peppers

[cagathoc]

20"x14" oil on canvas

This was a new size canvas for me. What do you think about the composition and color relationships?

THANKS!! :)

[cagathoc]

Just so you feel comfortable expressing negative opinions... I think the composition "works" but the piece is not very exciting - just kind of there.

[animal]

Cindy, This is GREAT!!! I especially like the colours you have used. I also like your brush strokes :D

[bottleman]

The shaded areas within the peppers are almost dark lines/outlines. There is nothing wrong with this in itself, just that I don't think it goes with the way the background, including the table, work. Here, the areas blend together(relate) in a much less 'abstract' way than the peppers.

[cagathoc]

Bottleman - you should get paid for this.

I blended it - it helps. It needs now more values - I'll let it get tacky and see. I have very bad luck going back into a painting for any other than very minor changes...

[MKathleen]

Hey Cindy:

I agree I think the composition works, but the color relationship somehow doesn't for me--off to check my color chart. Glad to hear you say you don't always have good luck going back into a painting. I'm the same way I usally end up over working it.

Will wait to see the revised image........

Best,
Kathy:D

[reynolds]

the peppers are off, for me it is the lighter shading in them that draws my eye strongly then it takes awhile to see the exquisite red next to the flowers. keep in mind however i have a very humble opinion. i learn more every day...

[cagathoc]

I don't know much about green and that's one of the reasons I did this piece. If I knew more, I could make the peppers more natural and less blocky. I am going back into this one for sure since I am so unhappy with it, I can't lose!

[llis]

Cindy: Greens were once my biggest enemy...but I think I won. :) There is a thread on greens and I'll try to pull it back up.

A book I've been reading that give techniques of Steven Quiller has some really good examples on how and why you need to vary your colors. I see the green peppers and the stem of your flowers being the same green...and you might be able to correct this by using a glaze technique.

I agree with you...my paintings are always so much more me when I can complete them without having to go back in and adjust them to death. grrrrr

[llis]

Here is the color green thread (http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=251681#post251681)

[cagathoc]

You're a life saver. Yes, I think all the greens in this are almost the same thus the problem. I will print out and study that thread.

THANKS!!!

[ArtBabe]

Hi Cindy!

Greens are so HARD. I have to tell you, I miss your glorious light in this one. Are you mixing your greens from primaries, or adding other colors to the tube green? I find when I use green out of the tube it falls flat. And there is a tendency to spread it all over the place. I would be interested to hear how you got this one. Going to check out the green thread myself! I have always appreciated your arbitrary color approach, so remember to see all of the colors in those green peppers! What is it about peppers, anyhow? So many peppers, so little time...

Glad to see your work again! Have been away and just back visiting the forum the last couple of days. Happy holidays!

Peace,
Barbara

[cagathoc]

Thanks, Barb for the honest comments!

This was green "out a the tube mixed with other stuffs". I didn't go back into this one becasue it is too scary but I tried to expand my knowledge on the green leaves in the Manet study. It improved a tiny bit.

[ArtBabe]

Cindy,

It was so late when I commented last night that I was afraid to check back to see what I had said! Kind of go into Zen mode on this site--it really is a great learning tool.

I bought two tubes of green, Pthalo and Perm. Green Lt. after using a limited palette for my somewhat limited painting career and have felt like throwing them out ever since. I have managed to get decent, less than unrealistic greens from them, but may save them for one of those giant one color canvases ;-). I figure I mix enough darn stuff into them that might as well just use basics--Ultramarine, Cobalt, Cad. Yellow. Tad of Cad. Red or Alizarin for greying out a bit.

Oh, and brought a book on Manet home from the library today...keep going back to him for color references (and for the sheer pleasure of looking at his work!). I've read in the past that he was a notoriously slow painter. Hard to believe with what looks like such bold, quick treatment in his paintings.

Are you really scared to go back to this one? Sure understand the feeling of not having luck with fixin' things. I think it is harder when one has such a bold approach as yourself (one of the things I love about your work).

Remember, you can PAINT, girl!

Hope to see more soon-- B

[cagathoc]

Originally posted by ArtBabe
Are you really scared to go back to this one? Sure understand the feeling of not having luck with fixin' things.



I wouldn't mind going back into this one if I had an approach. I am so displeased with it (it's sitting exiled in my basement) that I'd rather just move on. :)

I think you have a point about the tube greens.

Does anyone here use black to mix up greens? I have no experience with black and I am wondering if that is worth a go.

[vallarta]

It's not the green in an of themselves that is the problem it is the green and the surface of the peppers that is the problem. Peppers unless they are rotting are smooooooth and shinnnyyyyy and need to be represented as such. You need to repaint them in total. You need to get the skin to have the "tightness" of a shinny skin ...radiating the highlights and the subtle blending of the contours.

vallarta