Wine and Cheese

Well, here is the latest.  I spent some time today tweaking the painting I did Friday night at 16 main.  For the most part I like the painting...I really struggled on the cheese which should have been an easy part but from the angle I was sitting it just didn't look like a wedge of cheese so of course I had to keep messing with it.  I finally gave up - the cheese won! ha  I really liked my wine bottle except it looks a bit stubby and the neck isn't perfect.  I really need to use more "painterly strokes" and techniques.  A piece of advice given to me by a well known painter was "the harder you try to make it look real, the less it does".  I really need to hammer that into my head...practice practice practice.

WOO-HOO-HOO!!!

OMG!  I'm so 'cited!!!!  I finally finished the painting of the Venice Mask!  AND I LOVE IT!!!  LOVE LOVE LOVE...LOVE LOVE LOVE...LOVE LOVE LOVE!

There were a few times when I just didn't think I would finish it, ahhhh-sigh of relief.  And now for something new, hmmmmm.  Something fun I think.  Stay tuned.

A work in progress...continued

My inspiration for this painting is a photo (see it in the background) from one of my favorite web places www.pbase.com/silvano  

You can see the actual full color photgraph at www.pbase.com/silvano/image/56804919

A great big hug and thank you to Silvano Candeo for granting me permission to use his photo in the above snapshot.

A bit too zealous!

Ok, well here I am again...day 2 of "A Painting a Day". 

Today I felt incredibly self assured that I could create a masterpiece....so I set out to paint a picture of my "grand-doggies". 

Step 1, use a really bad copy of a picture.  I actually printed this pic about a year ago.  I don't know why I even kept it because obviously the quality is awful.  But nevermind that...I can overcome, right?!

Step 2, trace outlines on less than ideal photocopy so I can then copy that on tracing paper.  Prepare painting surface and transfer pattern.  Wow!  I am soooo good, "I can't believe how well this is going" I say patting myself on the back and smiling.

Step 3, pick my paint colors and proceed to struggle with the blending and shading but I still believe it is going well enough. 

Step 4, am now cursing myself for ever starting the painting - as I mix and blend and repaint and re examine.  Ok good enough!  On to the eyes. 

Step 5, Maybe if the original copy was clearer I would not have made so many mistakes and adjustments (yeah that's it...blame it on the poor quality of the photo).  Needless to say this is where this painting ends.  I have blended so much trying to make corrections that it has become a drab muddy mess.

Oh well, maybe another day.  I think I had better stick to the whimsical rather than realistic for now.

G'night my little blog.

Spread your wings

So this watercolor was painted yesterday, January 1, 2011.  I hope that as I look back later this year my skills and execution will have improved.  I just randomly pulled this image out of thin air and went for it.

As I really have no formal art education, if you are an artist or deigner you might see me make mistakes with color theory, lighting, shading....constructive criticism is always welcome.  Likewise if you like the painting please let me know that too.

Thanks

Cheryl