrill @jgrantfineart.bsky.social · 21/03/2025

Before jumping into some larger paintings for my winter landscape series I am testing out some ideas on a small scale. Here is a 5" x 7" oil sketch of a scene near Park City, Utah #landscape #landscapepainting #impressionism #art #artist #oilpainting

Oil painting of a snow scene with mountains and a horse.

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J. Grant Merrill @jgrantfineart.bsky.social · 21/03/2025

A couple preparatory sketches for a winter landscape series I am starting on. The first was done in Conté and the second is graphite. Lights were added with white nupastel. #graphite #landscape #snow #landscapeart #artist #art #winter

Sketch of snowy winter road in a wooded area

Sketch of a snowy landscape with a barn.

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J. Grant Merrill @jgrantfineart.bsky.social · 21/03/2025

I have attended a life drawing/painting group at least weekly this year and have loved it. One of my favorite parts is getting home and scraping off my painting. Maybe one day I will like something enough to keep it, but I like the act of letting go. #lifedrawing #figurativeart #artist #painting

Painted silhouette of seated male nude figure.

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J. Grant Merrill @jgrantfineart.bsky.social · 27/02/2025

1 hour portrait drawing from life. I grabbed the wrong supplies and ended up using a lavender colored pencil I hadn't used before. I wasn't able to get the values as dark as I wanted, but it was fun! #portrait #artist #lifedrawing #coloredpencil #drawing #figurativeart #art

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J. Grant Merrill @jgrantfineart.bsky.social · 17/02/2025

I don't typically paint on surfaces without an oil primer, but I like the way these flower studies turned out with the texture of the linen visible. #februarty #sensoryart #oilpainting #art #painting #flowers #artist

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J. Grant Merrill @jgrantfineart.bsky.social · 08/02/2025

Here is another mini painting for the #blueskyartshow reflection theme today. This is another 3" x 4" on a copper sheet. #sunset #oilpainting #painting #impressionism #art

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J. Grant Merrill @jgrantfineart.bsky.social · 08/02/2025

This is a tiny little nocturne painting I did at Grand Lake Oklahoma. I loved the way the different light sources reflected across the lake. It is 3" x 4" oil on copper. #blueskyartshow #oilpainting #art #miniature #painting #landscape

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J. Grant Merrill @jgrantfineart.bsky.social · 06/02/2025

Eyes are always the hardest part of a portrait for me because they are the most important feature to get right. This is a smaller 9" x 12" portrait I did in pastel. #Februarty #pastel #figurativeart #portrait #portraiture #pastel #art

Pastel portrait of a man wearing a black hat and white shirt. He has a grey and white beard and is looking away from the viewer.

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J. Grant Merrill @jgrantfineart.bsky.social · 04/02/2025

I thought this portrait was well suited for the #FebruArty "purple" prompt today. It is a soft pastel portrait I did a couple years ago. #portrait #pastel #art #realism #figurativeart #artwork

Portrait of a girl with brown hair wearing a purple shirt and white cardigan.

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J. Grant Merrill @jgrantfineart.bsky.social · 03/02/2025

Here is my #FebruArty post for the #sensoryart theme today. I had enjoyed trying to capture the fuzzy texture of his short fur with some Impasto detail that was hard to photograph. #artist #pets #dog #animalart #oilpainting #painting #portrait

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