Thursday, May 6, 2010

LEMONS AND SHADOWS




Using the photo I took at Shaker Village of the bowl of lemons, I've traced it on tracing paper and then copied that, enlarging it a bit and darkening it to show the darks where they need to be to work. This painting really needs those darks to be deep and rich to work so I started with the darks. If I don't get them right, no need to continue with the bowl and table.



Mixing my dark from just three pigments: French Ultramarine Blue, Perylene Maroon with just a touch of Quinacridone Burnt Orange to warm it up more for the darks that are brown but in shadow. The photo of the painting doesn't show how you can see the darks are warmer and cooler, depending on what I had in the mix.
I turned the photo and the watercolor sketch upside down so I could see the dark shapes without thinking about what they were. Here's the start:


9 comments:

Ginny Stiles said...

Oh Deb...what a wonderful photo! And doing the upside down thing is just right here. Ann Abgott does a lot of her paintings upside down!!! The KY photo shoot has a plethora of wonderful paintings to come! I can't wait for this one!!!

Ginny Stiles said...

Oops..I think I might have put Deb's name on that last comment inside of yours! Sorry if I did. With you both painting from the Shaker village...I had a slip of the lip.

Ann Buckner said...

Anxious to see how you develop this painting Rhonda. Love the lit bowl and fruit.

Vicki Greene said...

I am so glad to see that you are painting this one. That photo was just saying "paint me". Great start!

debwardart said...

Gonna be several of these paintings!!! Good start and like that you began with the darks instead of the lights. Waiting for more . . . . . .

Pam Johnson Brickell said...

Oooo, this is going to be yummie, Rhonda! Great catch on film too! Or should I say great digital catch :)

RH Carpenter said...

Thanks, Ginny and Ann. Vicki, you're right - it was begging to be painted. Sharon and Deb both took photos of this and will do them, too - it will be interesting to see the three takes on it :)
Thanks, Pam!
Deb, it will be fun to see what you do with this and what Sharon does and then show them all off :)

Watercolors by Susan Roper said...

Rhonda...You did it! I immediately said you should paint this when you posted the photo. It is perfect and I am so glad to see it coming to life. The value sketch alone shows you are on the right track. Cool!

I'll trot on over to Deb's blog to see her take on this.

RH Carpenter said...

Thanks, Susan :) It is an appealing photo. I think Deb and Sharon are going to paint there versions in the Nick Simmons workshop in Dayton this month - so you'll have to wait for those.