Lemon Still Life - Second Wash

So far so Good. I can't wait to add the other two lemons and the background.

Keep Makin' Art

Carl

High Dynamic Range

Here is an image from Dover Stone Church falls looking out, Or more correctly here are imagesfrom Dover Stone Church Falls. I took the shots this summer and did not use them. The scene was way to brightly light to be rendered useable. Either the darks were going to get cut off and be all black or the green of the trees would be lost from over exposure. Photoshop CS4 to the rescue! Photoshop now has an HDR (High Dynamic Range) option. When you encounter this situation shoot the image on a tripod and make 3 images. One exposed normally for the scene and then another 2 stops over exposed and another 2 stops under exposed. Sometimes you may even need 3 over and 3 under. Then let the photoshop HDR function choose the best highlight / midtone / shadow parts of all three images and combine them. What you will get will likely be a little flat and unexciting, but you will have plenty of image to work with. Sometimes you can get some stunning shots.

Keep Makin' Art

Carl

Lemon Still Life - First Wash

First background wash is down. Will see how it plays with yellow. It may get a few glazes to gray it down a little.

Keep Makin' Art

Carl

Drawing to Start Lemon Watercolor

Here is the drawing for the lemon still life I am working on.

My plan is to start out like the pepper watercolor by getting in a soft line at the horizon and using soft purples for the shadows in the bowl to ground it and play well off of the yellow of the lemons.

I will post a few updates as I make progress over the weekend.

Keep Makin' Art

Carl

Oak Ridge Farm - Warwick NY - Winter Morning

Beautiful Winter Morning at Oak Ridge Farm in Warwick, NY

Next Still Life - Lemons

This will be my next painting. Nice colors and shapes and some reflections. Should be fun. I'll post updates as I make progress.

Keep Makin' Art

Carl

Peppers Watercolor - Complete

Here is the finished Pepper still life. All in all I am very happy with it! I had a plan to start with and it helped keep me on track until I had a finished painting looking like what I imagined it to be.

Next project... Another still life. I will post the reference photo on the blog for you to see while I get started.

Keep Makin' Art

Carl

Peppers Watercolor - Next Stage

Really starting to take shape now. I will stop here for today and pick this up on Tuesday. I want to let it dry well.

Keep Makin' Art

Carl

Peppers- Watercolor - First Washes

Stage one drawing

First wash separates horizon so Peppers are anchored in painting with a cool wash on the background.

Next wash. build up cool shadows and fill in second pepper pushing it into the background. This sets the stage for the next wash.

Well under way this is the first wash with the reds of the peppers. Warm reds on the main pepper and cooler reds and purples in the background pepper. This pushes the main pepper forward.

Next stage will be pulling out the shapes with some scrubbing of highlights and adding shadows.

Total drawing and painting time to date 90 minutes plus time between washes to dry.

One of the things I really like about this painting besides the nice Juicy reds is that from the moment I took the picture I knew the approach I was going to take in this painting. So far it is just flying out of my brushes. None of that what do I do next feeling. You can't get away with that in watercolor... Some people are good enough... I can't. I need a plan so I can be free to let the painting happen.

Keep Makin' Art

Carl

Art Show - Entries

I have not gotten into studio yet today. I forgot I had to put my entries together for the art show at St. Catherine of Bolgna art show in Ringwood NJ. I'll be entering the three photos above... What do you think?

Now I am heading to the studio to paint those peppers.

Keep Makin' Art!

Carl