THE COLOR CONUMDRUM

My instructor felt my weak area was color so I bought Betty Edward's book on Color which I am reading and doing the lessons page by page.

I made the color wheel, value wheel, color surrounded by a neutral and now I am working on color harmony.

Taking a piece of illustration board I taped off the edges, found a designed fabric that I liked, photo copied the fabric and traced the black and white design onto the board.

Fabric

B/W photo copy

Traced design.

Next I must divide my 10x10" into 6 sections. Because the design of the fabric is so busy I will choose a simple box within a box design. The geometric shapes are a rectangle so as not to repeat the square design and the boxes were placed off center.

I chose a geometric shapes for my divisions to act as a foil to the organic shapes of the fabric design.

First division 

Second division

Adding fabric sample

Now I have to color in area 2 with all of the colors of the fabric sample matching value and hue. This make take awhile seeing that I chose an intricate design.

I shot myself in the foot with this one.

To be continued.

STUDIO PINK

PINK

Three years ago my husband and I adopted our 7th rescue dog. I would like to introduce my art therapy dog & my studio helper; Pink. No, we did not name her but it fits her with the inside of her ears and her belly as pink as can be.

Music on, canvas primed and a painting we will go.

I am trying to develop my own style and at the same time learn from other artists such as Lisa Daria and Carol Marine. I watch the U Tube videos, read their books and practice their style but where is my style? Next I will read Betty Wade's Color Theory and then put the books and classes aside and just paint.

This is the part where I give myself a pep talk and say; one painting at a time, be confident that the answers will come and maybe relax.                

 Pink, what do you think?

"You talking to me?"

BOUQUET 1

I am analyzing what needs to happen to complete this daily painting. I like the negative painting on the flower the best, the vase needs to be grounded so it does not float on the canvas, the background is too similar to the vase color in hue and value, etc.

That will give me something to work on. I do find the camera to be a useful tool to see my mistakes.

BOUQUET 2

Did you notice how I changed the background and totally lost my flower focal point. I still need to ground the vase and on top of that improve the flowers. I hate it.

 Don't waste paint just slap it all onto the canvas to cover up what displeases you.

FRUSTRATION
Me thinks I am not a floral painter!

YOU TUBE IS MY FRIEND

                                           
I am an audio visual learner so to see and hear someone paint a picture is ideal for me. At the moment I am enjoying Carol Marine founder of the Daily Paint Works web site. I just finished viewing her demo of three white cups and an orange.

Learned:  *a small color shaper is good for signing paintings
                *elipses have a slight tilt to them
                * paint your strongest color (island) first
                *use a white palette as a comparison for your lightest (highlight) value,
                  all other colors should be darker in comparison to the white of the palette.
                *mix the harmonious colors on the palette first. The warms, cools, lights, darks and neutrals
                  can be worked out on the palette before painting. That way you know if they look well
                  together.
                * use as few strokes as possible
               * use the view finder with a live still life

OK, I need to work on placing my strongest color first, comparing values to the white palette and most of all; mixing harmonious colors on the palette first! Also use as few strokes as possible.

Normally  I have so many brush strokes and layers of corrective paint that I should sell by the pound.

1

2

3

Cup with Bittersweet

Schools Out for the Summer

I would like to introduce my friend and my teacher;

Karen Leffel Massengill

There were two other students but I did not get their photo before they were off for northern climes. Luckily I did get Tom's picture, he paints four times a week at different studios and classes. 

Tom

 Karen demoed how to do clouds and water to help Tom on this painting. Of course I learned too because I am not a strong landscape painter and I want to be.

Warm/ cool colors, variation, soft/ hard edges, color choice and blending plus knowing where to use it all.

So much to learn!

Tom's masterpiece.