Challenge 28. February, 2013

Berkenstock wrote

on 6 Feb 2013 4:22 PM

Thank you Catherine and Jen.  Yes the paper is black  Canson Mi titus (sp).  I wish that I had used the smoother side as more black showed through than I really wanted but you don't know until you try.

B.J. Bailey wrote

on 6 Feb 2013 9:18 PM

Geri, I really like your kingfisher. It has that real watercolour appearance. You captured the feel of the day and the background is lovely. I also like your swans and I think you got lots of white colour, I was surprised it would cover that well and your swans look great. Very nicely done.

B.J. Bailey wrote

on 6 Feb 2013 9:29 PM

Here are the swans again. They are done with indian ink pen and wc pencil on 5" X 7" artist quality sketchbook. I couldn't adjust anything on this paper so left as is. It is a challenge for me to do something small, I always want to draw larger, this was a good excersise.

B.J. Bailey wrote

on 7 Feb 2013 5:37 AM

Thank you Jen, and yes the swans are the white of the paper and the water is the india ink. The ink didn't cover as well as I thought but it look like the water so I thought it would be ok.

C. Brown wrote

on 7 Feb 2013 6:15 AM

Very nice work Bonnie! This almost looks like a photo. The reflections are amazing!

B.J. Bailey wrote

on 7 Feb 2013 7:22 AM

Thank you Catherine, I used the wc pencil to put in the colour and then went over it with the ink for the reflections and I think it worked ok. The photo doesn't show the colour on the swans. There was blue on the backs and lots of grey on the necks. I scanned it instead of taking a picture and I guess that's the difference.

Berkenstock wrote

on 7 Feb 2013 7:31 AM

I think you picked a hard subject for that media and done a nice job.  The water is very good.  Hows the curling coming along??

A Gal Named Sam wrote

on 7 Feb 2013 8:18 AM

Geri, yes, you did do a great job on the stump that the kingfisher is sitting.  It's a nice painting but I find myself wishing there were more values.  The painting is pretty much in middle values.

Nice swans.  I like the purples and blues that you've added.  It can be pretty difficult to get good strong white on black paper with colored pencil but you've managed to do it on the bird's bodies.  You've discovered that the smooth side of Canson Mi-Tientes is better for colored pencil but the rougher side is great for pastels.  I like this painting.

J.V.Schaffer wrote

on 7 Feb 2013 10:57 AM

Bonnie this is very nice the water turned out great ,water is my nemisis

A Gal Named Sam wrote

on 7 Feb 2013 11:16 AM

Oop!  I almost missed this one.  Very nice painting.  I'm glad that the ink didn't cover the water well.  As you said, it looks like water.  Good reflections with a touch of blue.  Those red beaks really draw the eye - an excellent focal point.  This is a nice painting.

Berkenstock wrote

on 7 Feb 2013 11:27 AM

Thank you Sam for the comments.  I agree with you on the fisher.  He just kind of blends into the background.  This is good in real life but it doesn't make a good painting.  I think I will have to get my paints out again.

The paper did give an interesting texture to the drawing but it kind of sucks when you are trying for whiter whites.  A little Cont'e crayon helps a lot you just kind of keep it under your hat

A Gal Named Sam wrote

on 7 Feb 2013 11:50 AM

I didn't hear a thing.  Another thing that helps is Caran d'Ache Neocolors which is water soluble crayons.  I use them dry on something like your swans.

B.J. Bailey wrote

on 7 Feb 2013 4:51 PM

Thank you for your comments Geri, we seem to pick the same photo's to do. But it is nice to see how someone else does the same photo their way. I'm off to curling tonight, and I have to force myself out but once there it is a lot of fun.

Sam, thank you for your comments and I will keep Geri and your secrets under my hat.

Jim thank you for your comments also, they are always appreciated.

Turps245 wrote

on 7 Feb 2013 8:42 PM

Well this one ate my lunch today! It just faught me all day.  I really hate elipses and I have gone right off roses! the latter is so overworked. It is just such a  subtle picture and I am not a subtle or patient painter!

anyway here you are not exactly sure of the size about 6 x7 on Uart sanded paper. various pastels and pencils. I am not doing anything more to it!. :(