Monday, February 20, 2012

Continuing with the shadows

 I love the flow and life in wind-blown trees, bushes, and grasses. It was fun to fill in a lot more of the greenery. My favorite part really!
And this is where I've left it tonight. Forgive the bad photo with the reflection. Only so much you can do when it's dark outside and the paint's not yet dry but you're too tired to wait until it is :). Sadly it makes it impossible to see the color I added into the shadows, which I really like. But I don't know what else to do now. I kept dabbing a little color here and there and then realized how tired I was and how mindless, and so I stopped for now. I've heard you're done when you don't know what else to do. So am I done? I'm not entirely sold on the composition. Not sure it's successful yet. I don't know really. Maybe it's done? What do you think? Any suggestions?

Thursday, February 16, 2012

Lots of personality

So I'll get back to my "Shadows on the Hillside," but first I thought I'd post this one that was done for fun (and for a class). The reference photo has always made me think there was a distinct possibility she could end up a crazy old cat lady. Or just really fun. Let's hope for the latter. I think looking at it on the screen that I need to add a little hair on top. Kind of too flat of a head. Why is it sometimes easier to see problems on the computer screen? Weird.

Saturday, February 11, 2012

Shadows on the Hillside

This is one of like 4 paintings I'm working on right now (not focusing well :) ) and is a study in contrasts. I'm trying to preserve the lightest lights (which didn't start so well - I had to add a bunch of white gouache to the sky because it was matching the dark value of the tree line. I might have to lighten it even further. Haven't decided yet), so the darkest darks will look that much cooler. And they dark shadows get extremely dark. I'm trying to keep them interesting instead of just the near black they appear in my reference photo. Sadly, I think I have also messed up by cutting up the foreground too much. Again, just trying to add subtle interest to a large, hilly field but I may have done too much? There should be some variety in size of shapes too. But it's early yet. So there's still hope for it. Regardless, I'm sticking it out to learn what I can from it, if nothing else.