Monday, December 5, 2011

CAW GIRL - AFTER A BATH

Well, I didn't toss or pour a bucket of water on her (as Nick Simmons suggested), but I did take a very powerful spray bottle full of water and washed off the bottom of the dress as much as possible.  This was a technique from Nick's workshop.  Hit it really hard with a hard stream of water and it takes off any watercolor that isn't staining.  Unfortunately, the red (I believe it's Pyrrol Red from Daniel Smith) was a staining color.  So had to really darken that dress to make it work.



She's done - in more ways than one!




The dress is not that heavy looking IRL, but isn't showing up in the photo so I cropped in to focus on the dress and got a better version.  It's a mix of Ultramarine Turquoise and the Pyrrol Red to get a good dark velvety look.









I lifted some areas in her face too where hard lines were, but I still like the cronish look of her so leaving it as is.


Thanks for all the comments on this one.  Nothing more to do in watercolor with it - there are areas, already, that are overworked and show the roughness of the paper (especially on the dress area).

Seeing the cropped version, I'm thinking cropping it down this far might be a good idea - more impact.


I was going to post this early this AM but got a migraine instead.  Had to take a pill and go back to bed with the blankets over my head and sleep for 2 1/2 hours!  Feeling much better now (first migraine since October so not too bad for me).

14 comments:

Jan Yates, SCA, Canada said...

hey Rhonda, i've been flipping back and forth re your original caw girl and this one and not sure why you added the bottom of the dress and darkened -but it works
am wondering if that is why you were compelled to crop the image re a balance because of the darker shapes and the top being much lighter?
Having said that, i hope you don't permanently crop as (in my very humble opinion) that fabulous pile of vivid hair and the full crow forms and gesture really add to the presence of the work as a whole--brilliant! (or maybe try cropping horizontally to retain them?)
*really enjoyed your insightful words yesterday re art being 'true'

hw (hallie) farber said...

I do like it cropped--Caw Girl takes the spotlight.

Carol Blackburn said...

It's uniquely yours, Rhonda!

Caroline Simmill said...

I must have got your migraine Rhonda as I have had one this last week! Good to hear you are getting less of them. Caw Girl is a powerful image wow. Have you seen 'How to make an American Quilt' the film, a crow in that is a messenger. I love crows and saw one the other day up close on a fence post, they are intelligent birds.

http://carolking.wordpress.com said...

Cool caw girl! I had to go back and read the previous post about her. I like that you spritzed her with water and gave her a bath. She looks much more refreshed now.

Anonymous said...

So glad your migraine dissipated. Love seeing your reworked painting and find Jan's comments quite insightful too.

RH Carpenter said...

Jan, the bottom just wasn't working for me and when Nick said it, I knew others saw it and wouldn't let me get by with just leaving it like that! Thanks for the great comments on this one - the crop was just to show the dress more but I do like it that way - of course, it does cut out her hair...so will have to decide. I splattered some color in the bg to give it something other than pure white around her and that may help more, too.

Hallie, she's in your face in the cropped version, definitely!

Thanks, Carol.

Caroline, sorry about the migraine. I was out of it all day yesterday, sleeping to be without the pain seemed to be the only thing that stopped it all day; today, it feels more like sinus pressure and pain (another rainy day with 2.75 inches of rain yesterday and a cold, misty drizzle all day today so far :( Beats snow, though. I'll have to check out that movie sometime.

Thanks, Carol and Sherry :)

debwardart said...

I like this version much better; guess Nick knows his stuff! Looking forward to more in this series. One migraine in over a month is very good for you - sorry, but at least it's a better average!

Pam Johnson Brickell said...

Ooo, this is dramatic. Makes me think one mustn't mess with Ms Caw Girl!
Glad to hear your headaches have subsided. Now to banish them forever!

RH Carpenter said...

Thanks, Deb and Pam.

Deb, yes, one a month is do-able but it still sucks (and takes 2 days of you feeling yucky). I think the one that hit me Monday was a migraine and sinus headache -really bad. But better today.

Pam, I don't think they'll ever go away completely but I can keep hoping!

Lisa Le Quelenec said...

Very interesting... with her hair cropped out she looks much more vulnerable and younger to me... not so sure of herself. The colour of her dress is perfect! I can't wait to see the next one in the series.

RH Carpenter said...

Lisa, you're right - somehow it makes her less harsh to see her in the cropped version! Thanks for your comments.

JANE MINTER said...

i'd crop the bottom slightly if it where mine rhonda .....found a beautiful image in one of my art books "woman with crow" by picasso with the crow and woman merging ...thought of you ...hope you are feeling better now .

RH Carpenter said...

Thanks, Jane :) Now I have to look up that painting by Picasso!