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Monday, July 29, 2013

BEFORE'S and AFTER'S

Studio light

Early morning light, pushing the cools

Early morning, pushing the warms
I've tried all different light settings, and I still can't get a true-to-life color with this painting. I think it must be the strong complementary colors of orange and violet. The values are a bit weak, too, because as soon as I increase the contrast, the colors look even more weird. Anyway ... I added some color to the ground and the goose peeking between the other's legs, to bring the focus more to the one with his wings outstretched.


I darkened the entire background.

And I intensified the shadow colors within the flowers. I also lifted some stem at the bottom. Again, it was difficult to get the actual values and colors, working with the complements of purples and greens.  

I deepened the background grass colors, as well as the shadows on the kid. I also deepened the pinks on his face. I thank you all for your input on these paintings. It really helps to have outside observations!!!

I've been up since 6AM, with Bruno hollering for breakfast. So I finished up some odds and ends with these paintings, and tried to get some decent photos to put up here. Now, it's time for a work-out with the Big Guy, and then hopefully into Vancouver to pick up my niece, and head out to get some photos and sketches of some old Vancouver homes.

I thank you for dropping by, and your comments are always welcome!

20 comments:

  1. They ALL look pretty great to me. I know how the color thing goes, though. I drive myself crazy sometimes. Love your work!

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  2. I must say Kathryn, I think your've done a wonderful job fine tuning these watercolors!

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  3. Kathryn, your work is so wonderful and you have a way of painting animals that captures their spirit and adds a certain excitement to your work! I am in love with the geese painting and understand the dilemma of getting color right when taking a photo. But no matter - that is one fabulous piece!

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  4. I have terrible problems photographing my artwork - the colours never seem true! Love the geese and you certainly seem busy with painting and everything else. Take care,no burning out!

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  5. oooooo wheeee - these are so full of life. you're really on a roll, can't choose a favorite. so nice. guess the troubles we have with matching our painting colors are the reason the big guys say not to rely completely on photo reference - a camera just can't get it all.

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  6. Some colours are very difficult to capture truly, so a best approximation has to suffice. Because I own one of yours, I know in real life it will be outstanding!
    Loving everything you're up to - and the character in that kid's face - fabulous!

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  7. I also have problems photographing my art - My latest photo is the worst ever I think, lol!
    Wow - Your paintings are amazing! Those Geese have really come forward and the flowers just 'ping' from the screen. And the darker grass has also pushed the goat forward to. Lovely! :0)

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  8. These are all beautiful!! I have found that its so difficult to get that true color in a photo! (I love that you darkened the background in the flower painting! Gorgeous!!! Cali gets me up very early as well...between 5:30am to 6am...but I don't mind since I'm a morning person...she loves to eat at 6am like me..LOL

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  9. Your work is brilliant. Even from Blogger's thumbnail image they stand out well, so well done you!

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  10. Many difficulties also take pictures that reflect reality, compromise is inevitable (the look of this little goat is absolutely irresistible.
    Good walk in Vancouver ! May be will see soon some old house in picture .

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  11. I think the geese are done. I can hear them honking and flapping. It's quite a commotion. Great work--all of them. Sandra is right. The hollyhocks ping. They look like I could touch them--as does the kid, but I'll pass on that. You were very up this morning. I think the photos are fine. You can't duplicate the colors of the art exactly. You can just get close. The camera distorts color--tainting them either more towards red or blue. It's the way it has always been--color is lost in translation. Very exciting morning you had. Industrious and very successful. Enjoy Vancouver.

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  12. enjoy vancover katharyn ... must be beautiful IRL the geese painting ...the 3 photos highlight each section...hollyhock is super ...those goat's eyes say it all

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  13. I can understand your difficulty in photographing. I have had hard times with a few of my paintings. Well I gave up. :)
    I am loving the flowers. They almost seem to pop out of the paper. And Kid is coming along well too. Just love the look.

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  14. Love them all esp. the geese. I was thinking about how beautiful that was today while I was doing my dishes. I think it's finished too. Have a wonderful time today. love,Diana

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  15. Oh we love them! You know we do!
    so spectacular!
    love
    tweedles

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  16. I love the geese, you really captured their liveliness in the composition. My favourite is the warmer one. I totally know what you mean about the colours, hard to really get what you want! We are away right now so hard to get around and see things, the reception is spotty at times. Have fun with the photo shoot.

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  17. I´ve been visiting to enjoy all of your lovely work!

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  18. Oh---.so cute!
    I love the gost. What a nice expression. I love the hollyhock,too.All are really beautiful.
    Your pieces always make me so happy.:)

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  19. i enlarged the geese and so glad I did. I laughed with pleasure seeing the head between the legs and the other with the foot coming forward. All versions are excellent because the level of the work is so high.
    I also spend a lot of time trying to get my colors correct. Blues are the hardest. I have noticed a difference in my Nikon blues and my i-phone blues. Why, I have no idea, but I now use one or the other to take photos depending on how much blue is in the painting.

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  20. Hello Kathryn:) This is not because I want to make a short comment but I love all your paintings in this post.You always are so hard on yourself but it shows in your paintings! Great art work:)

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