Monday, January 10, 2011

SHAKER VILLAGE STILL LIFE, STILL WIP

I started the Shaker Village Still Life painting.  I did the background areas first and didn't go in dark enough - it was medium value and too varied in colors.  So I mixed up a large puddle of darks (using lots of colors) and went back in, trying to not get brush strokes.  Then began working on the warm elements.



Not bad so far, but it needs time and looking and letting it site (and another go with a warmer dark in the lower left area).  I'm liking the glow of the salsa (?) and churn and onions.  More to come...

13 comments:

Ginny Stiles said...

I am trying to be better about not only blogging myself but getting to read my favorite bloggers. So much happens when I get busy and away! I am writing to a friend who is taking a new migraine med that she claims have totally changed her life!

I am so enjoying your still life work and find it fascinating that you put so much dark in before you put the foreground in! I almost never do that. I am planning on a small still life for a private lesson I am giving on Wed. (You will see my first demo on my blog today.)

Teresa Palomar Lois said...

The glow on that salsa jar does look really good Rhonda, and contrast beautifuly with those dark darks surrounding it. Looking forward to the next step :)

Caroline Simmill said...

Simply beautiful, the darks are rich looking and the glow of the transparent paint in your still life is coming together so perfectly.

irinapictures said...

I am very interested in the progress of this work.

RH Carpenter said...

Ginny, it does take time to view works and comment and sometimes you just want to be painting or drawing :) I like working with my darks early on at lot of times. If you know what meds your friend takes for migraines, let me know - I'd love to find something that would work quickly and ease the pain more.

Gracias, Teresa :)

Thank you so much, Caroline and Irina, for your comments on this one.

Christiane Kingsley said...

Not bad, you said! Rhonda, this is gorgeous! Look at that wood grain, look at the darks, look at the glow! Wow. I love it!

Watercolors by Susan Roper said...

Rhonda...I do find it interesting that you did the darks, first. For one thing, it allows you to overlap the cylinders in the painting with a bit of the dark shadows, making for soft edges in them. For another, it is a road map for where the darkest darks should be. I am a great person to be preaching about this as I have failed in my last few attempts to do this! But, I do remain sure that this is the way to go in paintings! So...go forth, child!

Unknown said...

The painting is looking great!

Ann Buckner said...

Looking forward to see the next phase of this. It is looking great. :)

debwardart said...

So far, so good! (Oops, is that an exclamation point that hopped in there?) I like the grain of the wood and looking forward to seeing the corn.

RH Carpenter said...

Christiane, thanks :) You made me smile today.

Susan, I often start with darks to see where I need to go with the mediums (it helps me leave the whites better than starting with the mediums and sometimes losing those whites).

Thanks so much, Tim, Ann and Deb. I was pleasantly surprised at how easily this came to this point so hope it all comes together as easily in the next stage.

RH Carpenter said...

Christiane, thanks :) You made me smile today.

Susan, I often start with darks to see where I need to go with the mediums (it helps me leave the whites better than starting with the mediums and sometimes losing those whites).

Thanks so much, Tim, Ann and Deb. I was pleasantly surprised at how easily this came to this point so hope it all comes together as easily in the next stage.

RH Carpenter said...
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