Queen Anne's Lace

[rsmith.1141]

Finally had a little time to paint and.... rain! Oh well. So I sifted through my photos and found this one from our last trip to Michigan.

Thanks for looking...


http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/12-Feb-2012/137729-_DSC2554_5.jpg
8 x 10 pastel on Wallis paper


Here's the watercolor underpainting:

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/12-Feb-2012/137729-_DSC2549.jpg

[Cazza50]

Oh Randy that is just drop dead gorgeous! I would love to hang this on my wall and study it for hours. It just speaks to me. Excellent painting.

Regards,

Carol

[equinespirit]

Lovely piece.

[sketchZ1ol]

hello
lovely subtle pairings of colour .

are the flowers in the underpainting
clear surface , guache , or pastel starts ?

- like the broken lines of the stems
> keeps the image loose .

Ed :}

[rsmith.1141]

Thank you so much, Carol and Sarah!

[rsmith.1141]

are the flowers in the underpainting
clear surface , guache , or pastel starts ?
Ed :

Thanks, Ed. The flowers were placed but taking a Kleenex and dabbing away the watercolor before it dried. Since I was using white Wallis paper it let the surface show through.

[allydoodle]

This is beautiful Randy. Thanks for sharing the underpainting which, by the way, is georgous also! I love to see how others start, and this is a great example. Your color palette on this one is absolutely fantastic!

[paulalee]

it's really beautiful. and like others have said, thanks foor sharing the underpainting.

[owenj]

Very soft & inviting!

[PeggyB]

Randy I'd feel sorry for you having to paint inside because of rain, but I live in the Pacific NorthWET, and it is raining, as usual, right now! :lol:

I'd say the rain didn't hurt your creativity at all. This is a lovely subtle painting. Other than the Queen Anne's Lace, you values are all very near the same on my monitor. In your underpainting, there is a little more "pop" in the values; more variety in the medium and darker values. If you were working for "subtle", you got it. If you wanted a little more "pop", you might consider working in some darker values throughout. Either way, this is a nice "inside" painting. :)

Peggy

[water girl]

Nicely done, Randy! I like the light and movement in this piece. It is quite a departure from your landscape paintings.

[SherryC]

Really lovely. Nothing more needed on this one.

[barriespapa]

Excellent artwork Randy I love your colour choices very much brings to mind Monet.
David

[Donna T]

This is a winner Randy! I appreciate seeing your underpainting too. I just did a painting of the same flowers but mine is tight and fussy (yes, every stem is defined :rolleyes: ) Thanks for showing how it should be done!

[rsmith.1141]

Randy I'd feel sorry for you having to paint inside because of rain, but I live in the Pacific NorthWET, and it is raining, as usual, right now! :lol:

I'd say the rain didn't hurt your creativity at all. This is a lovely subtle painting. Other than the Queen Anne's Lace, you values are all very near the same on my monitor. In your underpainting, there is a little more "pop" in the values; more variety in the medium and darker values. If you were working for "subtle", you got it. If you wanted a little more "pop", you might consider working in some darker values throughout. Either way, this is a nice "inside" painting. :)

Peggy

Thanks, Peggy. Yep, we're pretty spoiled here.

I originally left much more of the underpainting showing which did create a lot more contrast and color. But I found that it started to detract from the flowers and seemed to be a bit vague about what was important. So I covered up some of the brighter colors a bit (usually with compliments) and drew the values closer together so that the flowers stood a chance of being seen.

I suppose it's really a matter of personal preference and mood. If I'd done this another day I may have really played up the contrast. Go figure.... :)

[allydoodle]

I had to come back and look at this again. I just love the softness you've achieved, and that color palette is lucious. I could see this in a really large format as well. I think this is one of my favorites of yours Randy. I swear, put this in a gallery and it will sell in an instant. This is georgous!

[PeggyB]

Thanks, Peggy. Yep, we're pretty spoiled here.


I suppose it's really a matter of personal preference and mood. If I'd done this another day I may have really played up the contrast. Go figure.... :)

Oh you are SO right about different days and moods. I truly do like your subtle mood, but wasn't sure that was what you intended by looking at your underpainting. Just wait 'til I get out of my gray mood. There are some here who could tell you that sometimes my colors shout!:eek:

[Rockport123]

I love the color and loose quality, it almost sings!!

[Ruthie57]

Randy, this is just beautiful to me! makes me wish I could.......oh never mind. I love it. Hey, if you do a bigger one, consider a portrait format.......

[KarenB]

Randy--I must add to the choir. I really like this picture's color and freedom, joy even! I like the warmth of the colors in front with the cooler green a bit distant. A very lovely intimate painting! (and I rarely type "painting." :rolleyes: )

[rsmith.1141]

Thanks again, everyone. Such nice comments are so appreciated.

Chris - You're too kind. Thanks!

[Kathryn Wilson]

What a bright, cheery painting! It made me smile on a very dull, dreary day. Do more!

[crazywoman53]

Queen Anne's Lace are one of my favorite wild flowers and I think you did a wonderful job with this. I love the bright colors that are not over done and the overall loose feeling that gives that springy, sunny feeling of being out of doors. Just lovely!

[Dedrian]

Excellent - as usual that soft touch to your painting is just gorgeous!

[robertsloan2]

Randy, this is great! I love the light dancing on the flowers. It's so lively and simple, reminds me of places I've seen in the Midwest. Beautiful.

[Judy Manuche]

Fabulous, Randy, and thanks for posting the underpainting. I really have not understood the underpainting technique, so I love seeing how you got there.

[patsbeads]

it makes me smile too . great job

[NRC]

Lovely, I too could look at this a long while. It's beautiful, soothing, soft and my favourite colours!