I wanted to keep this painting fresh by not overdoing my paint application. I like an orange underpainting (which was dry) because it really vibrates the sky color. I used a mixture of Ultramarine, Viridian and Alizarin to lay in the dark shapes in one take. For some reason, I have strayed from this mixture and it feels like coming home to use it. It's a very versatile transparent dark and you can lean it towards any of the three colors. By adding white and some orange you get beautiful harmonious grays throughout the painting. I used an appropriate amount of red in my greens to push them back in the frame, and applied my paint stroke by stroke, wiping my brushes in between to keep the color fresh. I was never a one brush painter because some colors just need to be separated, but there is something to be said about limiting brushes to a few to keep the color harmonious.
My husband thinks that the building needs some windows on the right side, but I just want to darken it with very carefully placed brushmarks to set it back more. It's too light to be the shadow side of the building. Maybe another stroke on the truck too. What do you think?
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Loading Dock Oil 8x10
I wanted to keep this painting fresh by not overdoing my paint application. I like an orange underpainting (which was dry) because it really vibrates the sky color. I used a mixture of Ultramarine, Viridian and Alizarin to lay in the dark shapes in one take. For some reason, I have strayed from this mixture and it feels like coming home to use it. It's a very versatile transparent dark and you can lean it towards any of the three colors. By adding white and some orange you get beautiful harmonious grays throughout the painting. I used an appropriate amount of red in my greens to push them back in the frame, and applied my paint stroke by stroke, wiping my brushes in between to keep the color fresh. I was never a one brush painter because some colors just need to be separated, but there is something to be said about limiting brushes to a few to keep the color harmonious.
My husband thinks that the building needs some windows on the right side, but I just want to darken it with very carefully placed brushmarks to set it back more. It's too light to be the shadow side of the building. Maybe another stroke on the truck too. What do you think?
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18 comments:
While I tremble, knowing that sometime this week, I have to pick up that brush and paint the Pier One chest that I bought because its horrible colours were attached to beautiful lines, I made the mistake of looking at what painting really means.
Gee Mary, looks done to me...I love the richness of the colors!
Nice job, Mary! Your watercolor of this was great, but oil - well, it's my favorite medium. What can I say? This one's even better. The depth and volume of oil paint really "fleshes out" your vision here, and you definitely maintained the fresh look - it's got that 'plein-aire' feel to it.
I think you're right about the wall on the right; a little darker, maybe grading towards lighter near the top. (you asked, so that's my two cents:-) The truck looks totally right; I can't see where a stroke would help it.
Also, I really appreciate your sharing of your process and colors with us. I don't know about others, but I always wonder about such with any painting I see.
Thanks. Good work.
It might just be me, but I say make front of the building on the right DARKER - it is the shadow side, and will help orient the light source. Also it will keep the street side of the building from looking like it's floating. It will anchor the painting and 'frame' the truck. Windows on that side can be just indicated. My 2 cents.... This is a great piece.... Thanks for sharing the process, too. You are so articulate. I never think to do it and always like to read other people's blogs when they do!
I really appreciate knowing how you went about this. It's so helpful to me. It's a very nice piece. I love the foliage colors.
Your darks really collect nicely and the colors are rich. Nice work. I found your work from the link when you left comments on my blog. Thanks for the kind and thoughtful remarks.
Thanks for stopping by my blog and commenting. Love the tree in your painting--looks so majestic.
Thanks,
Rhonda
Hi - thanks for calling in over on mine... just picking up blogging and painting again after a busy summer. This is distinctive. I like the range of greys you used - agree the building could be taken down a little so there's more contrast with the sky. Also, I might be tempted to clip the building edge with the tree branches in another view.
Nice paintings on your blog!
Mary, this is a wonderful piece of work! Good job -
I think it perfect!
Unless you want to add a couple hundred love bugs to the front grill of the truck......then it would have true depth of "real" in the South! :)-
Paint today, beautiful....
Hi Mary,
Nice little piece with wonderful vibrating color. I love the truck and hope you don't noodle with it too much :-) I do agree about the building on the right. I think the comment about the one side being darker and the other side looking slightly floating is spot on.
This is the only area that looks a little confusing to me. It could be because the lighter (gray) side of the building and the sky are very close in hue and value. At least that is the way they appear on my monitor. Even though this side of the building is in light, it's still a vertical so the value could come down, more like the way it is in your watercolor.
Love the way you've handled the foreground. Yum Yum Good!
I like your painting a lot. I like all the colors.....
Paz
I'm taken right to the truck when I look at this piece Mary. There is a special kinda light goin' on with it. Good job!
Jeffrey
Mary Knockout of a painting here! Great light and color, but esp. light!!
Thanks so much for your kind note regarding our good news. We're doing well. Diapers and paint!
Cooper
what a great scene mary
love the oranges going through this painting,gives it a warm glow and the looseness makes it come alive
Oh this is great, so warm, beautiful.
I didn't think you had updated because my blogroll, isn't showing an update.
Glad I checked anyway.
Nice! Very nice! I like the usage of shapes to suggest rather than spell it out exactly.
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