Time for a Big Flower

Washes of aureolin, quin. gold and alizarin crimson

More washes - quin. burnt orange, phthalo blue and alizarin

STILL more washes - phthalo blue, alizarin and a final quin. gold

The unveiling

Original photo


I was feeling the need to do something big and floral, so I checked  the photo library, and found this gorgeous hibiscus.  I did a sketch with the leaves included, and found it to look too cluttered. So I decided to paint a background that would give depth but allow the flower to dominate. I think there must be at least twenty graded washes in the background already, and I must say it felt GREAT to splash on paint with [relative] abandon! I'm not completely happy with the masking I'm using - finding it slightly marking the paper. If you have ideas on masking fluid brands, let me know, please. And, as ever, please let me know what you think ...

A Morning TOO Beautiful Not to Share ...

Willows by the pond

Path to the barn

Field behind barn buildings

Looking back from field into paddock

His Nibs, enjoying breakfast hay

Path between my humble abode and next door

Late-blooming hollyhock

As I went down to feed His Highness this morning, I was overwhelmed by the beauty of the day. I love the look of the sunrise filtering through the mist. I almost ran back to the house to get my camera, but Bruno was neighing for food! I hope you enjoy these early morning scenes as much as I did.

Amazing ... I Quite Like It ...

I think I left off here, deciding to intensify skin tones ...

The great unveiling - removing masking fluid

I re-did the water with mask, so I could get a more fluid look to the water, with the three background colors.
Afri's Nephew  10.5 x 11.5 in. / 27 x 29 cm.


When I near the end of a work, I usually start to nit-pick the life out of it. With this painting, I am pleased as it is. It's bright and happy; it totally expresses what I set out to achieve. Again and always, please let me know what you think and feel about the painting.

Catching Up ...

I started by masking what will be a spray of water, then dropped in quin. pink, quin. burnt orange and phthalo blue

I've laid in color on the skin, hair and shirt.

Just intensifying everything. Now I need to go in and get some good skin tones and shadows.
This was my morning's effort

  A BrunZ news flash ... The lad was diagnosed with arthritis in both hocks [ hind leg "knee" ] I am not surprised, as he spent at least five years at the pacer track in Cloverdale, pounding on the equivalent of cement, doing his thing as a race horse. It has left him stiff and sore, so to alleviate that condition, my vet recommended injecting both joints with a combination of hyaluronic acid and a corticosteroid. Friday evening, Mario came over, set up all the equipment for filing teeth [ also needed ], filled syringes, and gave Bruno a shot of tranquillizer. It takes effect within seconds, and B. was zonked but standing. Mario first gave the hock injections. Then we muscled his sleepy body into a sort of head-holder, propped his mouth open, and filed the teeth. When the vet was almost done, I slipped back, with a bucket of water, soap and cloth, and cleaned what you would not believe needs cleaning. Ahhh ... the glamorous life of a horse owner!
   Now the lad needs time off till Tuesday. Then I can walk [ only ] for a week, and then gradually build up our work, focussing on strengthening his back and hind end.
   While Bruno's off, I've had a bit more office time, as a dental hygienist. And I've also had more time to paint. Right now, I am working on a long-ago-promised painting of a friend's nephew. I'm really enjoying it, and that is usually an indication that it will turn out well.

Meet the Family ...

 I just realized I have painted all of Steph and John's family, at least once. So I thought it would be interesting to post the "menagerie" - sorry, collection. Well, it's family.

Paulina at 12

Paulina at 7

Paulina at 3, when she was called Chickie

Julian at14

Jules at  14 years

Jules at 16, fishing near Kelona

Julian about 8 years, at my birthday

Mom

Dad

Even the family dog, sweet Ripley

 

Steph Is Done

   I added more shadowing and color to her face. And it does NOT look as orange and purple as this, but it's the best I can do with my editing. Now I must get on to Buddy [but I am dying to get to some of the cars].

Steph ... Continued

I went over the sweater with a glaze of home-made black, w/w.
Then I gazed over her hair with mixes of alizarin crimson & quin. burnt orange

I've been going over the hair, drybrushing with an almost-black brown.

I put in a properly cropped photo, so we could see what it looks like without the distraction of the staples and paint-board.


The painting is actually a bit darker than this. And I looked at some other photos of Steph; her hair, in reality,  has more red, so that's what I did. Now I am wondering if it would improve the painting if I went in, and carefully added more depth and color to her face. to me, it looks somewhat flat right now. As always, all your comments are most welcome.