ALMOST DONE

Just a few tweaks (making it look more 3D) to do to finish.  


What do you think of the red/orange border on the right?  Too much or added interest tying in the reddish pears?  

I’ll add some darks and values to give them more depth and call it done.  

THE NEXT STEP - PEARS

BACK TO SOMETHING SOOTHING

THIS ONE WENT SOUTH QUICKLY

It began well, with lots of pretty colors all over.

However, it went bad pretty quickly.

Oh, well, they cannot all be winners, especially while learning.

PORTRAIT

No crazy colors but I’m not unhappy with the finished portrait :) 




Another one to come after this with some more unusual colors (after purchasing a few new Daniel Smith pigments this week).  

THREE NEW COLORS

We all need something nice to think about and see.  So...here are the new colors I bought from Cheap Joes (they are all Daniel Smith brand).

Duochrome Geen Pearl

Mayan Dark Blue

Lunar Blue

I bought the Duochrome Green Pearl after watching David Lobenberg do a demo using this color (I think?) and I wouldn’t use it because it’s iridescent - too much sparkle to use in a portrait, I think.  

But I do like the Mayan Dark Blue and Lunar Blue (Lunar Blue too granulating for portrait work but can be used in lots of other paintings).  

TRYING ANOTHER PORTRAIT

Started another portrait after watching a David Lobenberg DVD I had (he was doing a workshop in Utah on his California Vibe portrait style and did 2 portraits).  Tried to stay loose and colorful.  This is the first layer and needs at least 2 more before it’s finished.  Wish me luck!

This portrait is from a photo he had on another DVD - done all in Payne’s Grey.  I started this a few days ago but have been glued to the t.v. for minute-by-minute news of the coronavirus and what is being cancelled and postponed (including the NCAA playoffs!).  So we’re all going to be sitting at home with nothing to take our minds off this - but I understand it is to protect the fans, players, referees, vendors, hotel workers, etc.  

So Happy Friday the 13th, 2020! 

ARE YOU BLUE?

PORTRAIT

 It’s done but...

looks a bit stiff and the eyes are not right and
I may be able to do better with more practice.

NEXT STAGE

It’s still okay - maybe need to soften that line between the nose and mouth.  But this is where I always mess up = overworking or putting in the wrong color here and there.  Maybe try a light touch, darken mouth?  Work on eyes without doing too much and making the brows too dark? Wish me luck!!

LET’S SEE WHAT HAPPENS

With more planning, could I paint a good portrait?  Let’s see.


Planned it out with drawings and put in all the highlights, etc.  

The first color washes are the easiest.  

I’m using (mostly) the three colors Mary Whyte (and other portrait artists) use = Quinacridone Rose
French Ultramarine Blue
Raw Sienna

A touch of other colors in the eyes and hair and necklace.

PORTRAIT COLORS

Have been reading a few books written by portrait/figure artists and looking at the colors they choose.  Mary Whyte, an amazing portrait artist, chooses these colors with a few darker pigments to get really dark skin.  Her portraits and figure work is wonderful, with a very finished look to the end.  I like that - and the portraits that are looser and less finished looking (like Charles Reid, etc.).

I’m not a portrait or figure artist, but I seem to have A LOT of books about the subject from a variety of artists.  Guess I just like to look at art that is well-done, whether I can do it or not!

BIRDS NEED A HOUSE

Birds need a house, right?  Still playing with the granulating colors Daniel Smith makes.

PAINTING WITH GRANULATING COLORS

Little wren 
upon a limb.



A mourning dove on a 
cold and blustery day.

GRANULATING OR GENUINE COLORS

Do you ever wonder how the colors get named?  Who names them?  Is there a special department just for coming up with interesting names for new colors?

Why Lunar Red Rock and not just Red Rock?
Why Lunar Earth and not just Earth Brown?

And why Goethite?? Hmmmm...


Wouldn’t it be a great job to be the one (or one in a group) to come up with new color names for Daniel Smith or Winsor Newton or Holbein or...?

VALENTINE COLORS?

I hope you have a very nice Valentine’s weekend.

COLORS STUDIES - PINKS

Just a few pinks for Valentine’s Day week.

COLOR STUDIES INTO ALMOST LANDSCAPES

ALMOST MAKING PAINTINGS FROM COLOR STUDIES

Yep, finally got bored with just putting down colors and thinking about them - so maybe time to add a bit more interest.

To learn another artist’s view of green (although Viridian green is one I got rid of a long time ago because it’s gritty on the palette and brush and I didn’t like the feel of it), go over to what Laure Fileta says on her blog, paintedthoughtsblog.  

PLAYS WELL WITH GREENS