Sometimes you have to start over. You go too far and ruin something. And then you just have to realize you can't crop it and make it look right. You have to start over.
This one actually looked more like the model, a long, lean, lanky girl with a long face and thin limbs.
(I took this to Deb's yesterday; she and Sharon both said it's not ruined. They saw the version where I cropped it down to her waistband (cuts off that hand, which I did quite well but also cuts off all the orange). We'll hold on to it and see what the new one brings.
But I just took the photo and drew it out again on tracing paper (I never draw on my watercolor paper when I know I'll be doing some adjusting and/or erasing as I draw). Then I traced the drawing onto the watercolor paper - 300# cold press Arches - and began again.
And for some reason, I drew the crow facing the other way this time.
But the first thing to think about is the color - will not stick to the turquoise and orange that was in my mind the first time. Go more traditional. Black and white with the black being a mixture of colors to make a dark blackish color. And less of those darned diamond shapes will give me less fits.
The other painting is coming down the wire and I could feel myself tensing up and thinking I could still ruin it. So began this one to help me take the pressure off of that one. It will be done before Memorial Day (Monday the 31st)! And I may even have this one to enter, too.
Went to Deb's to paint, talk and eat with her and Sharon and a new member of the group, Linda :) Had a great time. We did get a little painting done but there was a lot of catching up and eating to do, too! ha ha
15 comments:
Dear Rhonda - I think the painting is great...but I am no judge except I like it. Will hope to see your other one finished. Sounds like you had fun though and that in the end is the most important thing! Have a great week-end.
I do like the turquoise. Not a fan of orange though. Looking forward to seeing the next version.
I love the concept of this painting and of course, the crow...I think the painting is wonderful, but the person who painted it has to be pleased, so - do what you have to do to be comfortable with it.
I love how when you are looking at images in a blog post that you can easily switched between them. When doing this quickly, I do think there is something to having the crow looking to the right instead of left. Seems a better flow. Intriguing subject!
. . . and you left the pie for me - how thoughtful of you all!!!
Can't wait to see the new one completed along with the flower - make sure you don't go beyond the entry deadline!
Rhonda, I love it just as it is!!! What a fabulous, striking painting!
i really like it rhonda .. very quirky ...i also like second version the crow's position in #2 works well .
I actually do like the drawing better than the first version. Her expression is so cute! I know that tension when you fear you will ruin it by going further. Every single piece I do has that point in time for me.
Rhonda, I can't see what's 'ruined' about the first one, it's quirky, bright and intriguing, I like the zig-zag composition of it. Maybe finish the other one and show both, as a pair?
Rhonda, as the first painting goes, there is only one thing that bothers me. the orange is okay, but I would rather see that color repeated at least once more somewhere in the painting. Other than that, this is truly a unique painting that I know another artist would not come up with, it is uniquely you!
You might end up liking the first better because even though it might not have turned out how you expected, it might still have that look that works. It has that look here to me.
What a cool painting! I love the "gesture" of the figure, and the fabrics and colors. Not to mention the crow!
Now I see that when people say they can't see what I think is wrong with my failed paintings that they really don't ... because I can't see what's wrong with this ...
But I know that feeling, and I'm trying to stop "fixing" and just start over!
Thanks so much for the positive feedback, Debbie, Dolores, Barb, Pam - I am working on the new one and will try not to run out of time, Deb! (deadline is Friday).
Thanks, Kathryn, Jane, Sherry, Kevin and Susan :)
Cathy, and Laura, thanks so much - perhaps we are too attached to our work and see the wrong of it even when other's don't? I have cropped it down even more but lost that lovely gesture of her left arm and hand :( Ah, well, planning is so important in watercolor and sometimes I just want to get the paint on the paper!
I love your concept in this painting and like how you are cropping the new version and that you've turned the crow the other way. I hope you got it done in time for the show.
Thanks, Nancy. I did get it finished in time :) I shouldn't let things go so long and wait until the last day to enter with new paintings! ha ha
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