Weeping lilies, wip

[E-J]

Yet more lilies, ha ha. This is a small one, 10x8" on Colourfix... I often feel I should be working larger but it is much easier to get something finished this way.

I started with a tonal underdrawing in black Conté crayon and lightly put the highlights in using white. I then used my Unisons to establish the darkest areas of colour.

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/22-Aug-2004/13865-weepinglilies_wip1.jpg

Most of the pastels I'm using from here on are Conté soft. These have a chalky appearance on uncoated papers like Mi-Teintes or Tints, and their relative hardness doesn't make for very good coverage on abrasive La Carte, but Colourfix seems to be perfect for them - not only are they vibrant and lovely on this surface, but the sticks are hard and slender enough to allow for quite delicate lines.

This is my progress so far. Got a lot of work still to do on building up the colours - and I want to shift the diagonal line of that fabric fold so it doesn't point down into the corner (same mistake I made with my last picture!)

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/22-Aug-2004/13865-weepinglilies_wip2.jpg

I'm posting this as a kick up my own backside to finish it :)

[Mary Robinson]

EJ, it's gorgeous, can't wait to see the finished piece


Mary

[judwal]

It's great to see how you are working this piece. It's wonderful already. I love the composition and the colors and your style in applying the pastels.

[bnoonan]

EJ - well done so far and it's interesting to see the process you use. It's always been a challenge for me to work on such a dark surface initially and yet you seem to creat magic with these lilies. Tell me - does your house always smell fragrant?

Barb

[binkie]

EJ, Your lillies are gorgeous! I really like the first pic you posted and thought it had a lot of drama. Then I scrolled down and discovered this is a WIP, and the lillies further along are even more dramatic. I love the detail. Looking forward to seeing the finished painting.

gwen

[CarlyHardy]

Really looking forward to seeing how you finish.....so far, it's all working great. Play up the negative space....it's really key to your composition. Love it!
carly

[K Taylor-Green]

Really good, EJ. Love the colors in this.

[Khadres]

Love this so far! So when you gonna finish gilding the lily??? (sorry bout that!) Really, it's gonna be fabulous!

[khourianya]

This is just lovely! I can't wait to see the finished product..keep us posed! :)

[Meisie]

Love it, the composition is great

Meisie

[soap]

Gorgeous so far. Has the kick up the b** worked - close to finishing it?? :D :D

[E-J]

Thanks for the nice feedback!

I was very grumpy when I finished yesterday's painting session ... a lack of concentration was creeping in ... at one point I felt I'd ruined the picture and was ready to chuck it in the bin. I've since decided I was being melodramatic. In recent months I seem to have lost the ability or the confidence to work on stuff I'm not happy with and try to learn something from it ... maybe it's not a metaphorical kick up the b** I need but a literal one :)

I find it hard to get correct mid and darker values in very pale flowers. I've overworked the palest areas of the lilies with my Contés and really need to go in with something softer to correct the colours and values of the areas in shadow. I'll give it a spritz of fixative before I do that. The shadows on the fabric also need to be darker and more defined in places.

Hopefully a brighter digital pic than last time:

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/24-Aug-2004/13865-weepinglilies_wip3.jpg

Thanks for looking :)

[E-J]

Howzis?

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/24-Aug-2004/13865-weepinglilies.jpg

[Stoy Jones]

Popped in for a look and really like this E-J! Love the colors too! Interesting approach. I have seen lillies in the lobby where I work and they are delicate, however the lighting is such that the mid and darker values really take on noticable shapes and forms, could your lighting be a bit too soft for this particular subject? Keep up the great work E-J, don't let off!

Stoy

[soap]

zisis very beautiful!!

[Meisie]

Gorgeous!

Meisie

[E-J]

Thanks! Stoy, I don't think it's the lighting that's too soft - just my inability to convey it strongly enough :rolleyes: I may try a different approach next time ... forbid myself to go in with the light values until I'm happy with the colours I've established for the mid/darker ones.

I was drawn to the way the red/orange of the fabric could be seen reflecting in the lower edges of the petals. Hope that comes across!