We had a very extensive show-and-tell and critique session Tuesday morning in class since we had not been together as a class for 3-4 weeks due to travelling (Sandy was in Italy and came back with several gorgeous small paintings - those she didn't sell right on the spot while there). I do hope she shares them all on her blog (hint hint, Sandy!)
We have a new person in class and a returning person who was in, then out, now in for now. So we're getting filled up at the long table again. Almost everyone had painted (our "homework" was to paint 2 paintings while we were apart for the month) 1 or more paintings like good little students. And, of course, you already saw all the ones I worked on during September.
So back to the basket of apples today (a group project for WatercolorWorkshop). This painting needs me to STOP being so timid with the darks and the shadow shapes on the apples and just DO IT! Or mask out all the whites and lights and then pour that paint on, letting it blend and mingle without mud...which way should I go?
8 comments:
wow Rhonda! this is looking great. cant tell ya what to do.
I like the painting, Rhonda, but since Sam Hollingworth says that "us wimmin" are too shy with our shadows - really push the dark in the top right of the basket and the background on the left - where you have tried to lighten it. You could scrape out some white on the left front of the basket, in the sunlight. If you decide to re-do it, miskit some of the sunlight on the front of the basket and the apples (they show "white" in the photo) and that would make it "pop" more.
Thanks, Dawn :) Deb, you made me laugh - guess I'm just being a girl about that dark, eh? ha ha
I had that dark and then someone (I think her name starts with an S A N....) said it was too strong and then I got mixed up about what to do and then, well, by then I hated the stupid thing! So..I'll play with the darks more, trying to save this but if I can't, it might just be one for the round file and I've got something else in mind...
There a nice gentle mood in this one.
If anything, I'd add a touch of that glorious red to the apples in the basket (just a touch), to make the eye travel around the painting a bit more.
My advice is: don't throw it in the round file! I don't know exactly how, but I would try to make the dark area on the left richer. Your work is so good that I can't imagine you throwing anything away.
Candy
This painting deserves a closeup where one can relish the details. Really beautiful painting!
Rhonda, Don't give up on this, these are the cleanest colors and there are enough darks in the basket, just make the background as shadowy and dark as the ref photo. You have such a good start with this, those apples just glow and the basket work is great. I will start my basket this afternoon, it's ready to go to my watercolor group session.
Thank you all SO MUCH for your comments and critiques on this one. Unfortunately, I ruined it, overworked it, muddied it, etc. You know - when you want something but know it's not working out the way you want so you keep fiddling, fiddling - I even had to resort to gouache mixed with watercolor - urg!!! I do appreciate all the comments and should have left this one alone until my mood changed!
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