After some comments here and from the artists at WatercolorWorkshop, and after I checked this in black and white and saw that the values were so blah, I tried scrubbing out some color and then putting in some darks in the star - the main flower. I also "cheated" and used some Titanium White watercolor on the tendrils of the main flower. It's still pure watercolor BUT it's definitely a bit opaque in places. Oh, well...some you win, some you lose, some you think, "huh?"
Better? Does the big leaf in the upper right still take your eye there? I am really giving this Kilimanjaro coldpress paper a workout (and, of course, that was my plan all along - you are sooo welcome! ha ha)
I also worked a bit more on the blue one...Laura asked about the colors used and I'll check my palette and get back to you, Laura (and others who wanted to know).
This version was number 2 - and I didn't like the bg at all. It's too blotchy and too one-color dull and similar so.........
I took my trusty sprayer and, at full blast, I sprayed that color off here and there, leaving me with this version that I can work on. (This version number 3 was photographed in the sunroom so indirect sunlight with the white balance set on shade. It is actually a more acurate depiction of the true colors in the painting. I hate it when no matter what I set my white balance on, it doesn't get true color!) I also ran some more miskit calligraphy throughout the painting and we'll see what happens there when that miskit and the first run of miskit is removed. Could be a good surprise, could be a bad surprise... 
8 comments:
Ooooh! I think the suggested changes to the background made the biggest change, but now the flowers steal the show. Great work on this one. Also, I am waiting to see how this reworked blue one turns out. It looks great so far and I will await the removal of the miskit...good plan!
Susan
I love it Rhonda. My eye goes to the main flower first. Your changes made it the star of the show. I am enjoying your hydrangeas (sp?) too.
Love them both, Rhonda! I don't think it's 'cheating' when it gets you where you want to go with your painting, right? (It was Carlo C who said that to me years ago.) I love the look of both with the tendrils. I didn't even notice that big leaf in the upper right until you mentioned it. I love the blue one, too! Can't wait to see how that one finishes up....
So, you like the Kilamanjaro? Is it as good as Arches, do you think?
Thanks, Susan, Vicki and Deb! Deb, the Kilimanjaro is taking a lot of punishment from me - the only drawback I see is that is really sucks up the water quickly - like 300#. If you're used to 300# you won't have a problem at all.
I'm not so sure I dislike the - as you put it - blotchy bg of the blue hydrangeas painting, it makes me feel there are more blooms in the distance. Simply love your work however many times you decide it needs changing and admire your patience!!! Love the added whites to the fuschia type flower painting and its not cheating to achieve what you want - just clever to know how to get there!.
Thanks, Joan! I think I should have left the bg blotchy but it's gone now - I'm wondering where to go from here but have some more ideas - will post the current stage later.
Excellent Rhonda, and nothing wrong with opaque - it can be more effective than transparent sometimes. I wouldn't say the big leaf takes me out of the painting, but a bit of dark spatter might add some "visual noise" that breaks up the large field of color, and might also connect it with the rest of the picture. 2 cents.
Thanks, Nick. I know there's nothing wrong with using anything to get the painting where you want it to be so there's a little paint-splattered bird on my shoulder telling me - that's no long pure watercolor, you know? :) Maybe I need a slingshot!
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