Challenge #16--February, 2012

csebeling wrote

on 10 Feb 2012 9:05 PM

I tried to refine my Valentine and I'm not sure if it's a success or I killed it. Please tell me what you think.

A Gal Named Sam wrote

on 10 Feb 2012 9:17 PM

Cindy, I like your Valentine.  It looks almost iridescent with that bright red on that electric blue.  Very vibrant and pretty.  Your valentine will love it.

csebeling wrote

on 10 Feb 2012 10:23 PM

Sorry for the ocd, Jen. And thank you for your patience. I know it's time to move on now. I'm doing Reserve duty again, so have a great weekend everyone, and I hope to be posting next week. Keep up the good work!

sandichot wrote

on 11 Feb 2012 4:21 PM

Cindy- You are so diligent! I love them all too. Hope to see you again soon.Wondering what you will pick up to paint next.

sandichot wrote

on 12 Feb 2012 9:22 AM

Hi ALL- Finally I got a rose that I can accept and not discard to post before Valentine's day. It's not perfect or anything I would be proud of and it probably won't be a keeper. I always know that I am not good at painting flowers and this has become a challenge. So here it is with all the imperfection.

Oil Pastel on 140 lbs. coated watercolor paper.

Size is 6'X8"

P.S. On the little leaves I tried not to lead the eyes out of the picture by pointing the tips upward. Hope it works.

wetpaperfan wrote

on 12 Feb 2012 4:08 PM

Hello everyone,

Everyone's roses are great,  we should put them all together for a bouquet .  Meca, welcome your rose sketch is charming. 

I redid Cotton the Cat,   What I saw mostly in the photograph was the glow around his head so I put him into photoshop and found that he had some strips in his fur and wasn't just solid black like the photo appeared.  So here he is again.  telling us to go away,  he is awaiting the arrival of a little friend...

A Gal Named Sam wrote

on 12 Feb 2012 5:03 PM

Sandi, I love bright colors and I had to put my sunglasses on to look at this!  I love it.  The red jumps out and grabs me and that blue bg really sets it off.  You can only get those vibrant colors with OPs. Fantastic little Valentine! 

Marsha, I don't know Cotton but I like how he looks here.  Those eyes are great.  They are staring right at me.  Yes, I think he is saying, "Go away!  I'm expecting a tasty little friend."  That strongly colored wall behind him really makes him stand out.  I like the stripes in his fur.  Another great painting! 

sandichot wrote

on 12 Feb 2012 6:22 PM

Thanks, Jen, Sammy and Marsha- Yes OP will give bright colors, I used all Senn. for this one because I want the rose to be as vivid as the real thing I saw in the garden. The photo was kind of washed out by the sun and did not portray real color.

Marsha- I love your Cotton the cat, he is so like the real Cotton. You captured his eyes perfectly. He always looks at me like that as if to say "Stand off- I don't trust you--Dont' get too close." Like Sammy said, this is a great painting. I assume you used CP again for this one. You really master CP well.

holland2 wrote

on 16 Feb 2012 11:49 AM

Hi all -

As I mentioned in the "chatter" thread, I'm so far behind that I'm just not going to try to catch up all at once.  That way I won't feel so indundated all at one time and I can take more time commenting on each post.

I have had so little time and even less time when I felt good, that I feel like I sort of abandoned painting for  a while.  I was able to do a little, though - most of it not challenge related, though - I will post what I have done over on the "chatter" thread later.

I've been on vacation this week, but yesterday and today are the first days I have felt like painting, so here's a photo of what I have done so far.  Still some work to do on it so I guess this is a WIP.  It's 8 x 10 on cradled board in oils.  (I'm not so sure I like this surface, but I've only done one other painting on it - this one has gone better than the first one.)

I haven't been able to "get" your vibrant reds yet, but I'm still working on it.  Still have more work to do on the stem, leaves and the center of the rose - then work on perking up that red.

Any suggestions, anyone?  I am an "infant" with oils - this is just my 4th attempt - will post the other 3 in the "chatter" thread eventually.

A Gal Named Sam wrote

on 16 Feb 2012 3:21 PM

Holly, the rose has lovely ruffled petals and is a beautiful peach color which I love.  The bg is fantastic - great impressionism and a nice transition of colors.  Can't wait to see it finished.  I think you are going to be a terrific oil painter.