Monday, January 23, 2012

Playing With Paintings And Children

Ahhh...the sound of silence.  I love my grandchildren, don't get me wrong, but after a week of preschoolers, I'm happy about my silent house.  My two grandsons from Seattle visited over the Martin Luther King holiday (no school) and when they returned home, it snowed (no school again).  My daughter turned her house into a mini art studio!  They painted on the glass patio doors and made cookie crayons.  So adorable!  I think they had a great time playing with art.
Meanwhile, I'm playing with my own painting.  Awhile back I took a lot of photos of ducks and koi fish at the Missouri Botanical Garden, so I had one enlarged.  I usually try to take excellent photos and pretty much draw what I see.  This time, though, I'm changing things around because the photo is awful and I think I can do better.  I cropped it so it will be 10" X 10".  I'm kind of into the square format lately.  I want the water to be grayish blue (not yucky green).  I'll make one bright orange fish as the focal point.  The two ducks are Mallards, but I'm making them male (mating season) so they have more color.  I found some nice reference photos online so I can get the colors right.

                                        I'm using my photo (above).  Here's my drawing (below)


                                             

I tend to work all around the paper, doing some background, then some of the focal point, adjusting values along the way.  So far, I've done a bit of the upper left corner of the water, with some of the orange fish.  I've laid in some blueish green for the Mallard's distinctive head.  Back and forth it goes.  What's your process?  I'm off to check my inbox, maybe there are more photos of my grandkids playing with art...

18 comments:

  1. I actually think the photo is pretty neat. The light on the water will be interesting translated into a painting. Will be eager to see the finished product!

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  2. I love seeing your process ;o)

    Brienna

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  3. Your painting looks beautiful so far!
    Angie - from blogging buddies - I'm your newest follower. Please feel free to stop by my blog: http://godsgrowinggarden.blogspot.com/
    Thanks!

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  4. Thanks so much everyone! I'm finding that this one is going to need a lot of layers of color, maybe more than usual.

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  5. Again beautiful work! I've never really worked with colored pencils before to create a completed piece of work. It's amazing what you can do with them! Do you have any particular brand you would recommend?

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  6. It is such a treat getting to see these paintings come to life from week to week. I am sure your vision of this photo is even more beautiful than the photo itself! Happy painting in silence Susie!

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  7. thanks, Missy, for stopping by! I use Prismacolor colored pencils on Stonehenge archival paper. And Heather - thanks!

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  8. i like to see other artists methods, we each have our own way of working. as a photographer I work the in a similar way, i will sometimes draw out an idea usually shapes and composition. Than while I am out in the field my goal is to find that in nature. its never perfect but it helps get the mind set. Great work! and glad you are sharing art with your grandkids!

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  9. I can't wait to see the finished product! I know it will be incredible!

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  10. Great work, can't wait to see the finished product :)

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  11. Thank you for all of your lovely comments!

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  12. uniquecozytreasures- Suzie, it looks like you have another great piece of artwork started. Maybe your grandkids will be as talented as you.

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  13. Whew, that looks complicated. I admire your patience for finishing each art work!

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  14. Can't wait to see the finished product. Your work is always beautiful!

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  15. sounds like you had a wonderful week! Don't forget to show us the finished picture :o)

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  16. To all of my frenzy frenz, thanks again for stopping by

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