Friday, November 18, 2011

PRIMARILY CROWS - STEP 2


I finished the shadows and put in the crows.  Now to refine their bills and eyes and call them done.  Not sure why the Step 1 painting is more warm - this is the actual look of the piece to my eyes.

It looks like the crows are on a wet pavement or something wet so maybe I should break up the shadow shapes a bit.

Anyway, it's a full sheet (22 x 30) and was fun to do after the idea bounced around in my head for a while.

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

Rhonda, I love the washy background, and the little guy to the far left as you look at the painting. Having fun is half the battle, isn’t it?

laura said...

A full sheet! I have never painted a full sheet--now I'm extra impressed!
You have found your subject with these black birds!

Joan Sandford-Cook said...

Back to crows I see but what a way! Love the idea of the primary shadow colours and love the background blending. Very brave to work on such a large scale.

RH Carpenter said...

Maggie, the left one is my fave, too :) I think I'll call him Howie :) ha ha

Laura, I've painted lots on full sheets but tend to paint in mostly half sheets until I get a really original and fun idea and then I want to try bigger - I've been in 5 shows this year and may try for even more next year so bigger looks better in a gallery with other paintings.

Thanks, Joan. I don't feel that a full sheet is big anymore (it's just a matter of getting used to it); now anything bigger than that and I don't have quite the room I need to maneuver around.

Carol Blackburn said...

Awesome, yes that little guy on the left "Howie" does seem quite the life of the party. I agree with your idea of blurring the shadows because of the wet look to the pavement. Fantastic!

jgr said...

Oh this is beautiful!! such great colors especially in the shadows and you are so brave to use a full sheet!

Caroline Simmill said...

Hi Rhonda I believe the reflection of the crows on the wet pavement would be softer, more of the colour of the crows and fragmented. No hard edge lines. Lovely painting.

Anonymous said...

I think this is awesome! Well done with that colorful background.

Ann Buckner said...

I was interested to see how you worked this painting from your first posting to this one. Needless to say, it is looking magical.

RH Carpenter said...

Thanks, Carol and Caroline - you're right, those shadows may have to be lifted and softened on the edges a bit to look more real.

Thanks, Jane, Sherry and Ann :) I like this one and don't want to ruin it with just a few fixes to the shadows so wish me luck!

Pam Johnson Brickell said...

Great progress. The personality of Lefty is really coming out. I too would soften the edges on the reflections. Loving this piece, Rhonda!

http://www.onpainting.wordpress.com said...

Very nice composition - I find crow paintings so interesting.

RH Carpenter said...

Thanks, Pam and Bill :)