Before I Knew What Happened ...

I started adding some shadow to the leaves ...

... and adding, and then darkened the background once more.
Now there are only some tiny touch-ups to do on the pistils and stamens.

Instead of painting, I snuggled with the cat, and watched three hours of documentary-style disaster movies. There's  nothing like watching several possible scenarios of the end of the world or just the human race to put everything into perspective.

As always, your comments are most welcome. ;)

A Bit of Catching Up ...

The GRAD, and the dad

Julian and Paulina, my aunt [best art critic and mentor] just behind 

I tried to take Jules' photo as he was coming up the aisle. My sister or niece called his name, he turned, and got my flash in his eyes. He looks like he is a graduate of Zombie High!

I left the rhodo here a few days ago.

If you look REALLY  closely, you might see the colors I've added in the petals, and the shadows in the leaves.  My plan is to do one more wash on all of the background and into some of the leaves, and then take a good long look to see what else may need touching up.  


I had a quick ride on Bruno early yesterday morning, then showered, and dressed up. I zipped into Vancouver to my sister's home, and then all of us drove downtown to see Julian's graduation ceremony. It was actually quite a wonderful experience, even just watching - all those great young people, hearing about their dreams and plans. I was really uplifted by the ceremony. 

Well ... It's Colorful ...

I've been working on the petal shadows, each one done w/w. Right now, I love this nitpicky work.

When I step away from it, I see I am keeping the warms and cools in the right place. That's good! :)

A closer shot of where I am now. Everything is still "soft".  I'll have to add some  more definitive shadows once all the w/w softer shadows are done.


As always, your comments are most welcome.

"It's Alive ..."

I left it here last night.

I was up at 6 AM [???] painting. I painted the rest of the background with the violet/black mixture, then found it looked too dull.

So I went over the top and right with violet and indanthrone, in a scrumbly manner.

STILL too dull, so I painted the same area with phthalo blue w/w.

This is what it looks like properly cropped, in daylight. The other shots are studio light. It's better, but NOT FINISHED. Now I must pump up all the shadows in the petals and leaves. And so it goes ...
I say "it's alive" because it seems to have taken on a life of its own, and is telling me where it wants to go. And I love that line, from the Frankenstein movies. :)  There's the mad scientist yelling "It's alive!" just before all hell breaks loose with his creation.

I think this is the last you saw of Bruno and his farrier.

I've been playing with it a bit, as I wait for the paint to dry, or for inspiration to hit me on the head.


As always, your comments are most welcome! 

Way Deep Down, I Always KNEW It Wanted to Be a Drama Queen

It's looking somewhat ho-hum.

I did an overall wash of phthalo blue, for starters.

Then I painted over that with a irregular wash of indanthrone blue. It still didn't do much for me.

Now, we're getting somewhere - not sure where yet ...
I've done a w/w wash of a violet-black mixture, and I am lifting the shadowed leaves a bit. I'm sure I'll have to go back into the large leaves at the bottom for more depth and richness, but so far, I like the look of the deep dark.

As always, your comments are most welcome! 

I Seem to Have Painted Myself into the Proverbial Corner

The leaves were much too bright, so I lifted a bit, and then went over them with aureolin and indanthrone blue.

I've reached the stage where I need the background. I would rather not get into more leaves and branches. I thought of doing some graded washes, with a dilute phthalo blue predominant on the top and right, and darkening to indanthrone at the bottom and left. Needs more thought - that's the painted corner.

Here's the hummer, happily feasting at dinner time.


As always, your comments are most welcome.

"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!