The ravens were looking at me so forlornly each time I entered my little art room. They wanted to know why I was ignoring them. So while the still life was drying, I put them back on the table and fiddled a bit more, darkening the front raven and making a few more definite marks. I'm not liking the railroad-like lines on the right and will have to tie that in to the rest of the painting somehow.
And that pink has to go - or be greyed down considerably. (This is an instance of something being interesting in the photo but not working in the painting - and the rule of using a color throughout the painting, not just in one area...although I did touch in that pink elsewhere, the pink on the side is so strong, it looks like a single element that's too strong.)
I was going to do more on the still life painting but, a winter weather front came through and guess whose barometer-head gave her a migraine instead? I'm getting pretty tired of these after 30 years :(
10 comments:
The ravens in the foreground look fabulous. U r right the background requires a little correction. Will look great when finished.
You're so good at these birds, Rhonda. I always enjoy your raven pieces - I even like that splash of pink!
Your ravens are looking good! Sorry to hear you have another migraine!
The ravens are looking really good and I am sure that you can tone down that pink. I am sorry that the migraine is coming back! Take good care of yourself.
Thanks so much, Asit. I appreciate your eye for composition.
Gillian, ta. I'll try to keep a bit of pinkish but not so strong.
Thanks, Jane and Christiane. Yep, another migraine but today I'm better after a good night's sleep. I need to clean the house but think I'll put it off another day :) We've got about 3 inches of snow and still snowing but the streets are clear.
I've been waiting for the ravens and they are looking good. Watercolors must require tremendous patience--one of those qualities I'm lacking. I look at this painting and I see ravens on a venetian blind--very interesting. (Maybe they were looking out your window when you were ignoring them.)
Terrific colors in your ravens and I know that you will pull the rest together. Hope you are feeling better by now.
Hallie, the ravens just aren't cooperating (or maybe the artist just didn't do as much planning as she should??) - have made a major change, cropping off that raven on the right side with all the pink. Another version coming soon but I think this one may be a do-over :)
Thanks, Vicki, you have more faith in me than I do right now with this one!
I'm learning so much from your writings about the process you go through adapting the subject so that it fits the painting, rather than what the reference photo dictates. I've just recently realized that we need to do that! I want to read more from you about the placement of colors in the piece, as that is something I don't know much about! Thanks! It's going to be an awesome painting!
Katherine, you made me smile this morning with your comment - as if I could teach you anything! But my color system is just this:
If you put a color in one area, put some in another area (don't let it sit there alone especially if it's a strong color). That doesn't mean the same amount or intensity each place but repeat the color throughout the painting. And I often like to play warms against cools in a painting, even if all of the warms and cools are greyed down a bit.
Post a Comment