ALL MEDIA PHOTO CHALLENGE - DECEMBER 2012 #26

J.V.Schaffer wrote

on 17 Dec 2012 3:15 PM

Thank you Sam Geri and Catherine after reading Geris post I remembered I hadn't shaded the robe I will never be satisfied with this so I only made the little change it is on wood Sam I am thinking of an arched frame for it Catherine

wetpaperfan wrote

on 17 Dec 2012 4:18 PM

Suzette:  I think your Owl looks very intent, as he should, you captured that well,  I like that you incorporated the Bristle Cone trees as well as Mt Charleston in the back ground.  I love this painting and the looseness of it.  Good job.

James:  your Madonna and Child are beautiful.  I was in a friends home last year and she was from the middle east and had a Statue in her home that looked similar to this.  In my heart I don't see the Madonna as a blond with blue eyes, I see her as the peoples of the middle east look.   I love this painting it is very very beautiful and her scarf and face are perfect.

Alexandra Spencer wrote

on 17 Dec 2012 5:14 PM

Suzette, your style on the snowy owl is very distinctive and individual. Well done!

Jim, I agree with Marsha that the Madonna and Child would have looked Middle Eastern instead of the Northern Italian look we've become so accustomed to seeing from Renaissance painters. This picture has a humble dignity that is beautiful.

J.V.Schaffer wrote

on 17 Dec 2012 6:25 PM

Thank you Jen Marsha and Alex when I decided to try this I knew I was not going to do a northern European type. This is from my own Iimagination , however I did use a composite for the Maddona. I did attempt to do it Iconicly

smilingbluedog wrote

on 17 Dec 2012 11:45 PM

Marsha, Thank you for the welcome, and suggestions about light and pouncing :)  I've got a couple of days off, and intend to work on this painting some more. I think a deadline is good, but won't make sacrifices to meet it. Time is often an issue.

I'm glad for the friendly, valuable comments and suggestions I've received from Sam and a couple others so far... . There's a lot of amazing talent in this group, and I look forward to exploring further. 

I'm also pleasantly surprised that you've been out this way! It is a beautiful place.  And just about everything has both languages on the labels, so if you need a fresh can of green beans, I can probably help... maybe you're starting a collection? 1979... I was turning 19 and living in Toronto back then.  Whereabouts in the Rockies did you camp?  Anyhow, I had a hard day, so I'm going to bed now. Looking forward to having daylight to paint by tomorrow. G'nite :)

wetpaperfan wrote

on 17 Dec 2012 11:56 PM

Angie I believe one of the places we stayed at was Kamloops  and a few other places with funny names I remember a glacier and lots of trout in the waters......some flat land with mountains just jumping up out of nothing... and the native indians smoking salmon along the river banks, and we weren't allowed to buy any from them because it was against the law.  We ended up in Vancover then took a ferry around some islands to Victoria and it was all beautiful....

smilingbluedog wrote

on 18 Dec 2012 12:47 PM

I love your painting! The bold strokes are appealing and you caught the owl's striking gaze and eyes perfectly. 

smilingbluedog wrote

on 18 Dec 2012 12:57 PM

Marsha I can't believe this was quickly put together. You've captured his facial details so well!  If you decide to make a "serious" piece, be sure to share, I'd love to see it... now I'm going to work on mine :)

suzgriffon wrote

on 19 Dec 2012 8:20 AM

Jim: The eyes on your Madonna are very captivating. I can see a mother's strength and protection in her face, if that makes sense. I also like that you can see the wood grain.  That has always been something I've wanted to try.

Berkenstock: The beak of that owl was very tricky.  I made it too low the first time, and had to redo it. I like how you portrayed the feathers on your owl, though, because they look very smooth.  Mine came out a bit clumpy.  I think I might go back and retouch the owl in a few places to make it blend together better.

J.V.Schaffer wrote

on 19 Dec 2012 10:38 AM

Thank you Suzette I use the cheapest 1/4 inch plywood, luan [mahogany] and turn it over to use the pine side it has better grain one sanding and go

C. Brown wrote

on 20 Dec 2012 8:00 AM

I started a watercolor of the 1st. photo of the bridge in this months challenge. I have the underpainting done and now it's time to get to work. I will post a picture soon :) I hope everyone is having a stress free preChristmas week.

A Gal Named Sam wrote

on 20 Dec 2012 10:10 AM

 I've had a dilemma since I have five more great-grandchildren to paint and I like to do portraits in colored pencil.  You may remember that the last time I tried, my wrist got irritated and my eyes got blurry.  So, I did this painting to see if I could do a portrait in oil pastels.  My solution to save my eyes was to set the timer for 1 hour and 15 minutes and take a break to do 1/3 of my floor exercises and walk around the house for 10 minutes.  It look just about 4 hours to do this paintings and I got all my floor exercises done and a half hour walk. 

This was a true challenge because I had never done an oil pastel portrait and the image I used was a wooden Santa.  I converted this into color without any other references.  Marsha, I know how you love wooden Santas but what excites me about art is color.  Please don't hate me for turning your wooden Santa into something else.

This oil pastel is 6"X10" on gessoed mat board.  I can see a couple little tweaks that need to be done - three little spots of misplaced color just under his nostril and on both cheeks.

 I may crop it like this when I mat it to set on a little table easel.