Sunday, December 2, 2007

Sunday, December 2, 2007 - December Challenge from Myrna

Myna Wacknov (see my sidebar for her blog and webpage) has come up with a great challenge for December: Using only 3 colors + black and white, paint something, anything, anystyle. But you choose the colors by picking the colors blindly out of a jar/hat/whatever - so you don't choose the colors, you let the colors choose you! Cool, huh??? So I just happen to have all my colors listed on a spreadsheet (I know, I'm very organized! ha-ha) so I printed that out and then cut the names apart and drew the names of 3 colors after I'd mixed them up.

Should I admit that my list included 68 tubes of paint?!?? I admit, when I first started painting - about 5-6 year's ago (can't remember now), I used to buy all the great Daniel Smith colors whenever he would come out with new ones - so I have Zoisite Genuine and Lunar Red Rock and Hematite and Undersea Green!! Yep, it took me about 3 year's to get wise and write down the Pigment # for each color and decide I don't need another PR 101 just because it's called something new. Plus I now stick to more pure colors - made from a single pigment or just 2, no more. So I now just buy my old standbys unless something really fantastic comes along that I can't mix myself.

So - my first 3 color choices are:

1. Phthalo Blue (Green Shade)


2. Natural Sleeping Beauty Turquoise


3. Lunar Earth


For my black, I'm using a mix of Lunar Black + Moonglow and I'll use the white of the paper for white since this is watercolor.

All colors are Daniel Smith brand.

I've already begun my painting using these colors. It was just too much fun to think about what it will look like and I had a photo Jerry took of a white heron with gold feet I've been wanting to try. I may do several of these with the same or similiar subjects just for the fun of it and to use some unusual combinations. I'm liking how it's turning out so far. I misketed the fluffy bits on the bird and some highlights on the beak and legs and will do the background next using the darker mixes of colors.

5 comments:

Sandy Maudlin said...

Really cool! Your paintng in progress is looking excellent!

RH Carpenter said...

Thanks, Sandy! It's coming along and these colors lift so easily and I like the granulation, too.

Watercolors by Susan Roper said...

How fun! This is going to be spectacular in a watercolory sort of way. I like the colors you drew for yourself!

Susan

PS - Thanks for not "telling" what my teaser painting was about on my blog!

Michelle Himes said...

Interesting project! Certainly a different way to pick a "limited palette".

I really like how it's coming out - and I love that heron. He looks so elegant.

RH Carpenter said...

Thanks so much Susan and Michelle for stopping by and commenting. I've posted the next stage so take a look and tell me what you think.
Susan, I'd never let a secret slip!