Tuesday, March 6, 2012

SMALL CAW GIRL STUDY - STAGE 2



I did a bit more to the study.  Now the claws on the crow are too big.  I'm going to have to practice bird feet!  I may want to even put them in using just graphite in the future.

Tomorrow I have a lot to do as the new Program Chair for the Greater Cincinnati Watercolor Society so it will be a busy day for me.  I said I would take minutes/notes and photos, too, since our new Recording Secretary won't be there.  So will do that, introduce the guest artist/speaker, Nancy Nordloh Neville (a very well known tri-state artist and teacher); and help her with the small critique session after the program. 

14 comments:

Jan Yates, SCA said...

This is fabulous-are you sure you want to adjust the feet? I like that they emphasize the firm clasp on the caw girl's beautifully rendered shoulder-that figure is really well done-and such a challenging gesture!

Unknown said...

I hate that when a critical color or detail gets away from me in watercolor. Maybe you can try putting a little piece of fabric on the shoulder to blend in with the claws. Or since it is a study you can move on having learned something. The other elements are good, so it might be worth trying to correct it to your satifsaction.

Carol Blackburn said...

Looking good, Rhonda. You are a busy lady!

RH Carpenter said...

Jan, I do feel they look a bit cumbersome - perhaps they need to be thinner? Something not quite right...I can't take credit for the figure - I traced the outline of it and then painted it since I knew it was just about the colors I wanted to use in the skintones, not the drawing. I always draw free hand when I do larger paintings, though.

Kevin, yes, one thing can throw the whole thing off and I think that claw is off. I may do the larger version in graphite - the shine would work for the claws and I'd have more control over the shapes, etc.

Carol, I go in spurts of activity and then just want to sit for days - of course, I'm blaming the head cold I picked up from the grands - a week of cotton-headed sinus pressure but slowly getting over it.

jgr said...

She looks great and I agree the feet seem fine. Enjoy your day tomorrow!

hw (hallie) farber said...

This is so good and so interesting.

Autumn Leaves said...

Each piece we do teaches us something new, yes? I like the idea of doing the more delicate feet in graphite. That is inspiration!

JANE MINTER said...

really like how you have painted the figure rhonda ...if you feel the claws are too big do you think you could bleed/merge the claws into the shoulder maybe .

Pam Johnson Brickell said...

Love the idea of the use graphite. Also like Jane's idea of softening/bleeding the feet into her shoulder...

RH Carpenter said...

Thanks, Hallie, Sherry and Jane :)

Jane, I could try the bleed and see what happens but I think the graphite in the larger one will do the trick and get the look I want, too.

Pam, thanks! Did you get out to see the full moon last night? I saw it around 3 am just before it went behind a bank of clouds.

laura said...

Fabulous. Love the figure ... and the black pumps!

Jane said...

This is really awesome Rhonda, perfect proportions of the woman, and such a difficult position!

irinapictures said...

I like them both very much, very Rhonda's. It is very interesting how you choose the object and composition for the painting, every time it is something new yet inside the same idea.

RH Carpenter said...

Thanks so much, Laura, Jane and Irina! Jane, I can't take credit for the drawing - since this was a small study, I just traced the 8 x 10 photo and then painted using it as a guide. When I do a larger one, I'll draw it myself.