I decided to participate in James Parker's February challenge since I had good luck with it before. I was attempting to do this painting in 30 minutes so that I could get a loose effect. The top painting is the first attempt that I ended up overworking the eyes. I tried a second time. The two bottom pictures are the same painting. Although I overworked the eyes on the top, I love the hair, the overall style and feel, the colors and the depth in the girl's face. Maybe I can fix the eyes later. I think I can lift out some. The second painting is probably not complete, but, I don't like how her face is looking older than what she is. So on the advice of some of my so sweet artist followers, I am done with this one and ready to move on. Thank you to my artist friends on blogger who were full of good advice and encouragement. I have already started another painting, one of a Nice Beach. A little more complicated than 40 min. But, I have wanted to paint it for a long time.
If you would like to see the other entries or the original photo in James Parker's monthly challenge, visit Windows to the Words ART.
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Good good good! Keep it loose and thanks for showing your process... although I don't know how you stay loose with watercolor. It's so unforgiving! In oil I can just swipe and it's gone!
ReplyDeleteI really like the top painting. There's nice contrast in the eyes but I'll admit seeing it on the computer is completely different than in person. Still, blown up to almost full screen, it looks good. I spent extra time looking at it because I have a very black standard poodle with no contrast that I've wanted to paint since I got her. Now I have an idea of how. You did a really nice job!
ReplyDeleteMs. Nelson, I think I am learning in order to stay loose for me, I need to limit my time. I always love the way my value sketches come out and that is because I do them fast because I want to hurry and start the real painting which always ends up tight.
ReplyDeleteDear My Story, I really had fun doing the curls on both the dog and girl. I started with perm. rose very watered down, on the girl I added an opaque orange which if I water it down it goes dull like in the face of the second painting. Then I added the darks. On the dog, windsor blue with perm. rose, ultram. blue mixed with w. blue, then more thick w.blue with perm. rose and a tad of new gamboge. We don't have pets, so I had to just suggest the features of the dog without ever spending a lot of time with dogs. I am sure your painting(s) of your dog will come out wonderfully.
ReplyDeleteGotta love those curls! You kept it so nice and loose. It can be so hard to do that.
ReplyDeleteYour delightful painting of the little girl and her shaggy buddy are curled up and content on Windows to the Words Art. Thank you so much for your participation...your work is enchanting.
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