challenge CHATTER - 2013

Berkenstock wrote

on 27 Jan 2013 10:20 AM

Catherine I agree with Sam on the white orchid.  Face on is the best way to go.  I also agree you need a little bit of color behind the white orchid.  It has a tendency to get lost in the background.  So far you have done a wonderful job.

bernof wrote

on 27 Jan 2013 1:24 PM

To all my friends ,my heartfelt thank you

Fred

J.V.Schaffer wrote

on 27 Jan 2013 3:34 PM

Catherine great so far I think a darker BG would help just don't do what I did on my last post and get it to dark the plant is beautiful

wetpaperfan wrote

on 27 Jan 2013 4:45 PM

Cath:  I simply love your orchid,  it is coming along nicely.   your leaf texture and and pot are spot on except for what Sam said about the curve at the bottom,  remember I did that recently with I did the cup and vases. the orchid bloom is beautiful. 

 you said:  "The only regret I have is that I took the white orchid head on and I think it would have been better to paint it in profile."   

If I am hearing you right,  you meant negative painting instead of profile.    You could have done it that way , but,  the way you have done it is very nice as well,  when you achieve your back ground and paint around the bloom and bud, it will pop.   because the orchid is white, you may want to think about a dark complementary color behind it.  try a sample on a piece of paper,  paint a rough bloom on another sheet, then paint around it with a few colors to see which one you like the best. 

Some folks paint the background first and the primary second, but like Sam she does the primary first then adds the back ground.  I have tried both and I have no preference...  but I'm still learning like you to find my way...

another reason for adding the back ground as you go it helps to bring out the values and tones, like a map.to let you know what to do next.   

I love your style of painting flowers and vases.  Its very illustrative and precise. 

wetpaperfan wrote

on 27 Jan 2013 4:57 PM

Cath:  another suggestion...   when you start around the vase and flower..  put the water around it first and drop the color in.  make sure you don't get any water on what you have already painted.   try it on a scrap of paper first.   you will find the color will only travel where the water is and will avoid the dry.   The water will be the catalyst to pull the color along,  as you drop another color in it will blend with the first color naturally, dont mix on the paper just let the colors work their magic,  and don't use more that three pigments or you will get mud.   then put water to the outside of that to soften any hard lines you might get. take the water all the way to the edge of the paper.  I should end up with  a darker value nearest the flower and gradually lighten as it gets further away.   then let it dry completely before you add any more.   then do the same thing again.  until you get the value you want...  Start out light and darken later if you are unsure about it.  but practice on a scrap of paper first.

C. Brown wrote

on 27 Jan 2013 6:00 PM

Thanks everyone for all of your tips. I tried to put in cast shadows but didn't like them and scrubbed some out and now I'm thinking how to proceed. I might get creative. Not sure yet but will post it earlier this coming week.  Marsha I have a book on flower painting that discusses how to do the background work like you've described.  I was really wanting a simple background to highlight the orchids and will probably use one color only. I'll see where it goes.  

Berkenstock wrote

on 27 Jan 2013 6:22 PM

wetpaperfan:

then put water to the outside of that to soften any hard lines you might get.                                                                         

 take the water all the way to the edge of the paper.  I should end up with  a darker value nearest the flower

wetpaperfan:

put the water around it first and drop the color in.  make sure you don't get any water on what you have already painted.  

This is good advise.  Although you could just put some color around the flower and a little farther and make it a venyet.(Sp)  Us red necks caint spell very good)

wetpaperfan wrote

on 27 Jan 2013 6:30 PM

Geri:  it will still be a vignette, as long as you don't add more color.   by NOT add the water all the way to the end you will still get a hard line of some sort where the water ends. 

Try it out on a piece of scrap and you will see....   even if a soft color is used it will have a hard end at the end of the water line.

let me know what you find out.

wetpaperfan wrote

on 27 Jan 2013 6:34 PM

Geri:         regarding the Beer.   when you have the flu   you need to add enzymes back into your system,  like yogurt and anything that has a fermenting culture to it.   Beer has the fermenting yeast and that is what makes it work,  I was so miserable that when I read this online, I called my husband at the club and said bring me home a bottle of beer....  it worked!   within a few hours...   The article said that non-pasturized beer is the best,  I just had a Miller Lite....  YIPPEE

A Gal Named Sam wrote

on 27 Jan 2013 6:58 PM

Good medicine, Marsha.  I hope that you had more than one Miller Lite.

Berkenstock wrote

on 28 Jan 2013 3:07 PM

Sam I took a look at zetangle on youtube.  It is deceptively simple.  Kind of fun too.  I fool around with this a bit and see what happens.

Turps245 wrote

on 28 Jan 2013 6:48 PM

Today I got up at dawn (for me ) as the yearly bug inspecter was coming between 8 and 12 of course he showed up at twelve!! So I went to art and produced this! Still a WIP but I got quite a bit done. Must have been all the coffee I got in me before I started. I had asked Howard to smile for my new camera ( not something he likes to do) this is the result! Before I rushed the glasses at the last minute you could see the slight twinkle in his eye as he knew he was being perverse! It looks like his Mum and he looks very like her so must have something right! I may leave off the glasses.

8 x10 on Uart pastel paper, various pastels and pastel pencils.

I think the painting got distorted as it was not as his head is tilted in the actual painting and much closer to the photo. His nose needs work too. Hmm maybe too much coffee!!!