Wednesday, July 11, 2012

More Progress & Wild About Citrus!

"Cynthia's Oranges" (work in progress)
12" x 12"

"Sunlit Lemons" (work in progress)
8" x 8"

"Bowl of Limes" (work in progress)
9" x 12"

I'm finally getting around to painting from some reference photos that were so kindly sent to me from fellow blogger/artists (in fact I still have a couple more in the works -- so thank you and stay tuned!)  The oranges in the first image had such dramatic lighting I absolutely couldn't resist.  Thank you Cynthia Schelzig!  Cynthia makes cards, binds books, draws, paints -- you name it, she does it. I wish she lived closer so we could do art together and she could teach me how to make books. She is very talented and has a totally inspiring blog called Gallery 46 -- you should definitely check it out. 

"Sunlit Lemons" is from the Paint And Draw Together blog -- I have a few reference photos from past PADT posts that I'm hoping to get to soon, and "Bowl of Limes" is a photo I took a few years ago.  I'm loving this aquabord -- it can be challenging though . . . but I'm having fun.  And isn't that what this is all about!?  So stay tuned as I finish these up and get more going . . . I have so many paintings in my head (and on my computer) that there just isn't enough time!

9 comments:

  1. wow Kara,,,I am bowled over....these oranges look fabulous!!! I KNEW those were your shadows:)how exciting... amazing what you do with your shadows. Could I ask you a favor...when the piece is finished could you email me as I would hate to see it slip through my fingers:(
    Love the bowl of lemons too.
    Oh wouldn´t that be fun,,,binding sketchbooks and painting....omg

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    1. So much fun. Thanks for the comments . . . and I will definitely let you know. But please don't feel awkward or obligated if once it's done you don't want it.

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  2. I agree with Cynthia -- you make those shadows look so rich and dramatic!!! I love the saturated colors. Can't wait to see the finished product...

    I'm coming up with more questions -- and thanks for the nice, detailed explanation to my question in your last post's comment section! I have started to experiment with Aquaboard following you and Crystal, but found the board dry rather quickly on the surface. When you paint these shadows, do you wet the shadow shape first then drop in colors, or do you paint wet washes of color on dry paper? I am trying both and curious about how other are making it work... Thanks as usual!

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    1. Thanks Arena. For broad washes, I REALLY saturate the board in the area I'm painting so that the water sits on top. I drop the color in. But be careful . . . on aquabord the pigment doesn't just necessarily stick to the wet area like on paper. I move the pigment around in the water, but carefully. Then I let it soak in. The wash inevitably has drips and dried blotches. But it seems that after it dries for a spell I can add water, or another layer of pigment and slosh it around with a soft round brush and even it out. But water is definitely your friend on aquabord. That's what I've found anyway. In general . . . I use lots of water in the beginning stages of my paintings . . . splashing it around in broad but careful washes. Then when it's dry, I add more washes. As I start to refine my paintings I work more wet on dry -- adding details -- and always taking pigment away in highlighted areas, or areas where I need to change the pigment or value. It seems to work for me. I hope this helps.

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  3. "Cynthia's Oranges" knocked my socks off! Wow! those gorgeous shadows!

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  4. You like those dramatic shadows, I have seen them in earlier paintings of yours. We all have certain things that we love, like details, subject or colors. You have many irons going, looking forward to see them finished.

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    1. Thank you Roger. Yes . . . I have a lot going . . . I like having a bunch of paintings going at once -- keeps things exciting! :)

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  5. Hello Kara:) They are going to be beautiful.
    Especially the lemons and limes have very nice colors. Great art!

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Thank you so much for commenting!