"Don't Be a Pussy"

I left off here, with a road map for shadows.

It seems I will be getting into some colorful shadows with this "white" rhododendron. I keep muttering my mantra ... don't be a pussy... don't be a pussy.  I tend to be a bit timid with my glazing. 

I've started the foreground leaves to give me some idea of how intense I can go with the shadows of the blooms.

Before
Studio light

Outdoor light
After ... I am also being less timid with Paulina. I lifted all the old shadow as best I could, made up a more appropriate color, and put it on w/w. I've also started getting some of the really dark ares of her hair.

I suppose we all do it; we become a bit complacent about everyday things. I've noticed the past few weeks, Bruno is getting uncomfortably feisty, almost aggressive, as I go into the ring. And last weekend, when my aunt was visiting, he tried to get between us, and knock her over when we were out in the field looking at the killdeer. There was an old broom not too far away, so I ran to get it, and came back to protect my aunt. He was more respectful, with me carrying the broom [though I did not raise it against him]. And yesterday after work, he was just plain dangerous, galloping around me, half rearing, and pointing his prodigious back-side in my direction. First, don't panic. Second, amble to tack room and get out whip. Amazing difference. Some respect. Anyway, just a short story of complacency. In painting, too, I notice I am going beyond my safe zones [ not just being nitpickingly perfectionistic ] trying different techniques, colors, etc. OK, I am rambling.

As always, I love to read your comments!

The Devil Is in the Details

... and there are certainly a LOT of details here!

I think I've finished my road map - absolutely mandatory with this one.

I left Scott and Bruno here last night ...

I've started adding some color, and doing some dry lifting; a lot more of the same is needed yet.  Linda Roth said she'd never been mooned by a man and a horse at the same time. Trust Linda to come up with a great comment like that! Maybe I could call it "Two Full Moons"?

As always, I love to hear from you! 

More Runny Paint ... More Lifting ...

First wash and lift while wet

Second, with the same colors

Third wash, with three different brown shades, and lifting while wet
I think i'll do some dry lifting, and then add some color, depth and shadows.

WHY did I chose such a difficult flower???

I think I'll make it a bit easier [ I hope ] by changing the reds to whites.


As always, your comments are most welcome.

A Day for Frogs, Ducks and PAINTING

This photo of Bruno being shod lends itself to the saturated w/w lifting.

Couldn't find my old sketch, so I've done another one.

First w/w wash, with some lifting while wet.

Beautiful morning shot of some rhododendrons in the garden.

Little did I know I would need a color-coded road map - still working on it.

Once again, it's too wet for riding outside, so I guess I'll just have to paint. Actually, Bruno has been doing phenomenally well. He seems to like being ridden off seat-bones and legs. It gets very abstruse in a riderly sort of way. All horses have a preference as to how they like to be ridden - the hands, the leg, the seat-bones and weight, or a combination. Right now, the lad seems most responsive when I don't muddle and nitpick with his mouth; he just hums along on weight shifts of my seat-bones, and variable calf pressure. OK ... OK ... you have to be there ...

As always, I love to hear from you!

Done

Day light, before last wash

Day, after wash. I masked only the eye.

Studio light before

Studio light, after wash.


I think it's all right for a first attempt. Now I'd like to try this technique with a variety of subjects.

As always, your comments are most welcome. And if you absolutely cannot live without it, it is for sale. :)

Another Note to Self ...

I couldn't figure out why the shadows were making Paulina look like a bearded lady. The mixture was too grainy. So I did a small w/w with the colors I was using - cobalt blue, quin. pink and raw sienna. I think the raw sienna was granulating a bit, especially combined with the blue. When I tried yellow ochre, it seemed better. So, wipe and do the shadows again.

I'm working on details, and deepening shadows on the head. Then I will do another "wash and lift" to soften.

This is for Sandy. I put a hummer feeder outside the window where my computer sits, hoping to get a photo. I hear him humming - literally - get up to the camera that I have poised ready on the window sill, and he's GONE! How do you get your hummer photos, Sandy?

A Bit of This and That ...

I call it "proboscisizing". When a horse really likes where you're scratching, the upper lip extends and sometimes wiggles, and if it's REALLY good, they might drool! Just what you needed to know.

More good times. The white on his neck is his racing tattoo. He seems to quite like a scratch there.

All cleaned up, and ready to rock!

Don't do this at home.  I'm taking his photo while sitting on his back. It's about as bright as taking pictures out of the car while driving ... and, yes, I've done that, too. He has his ears cocked back, listening to what I am doing. 

Now the neighbor's horse has caught his attention - his ears are focussed there.

A well-earned munch after exercise.

Garden update - the lettuce and snow peas are doing very well; the rest are slower.

I've slowed to a crawl with this. There is a little voice in my head saying "I could do better. Let's start again". I am trying to ignore that suggestion. I also had a thought about doing the bridge with this technique. Hmmm ....

I worked on Paulina a bit - intensified the green of her dress, and reddened her hair. Again, I am creeping along with the painting.


As always, your comments are most welcome! I love to hear from you.