Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Dark values last !

Artists work with their darks at different times of the painting process ... I find that 95% of the time with my watercolors I hold off until the finishing steps for place the darkest darks and make the lighter values POP!

I am preparing an assortment of items for an upcoming holiday bazaar in Bloomington IN and as I worked on these little snowpeople, I had to restrain from putting in the dark coal and brown twigs... I knew that would make it look so much better ... but in watercolor - it can/will smear!

Everything takes time in art and in life.... patience is often required to be "successful". Working (and playing) at your art every day brings about the knowledge to know when it is the time to control or let loose.
Enjoy the process!

1 comment:

  1. Your snowpeople are darling and ought to fly away at the bazaar!
    I agree; in the collage work I do, eventhough I add some darks.....the DARK-darks are always the very last to go in. They are put in selectively so that the work had depth and (in my style) a bit of age/dirt or mystery.
    It is interesting how it works the same in other mediums.....And believe me....my black Staz-On smears like you wouldn't believe and I have finally learned to WALK AWAY after I have applied it! :) Finally......
    Good luck!!!
    XXOO!!
    Anne

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Helpful Pet - what is your's up to?

Helpful Pet - what is your's up to?
POGO

Mixed Media Class

Mixed Media Class
Fun and projects!

Mixed Media Class

Mixed Media Class
Muriel

Mixed Media Class

Mixed Media Class
Peggy

Mixed Media Class

Mixed Media Class
Nancy

Poppies ....

Poppies ....
ready for their new home!

Ta Da .....

Ta Da .....
this little gem is ready for blog preview and Etsy post tomorrow!

Ta - da!!!!

Ta - da!!!!
I can now walk away from the Easter Pear!!!

Easter Pear?

Easter Pear?
I like pears better than eggs!!!

Easter Pear Step 1

Easter Pear Step 1
Step 1 - I thought this would be enough ... silly me!

Easter Pear Step 2

Easter Pear Step 2
Step 2 - I wanted to add a bit of EGG Whimsy.

Easter Pear Step 3

Easter Pear      Step 3
Step 3 - It wouldn't be mine if there weren't any cast shadows.

Easter Pear Step 4

Easter Pear Step 4
Step 4 - And I love a good implied table line ... don't you??

Easter Pear Step 5

Easter Pear Step 5
Step 5 - Oh, better kick up the value a bit!

Easter Pear Step 6

Easter Pear Step 6
Step 6 - The background could use a value shift.

Easter Pear Step 7

Easter Pear Step 7
Step 7 - Add, of course we need a bit of implied texture!