Saturday, March 7, 2009

Finished Paintings, I Think

For the color group, we were to do two paintings from the same photo but trying for a different mood in each. I'm not sure I succeeded with this one as the alternate to the blue - maybe I need to put more energy into the strokes, or something...oh well, each one can't be a winner.



I'm very happy with the blue hydrangea painting, "Am I Blue?" so that is enough for me for now :) I am finished with this one - not another stroke to go.













And got some more comments about the pitcher plant painting and what it needed or what I could do to make it better. I think it just needed a true center of interest (COI) and had to drop my attachment to the ruffled edges of the Twinrocker paper and crop it so the background was not competing with the flowers and there was a place for your eye to focus. So that's what I did. Better? I think so but I may give it another day or two to sit and let it sneak up on me what it still might need. Looking at it this way, I think I still need to push back the sides a bit - perhaps a light glaze of cobalt blue so the sides are not as pretty and prominent as the middle parts.



I don't have any ideas for new paintings so will take some time and read through my new Watercolor magazine that came yesterday :) Something in there always inspires me.

21 comments:

Vicki Greene said...

While the orange is more vibrant, the blue one is perfect. I think the pitcher plants are beautiful and really appreciate all of the work that you put in to make that painting work.

debwardart said...

Hey lady - PERFECT on the blue - and I note it has 7 petals in there so enter it into the GCWS show!!! Also like orange flower, just like blue better. I do like the crop on the pitcher plant.

debwardart said...

OK lady, I just checked out the GCWS blog - as usual you did a great job on minutes. However, I'm not liking the photography you did of someone purporting to be me. For some reason you have included photos of some older, heavy set middle aged woman with gray hair, and one who is apparently oblivious of her surroundings (that last photo). Who on earth could she be??? ;-)

Anonymous said...

I love, love, love the blue one. I like the orange one, too, but the blue one is my favorite. You're right - it's finished. You should be very pleased.

Candy

Ann Buckner said...

I think both are well done with the different viewpoints. Pat yourself on the back Rhonda! :)

RH Carpenter said...

I think you all feel like I do - the blues and violets make for a better painting (of course, I could have handled the yellows and oranges better!). Thanks, Vicki, Deb, Candy and Ann.
Deb, you were just IN THE ZONE when you were doing the ink stone grinding :) And I love your hair! It's like silver and platinum mixed :) Unfortunately, I won't be around for the Evergeen Show - will be out of town for the drop-off/hanging and reception :( so wasn't planning on being in it - I hate to ask someone else to drop off and take care of my things!

Brent Perkins said...

I like the orange one. It's warm and alive.

http://www.onpainting.wordpress.com said...

The blue piece seem so much more subtle. Did you tire of the project while working on the orange/red or did you do that first?

Sandy Maudlin said...

Brent's comment got me to thinking about the vibrancy of the orange one. Maybe it's the immediacy of the strokes ... or maybe color, but I am drawn to that painting a lot, too. Great work!

Deb Léger said...

I vote for the blue hydrangea, too! Love it! You did an awesome job on it Rhonda. Of all the paintings I've seen that you've done (and there have been many!), THIS is my favourite!

I kind of like the Pitcher Plants uncropped but I do like the white flecks you put in.

Nava said...

Rhonda, the blue one is indeed lovely. You got beautiful softness, and wonderful color variety, in addition to some interesting shapes. Don't give up on the orange one, though. Any chance of lifting some more of the dark at the top right?

RH Carpenter said...

Thank you so much, Brent, Bill, Sandy, Deb, and Nava, for your comments and ideas on this one. It's interesting to me which one you like more than the other and why. Bill, when I read your comment I knew you had hit it on the head - I got tired of this as soon as I got past the yellow and into the orange and red! ha ha Oh, well, I tried to save it somehow and give it more energy - maybe it worked but it will never be a favorite of mine.

RH Carpenter said...

Thank you so much, Brent, Bill, Sandy, Deb, and Nava, for your comments and ideas on this one. It's interesting to me which one you like more than the other and why. Bill, when I read your comment I knew you had hit it on the head - I got tired of this as soon as I got past the yellow and into the orange and red! ha ha Oh, well, I tried to save it somehow and give it more energy - maybe it worked but it will never be a favorite of mine.

RH Carpenter said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Joan Sandford-Cook said...

Adore the way you cropped the pitcher plant painting. Its given an abstract feel to it. Brave decision but for me a great one.
Still can't help saying I love the blue hydrangea best and I loved seeing it develop, but the orange version has a spontaneity about it as if you were more confident. It feels more contemporary. Great pair.

Hope you enjoyed your relaxing read - plus a glass or two I trust.

Watercolors by Susan Roper said...

I like them both, but being an artist who is drawn to the warm colors that orange one just sings to me. How about a grouping with complementary colors, side-by-side? I find the blue one soothing and the orange one very energizing.

Barb Sailor said...

I think both paintings are excellent, but I am drawn more to the blue than the orange. Both paintings, of course, verge on the abstract which really appeals to me. I agree with debwardart who likes the crop on the pitcher plant. Very nice.

laura said...

The pitcher plant painting is fascinating ... so many in and outs; so much to look out. It's very interesting how different the blue and orange paintings are! Both are skilfully painted: maybe it's just something about the subject that lends itself to blue-violets?

RH Carpenter said...

Thank you so much, Joan, Susan, Barb, and Laura, for your comments on these paintings. It is fun for me to see which - the cool or the warm - people are drawn to and like the most and why. I think because it's calming, I need to paint only in blues and greens and violets from now on! ha ha

marianne said...

Wonderful Watercolors!
I love your colorwheel logo!

RH Carpenter said...

Thanks, Marianne! I imagine the color wheel reminds you of your mandalas :) I've been looking at them and they are wonderful :)