I got lost in learning the parts of a feather online. Do you know that feathers have hooklets and barbs? I didn’t. Well, maybe I did in the fifth grade and just didn’t remember.
I’m working on more abstracts. Had fun with that last one. But I thought I better get something posted. I found a bunch of feathers on a lawn last weekend. They were all over. First thought was “bird fight”.
Do you think it hurts when feathers fall out? Or just when they are pulled out?
Lesson learned here:
Paynes grey and raw umber make the perfect warm, whatever-kind-of-bird-this-is, grey.
This title came to me out of the blue. I was looking for something to relate to “round”. Lot’s of round going on here. I kept thinking the title sounded familiar. Asking myself, “Where have I heard that?”
After much thinking, it came to me. It’s the opening song in Love Actually. I have watched that movie more times than I can count. A quick search, and I learned the original is by The Troggs. There’s my learn something new for today.
I had never heard their version.
This painting did not come together as effortlessly as Day 9. Naturally. I was trying too hard. You know I have run into that many times. Instead of using subtractive painting, the background went down first. I thought a light color would better show the green. I am not sure it worked.
My flower shapes are not as loose and organic as yesterday’s. And I think I overdid the splatter. The lavender shows much lighter in person. It was the first to go on and I felt that I needed the spots to be deeper, so I added more colors. And more and more. I may go back in and delete some digitally.
The vase has scratch marks, that barely show. I used three different colors. One appears lighter, and one appears much darker on the white porcelain palette, but they are all basically the same value. HUH? At some point, I decided to scrub out some of the base vase (LOL) color, and it left just a hint of darker edge. WHICH I think gives a subtle impression of shadow and form.
Also on the vase, I used two texture sheets to add large dots, and small dots, but again, that was a value fail. I covered my mistake with a lighter shade, the same flesh tone that is in the background. I used a stylus to apply the paint, and I LOVE how the dots turned out. There are different sizes. I dipped in paint, and then made dots until the paint ran out.
The blooms are all basically the same value. Another value fail. I could go back in with some white, or add some pen outlines, or add darker blooms…
So maybe I should say this is a work in progress. I will set it aside and see what comes to me.
Thinking also that the lines on the table should be covered in black pen.
Having said all that, I like this piece. I would hang it as is. Looking at it from four feet away, the splatter is not nearly as invasive.
Interested to know your thoughts. BUT THE COMMENTS WON’T LET YOU COMMENT. So sorry for that. Updates still in progress. (It is far too quiet here at the studio!) Guess I have to take the bad with the good. Very glad the emails are going out again.
Take a look at Leslie’s gallery of amazing daily painters.
The sunset today wasn’t grand or “ahh” inspiring. Still it caught my eye. There was a line of glowing blue along the ridge. And the clouds seemed to be that same vivid hue.
Take a look and tell me if you can see it.
Blue clouds. SMD
I can’t get over the color in the clouds. This painting is a do over. Mostly because I want to do it better. And also, because that bit of yellow makes no sense. I wanted to capture a bit of warmth in that section of clouds. But it looks like the sun is setting there, and this view is to the east. No sense at all.
