John Cox Workshop Gallery thread - It's your turn!

[bjs0704]

Hi Everyone,

Now, if you've read John's workshop, you will want to try these techniques yourself. Let's post our work here and share tips and observations.

Here's links to both of John Cox's workshop threads.

Part 1
http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/showthread.php?t=353552

Part 2
http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/showthread.php?t=356578

I can't wait to see your work!:thumbsup:

Barb Solomon:cat:

[TTHOMPIE]

I get extra credit for posting first!!! Not the greatest photo (making excuses already!.....sheeeeesh!)....but at least you can see it (not like some people that post tiny little photos they expect you to copy from). :evil:

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/02-Jul-2006/76411-tthompie.jpg

It's 6X6 inches, and the woman is about 4 inches. I used a limited palette of 5 colors (I think I used 4 though) and it took a little under an hour.

[Visualone]

Good Going TThompie! Drawings working and your colors are harmonious. Keep at it. Do the color charts I suggested doint and see how many colors you can make with only 3 colors then add a fourth. I think you will be very surprised.
John
Visualone
www.johncoxfineart.com

[TTHOMPIE]

Already done! :smug:


http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/02-Jul-2006/76411-colors.jpg

I was gonna wait until someone who knew what they were doing posted theirs so I could cheat. But....here's what I already did. It's a start. I made holes in the top so I could start a book for reference purposes. I'm gonna be soooooo organized.

[TTHOMPIE]

At one point, I actually had a fairly good painting on this one. Then wow!!....did I mess it up big time. After another hour or so I wiped it all off and tried again. Well...a body has to get some rest....and things still aren't coming along too well.....so....I smushed it around in spots so I'd have no hard lines.....but left part of it because I think I've got parts OK.

Tomorrow is another day....after a cup of coffee (or two....or three...)

I have a book on drawing heads.....time to get it out!

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/03-Jul-2006/76411-blond.jpg

[Nickel]

Oh GOODIE! TTHOMPIE lookie at what you've done! :thumbsup:

And you are first! I'm hoping to get to work on my studies today.
I did actually start to draw some head muscles. Gosh it was about
time I did that. Now I don't know, but my husband gave me new
names to remember them by, I've got winkie & kissie muscles. :rolleyes:

I think John has ruined me, all this time I just thought lips
are pretty things to put lipstick on. :p

Thanks for being first! :wave: Nickel
I think you are doing great!

[artbyjune]

Hi TThompie, great going...first past the post. How organised. You've got a good likeness in the dark-skinned portrait, I think.

[artbyjune]

:D I was inspired to get going trying out the workshop ideas too.

I did a colour mixing exercise. I also did a sketch and an initial colour lay-in on a portrait of a dark-skinned African female...but my reference was from a commercial postcard, and so I can't post the reference photo. :crying:

I'm not sure about the copyright issues involved here. Can someone help?

Am I allowed to post my drawing and painting from this commercial photo? (it was not taken by me personally, unfortunately). Probably the answer is no. However, maybe because this is a workshop exercise and not publication for profit, and so on....I hope someone will get back to me on the copyright issues.:wink2:

Still, I got the practice. Next time, I'll have a look in the reference library for photos to work from!!

However, I can say I enjoyed the whole process. But it took ages and it was fun but also hard work.:lol:

I can post my mixing puddles however, so here they are.:rolleyes:



http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/03-Jul-2006/11473-cmixwc1.jpg

:wave:

[artbyjune]

I used:- cadmium lemon, alizarin crimson, black, white

[bjs0704]

TTHOMPIE - Really lovely work!:clap: :clap: :clap:

I like your color studies. I’ve done something similar to what you are doing! A few years back, I started a notebook with color mixes. I keep samples of things that I’ve tried from reading. I put them in a ringed binder and it has been handy sometimes.

Your second portrait of the blond lady has lost it’s shadows.

June - I think that you would be ok, if you post it, stating who you copied and that it is a study. It would be much the same as a scholar quoting a book. This is, of course, a portrait that you should never sell.

This is one reason some people are so scared to use photos. You can of course use photos from the WC Reference image library.

Your color chart looks great!:clap: :clap: :clap:

Nickel - You always make me smile!:thumbsup:

[TTHOMPIE]

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/03-Jul-2006/76411-blond2.jpg

Started over. Had a pot of coffee. Gave myself a speech (made believe I was John saying stuff like "Come on think! What are you supposed to do first?"

So I slowed down and actually tried to think as I painted. Looked at my color chart before I started to mix and thought of what colors I needed to mix as the base (darker than needed) color. I came very close to grabing another color............but...........didn't!!! I am being soooooo well behave. :wink2:

[artbyjune]

Thanks for getting back to me on that Barb. I will post it to let you see how far I got...next box.

[artbyjune]

Each stage took me over an hour: colour chart; pencil drawing; first colour layer. So slow today. Must have been the heat!

You've seen my colour chart above. Here is my drawing.

Surma girl from Ethiopia from the book 'Women of the African Ark' by Carol Beckwith & Angela Fisher.

About 7 by 10 ins on oil painting paper:-

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/03-Jul-2006/11473-edrwwc1.jpg

Here is the first colour layer.

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/03-Jul-2006/11473-eo1wc1.jpg

I worked in dim light and without my reading specs. I took off my specs to see the values and so the painting is unrefined. I could refine/blend the edges whilst the paint is wet but I'm treating this as a first go only. I have looked for images from the ref lib and will go on to do one of those later.

I worked in dim light by mistake actually. I had the curtains closed to keep out the sunlight and didn't notice that till I'd finished my work. I was SOOO engrossed!!

Well this means the colours and values are a bit jumpy. But I don't mind at this early stage because the main thing for me was learning to mix colour and see value and achieve some kind of realism/3D effect.

I think that's all I have to say for now.:wink2: :D :p

[artbyjune]

BTW, she has markings on her forehead and over her nose...that's why there are those sweeping lines there. But I didn't put the markings into the paint version. Also she comes from a people who wear the corks in their ears to enlarge the earlobes....

The book I mentioned has some great photos.

[Rosic]

Bravo June and Terry!

Hope to join in soon...

[idcrisis55]

I so enjoyed seeing your work June and TThompie plus reading the comments offered. I've been practicing too, the color bridging, the mixing and an attempt at the first demo.

I have attached photos of the head and my palette. I put grey charcoal drawing paper under the palette for value comparison. The head was drawn with the brush instead of pencil, as I was too impatient to start. I'm here to learn so any and all comments/critiques would be great.

The size is approximately 6" x 7" and it is on gessoed hot press watercolor paper. Palette is Lemon Yellow, Deep Red, Black, White. My thought was to perhaps put these exercises in a notebook. The next one will be on canvas as I think a 3-hole punch would work on the canvas to save for the notebook.

Thanks in advance, :D
Ann

[Adair_P]

Hi John, and everyone! I have been following the workshop after Bernie Kindly alerted me to it, bless him.:angel:

I thought I'd try out a painting using just the three colours plus white, and I must admit I was a bit dubious! I've nearly always used 2 yellows, 2 reds.... a warm and a cool of each, plus a blue..... and never black! I found John's palette to be so much less complicated, leaving me to think more about the painting than how to manage all the colours on my palette. I tried this out on an old canvas which I had roughly painted over with an oil undercoat. Size 75 x 55cm.

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/04-Jul-2006/44092-Play_of_Light_030706.jpg
(Some brushstrokes are a bit glarey!)

Thanks John for this valuable lesson.... I'm so looking forward to learning more here. And John, I would love some C&C please if you have some time.... thanks again..:thumbsup:

[artbyjune]

I tried another this morning, using more scumbling and blending edges. There's a lot to attend to so its quite a concentrated task (but enjoyable) and a lot different to my usual kind of thing. This would be the first colour layer and applied very thinly.

This is from a photo in the ref library. Girl with white head-band.


http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/04-Jul-2006/11473-banwc2.jpg

:wave:

Forgot to say, around 8 by 10 ins on oil painting paper and using the cad. lemon, aliz, white and black as before.

[artbyjune]

Ann, that's a good idea to put a mid-value grey under your glass palette. I'm just using an old white wooden palette just now but I think I'll switch to using glass. I admire your portrait too.

Pauline, your variety of tones for caucasian skin is beautiful, and so golden.

I'm hoping to try those colours next...I hope my attempt at 'white' skin doesn't end up looking too pasty. Maybe the grey paper under a glass palette would help with 'white' skin tones?

[idcrisis55]

Thanks June, I was just admiring the warm tones you have in your RIL portrait. My painting definitely lacks that warmth, used too much white ha!

Then there is the nude by Adair_P. Such wonderful light and shapes.

Ann

[TTHOMPIE]

June, yes,the grey does help with the white skin tones. I've been putting a light gray acrylic coating on my canvases also. I think I can handle color a bit better that way.

The glass is wonderful for painting! Soooooo easy to clean up. If you guys gets yourself a plank of glass.....get it as large as you can handle for your work area.

Guy down the block threw out a glass table......I grabbed the top (20 X 24). The following week he threw out his glass coffee table...nice thick glass! I didn't grab that it looked too heavy. Besides.....the bigger the space to throw the paint on....the more I'd probably be out of control. I can just see me making a little pile of tone # 4 on the right side of the glass.....and the same exact thing 40 inches away.....with my belly covered with all the paints in the middle of the two. :)

I went back to a piece of wood for awhile...sure missed the wood.....smell of the linseed oil.....the excess oils in extra oily paint .... get soaked up a bit by the wood (the one flaw in glass in my opinion (guess I could put a piece of paper by the oily paint?).

Hi Pauline. I was gonna tell you.......but....I saw lots of your paintings...and they are wonderful. Then I got shy and thought.....who am I to tell an artist who is already there.....about a workshop. Glad Bernie let you know. :)

Ann, the three hole punch doesn't go thru the canvas. At least, my wouldn't. What I did was make a small circle with a sizzor....on the top right of each canvas paper (cut to 4.5 X 6) and a sorta screw holding it together. A also made a little book....but....that's a bit too small. The 4.5X 6 is small enough to keep handy.....without being so small that I can't do good mixtures on it. Only really starting to use it now...since now I'm gonna get organized!

[Rosic]

Bravo Anne! :clap:

Pauline... Glad you made it... she's beautiful! What colors did you end up using?

June... WOW... she looks great!

Here's mine (glare included...:eek: )...

I used this image by John Singer Sargent that we are currently covering in the Master of the Month #28 - July/August 2006 (John Singer Sargent)... (http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/showthread.php?p=4766080&posted=1#post4766080)Please join us... you can use this image (and a couple others to choose from) and kill two birds with one stone... :D ... please post in this thread and the MOM thread if you choose to do that.

Original if you want to use it...
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/04-Jul-2006/17108-sargent5x7.jpg

My limited palette... (John would be proud)... :D
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/04-Jul-2006/17108-Limited_Palette_for_John_Cox_Workshop.jpg

My Sargent cover of "Edith"... 5"x7" Oil on masonite...
(Sorry about the glare... If I get a better image I'll post it later)
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/04-Jul-2006/17108-Sargent_MOM.jpg

John... I couldn't seem to get the warmth out of this palette to cover the original but was happy with the results of the limited palette. Where did I go wrong?... Now that I see it on the monitor I do see the warmth on her neck... must have just used the wrong color mixes... is that what happens when you work on a palette that is a different color from your canvas? I was using a white palette painting on a toned (medium gray) surface.

[TTHOMPIE]

These three were done with the same limited palette. I think this part of the class I get a B- on. :cool:

Damn....Bernie posted first.....there goes my B- down to a D :wink2:

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/04-Jul-2006/76411-same_palette.jpg

But I get an A for effort!!! :clap:

[Rosic]

Terry... still an A+ in my grade book! ;)

[idcrisis55]

June, I forgot to mention that I have watched videos by Johnnie Liliedahl at newcenturytv.com and she used the gray under her palette. I think John mentioned it as well but I'm not sure about that so need to go back and read the notes again.

Terry, thanks for the info on the 3-hole punch. Maybe I'll just stick with the gessoed wc paper for the exercises :D or if I use canvas, I'll definitely use the info you shared. Your talking about the glass for palettes made me think I would like to have another piece that was more narrow just to put the paint on and then use another larger piece for mixing. I was looking at the photo of John's palette. It looks like his colors are on one surface and then mixes on the glass palette or is it just my eyes seeing it that way?

Rosic, thank you :D . I've been working on the jawline plus some other areas. I think it is called overworking ha, ha. Anyway I appreciate the comment! One of the challenges for me is learning to paint with oils. You know laying the paint in then putting another color on top. Of course, it more often than not, merges :( .

I like your "Edith" painting and look forward to hearing what John has to say. That is a great idea to work from one of the photos in the MOM thread. Do you hang all of the paintings you do from the MOM? I bet they would be marvelous to see.

Ann

[TTHOMPIE]

Thanks Bernie!

See, I did that right! I got a speech from my daughter yesterday. She saw one of my little painting and said "Ma, you're getting much better". I said something negative about myself. She said "Ma, repeat after me. "Thank you." " Rotten kid! :)

I have a question for any of you guys. I do have to try to draw better (one goal at a time)....with the blond.....my head was totally sideway trying to draw her (drawing with the brush). Surprised my neck doesn't hurt like heck. Question is........do you guys also do that? Put your head sideways when the model is sideways. (remember.....there is no such thing as a stupid question) :)

I have a small glass on the side of my glass. Under it I have the sign we were ALL to make up as the initial assignment. The very first item on that was

THINK

When I was futzing with the blond…with my neck sideways….head almost touching the table…..making a tremendous mess…..the spirit of John hit me on the side of the head and said

THINK

On top of that small glass is my coffee cup. :)

[rosebard]

Everybody who posted so far is doing great exercises. Well done. TT, you get an A+ You did all of this already. So coolllll!!! June you really excited and really studying. A joy to watch too. Ann keep up the good work too. :) Bernie Lovely study after Sargent! Pauline, beautifullllll!

Hi Nickel and Barb!!! :) Hi John too! :)

Me so far I did just now my color chart. Just to get to know what those colors can do. Exciting to see so many nice tones and colors coming out of it. Hope to be able to apply them to a portrait with sucess. I will see today.

Here is my color chart:
http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i78/rosebard/cadyalizarinblack.jpg

[artbyjune]

Rose- what a lovely range of colours. Are you using the same limited palette...How can you get all those great colours??

I love that study after Sargeant. I wouldn't know where to begin. But I had a look at that project and see you have Lucille Ball to do...I like her. Maybe I'll try her as my white skinned female. or do myself.

There was a little girl in the WDE this weekend and I did a quick oil sketch of her tonight (on a roll). I started of with the thinned paint technique but it wasn't going well so I put slightly thicker paint over her. I'm not sure if that's strictly a classical method but I had to do it to 'rescue' the sketch.

I'll post it if you'd like to see it.

[rosebard]

I forgot to mention June the colors I have used. My paints are not the best one. I mainly use a brazilian brand to paint. I used cadmio lemon, alizarim crimson, a mix I did of ivory/mars and white (zinc/titanium).I just found out that paint this way straight from the tube in a surface I used was a big mistake. I couldnt blend the colors because it absorved them to quick. But I enjoyed the colors very much. I intend to practice with this palette for portrait.

Here is the study with 3 color palette from John. :)

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i78/rosebard/demopera255.jpg

[Adair_P]

Ahhh ..... everyone is teaching me things here! Thoroughly enjoying this series of threads!

Bern.... I used Cad yellow (not 'pale').... the rest of my palette was the same as yours.

Terry... thanks so much for thinking of me.....you can let me know about these things.... please.....I am still learning (aren't we all?) ...but you paid me a lovely compliment.... thank you. From now on I expect an alert from you .... don't go without meeeeeeeee.!:D :)

[Visualone]

Hi Gang,
Sorry for the lull in the class on my part. Had some business to attend to. I see that you all have taken advantage of the time and done a lot of work. It looks great! and that goes for everybody. I will aswer some questions here and make some general comments. It is interesting to see how each of you makes your color exercises. Great, the main thing is you are doing them. They are so very important. Thirty plus years doing this and I still work with, use and do color charts for myself. You know how a concert pianist plays his or her scales everyday and yet they can sit down and play a concert perfectly and with seeming ease. Your color studies are your scales. Second I want to say something about drawing. Drawing is as important and right along side values for your art. I have had students come to my classes and workshops and tell me they don't want to draw, they just want to paint. Well, it is my sad duty to bring anyone who thinks like that the terrible news. If you can't draw, you can't paint. Period, End of subject. Remember Early on I said every time you put a brush stroke down, you are drawing. I draw with pencil, brush and thinned out paint, markers, ballpoint pen,and Conte' pencils and crayons. I used to do some charcoal also, but studio carpet sort negates that, but you get my point. Look back at the very begining of esch of the portrait demos (you can see it better in the second one). I did not go into a full drawing, but I made rather simple drawing and got my proportions and place ment of all the important parts. I got shapes and if you look with very little lines. Now I could have done this with any of the mediums I just mentioned, but for this I used a pencil figuring all could identify with that. In the landscape demo coming up in a little bit, you'll see me draw with a brush and paint. Make yourself draw something everyday. You don't have to go out with an elaborate set up. While you are having your morning coffee (or in some cases here, tea:) ) have a pencil (or whatever you prefer) and a small pad of paper and draw the dishes on the table, draw that mug acroos from you if he'll hold still long enough. Make quick gestural sketches also. I have a friend and fellow artist that went ot art school in Chicago and lived quite a ways from the school. He rode the "El" (elevated railway) everyday to and from. Now you would think after a full day of drawing at school he would be tired of it afterwards. Not the case. He always had his pad and pencil and he drew the people on the train. Now he had to get as much information down as quickly as he could because he never knew when or where his subject would be getting off. He has literally hundreds of pads, noy pages, pads full of these quick portraits and gestural drawings. Today 35 years after school, he can get a great likeness of anybody in minutes or if you ask him to draw a young girl or an old man, or a suave, cultured man or woman, from his head, you would see in just a few minutes what you would believe he used a model for if you had not seen him do it in front of you. This isn't magic, it's years of practice and hard work.
That being said, all of you are doing much better with the drawing than I expected. Mistakes? Yes they are quite a few, but they show promise and a basic understanding of what you are seeing. If this was a straight drawing only class, I probably would be much tougher, but for a start here you're okay. There are two exceptions though, one has posted a piece and the other hasn't yet, but I am well aware of the second ones abilities, so I know what she will post soon.
The other is Pauline (Adair P). What can I say? It's beautiful! I kow you have been drawing for a long time and you do it all the time. Correct? I have seen your work in another forum and it is always first rate. Use this artists work as a standard everybody, you can't go wrong. I am so glad that you were willing to give this limited palette a chance. Please, everybody read and re-read what I said about palettes. The one I have used so far and the one Pauline used (others to) is just one possible. I do not limit you to any single red, or yellow, or blue. Change them around as needed. Your subject will tell you which color chart (palette) to use. Once you master three colors ad a fourth and then a fifth, but as you do know why you are adding that color and where and how you will use it. How will it work in the palette being used? Remember, I do not just add a color because I think it's a pretty color. I always have a reason I choose a specific color. Example: A sky that is blue, but has a somewhat greenish cast to it. I can add a yellow to a blue (say Cobalt), but maybe a slight touch of Winsor green would make a much cleaner, unadulterated blue green. The subject will tell you.
More about Pauline's work. Do you all see the "terminator" line. That is one of the keys to making form instead of flat. It is the transistion from light to dark. In fact in many ways it is the dark (shadow), because the rest of the shadow areas are filled with reflected light. I love your broad brush style with this also. Do you do a lot of pastel work? This looks great. I love the piece.
While on this subject of palettes. I know I'm bouncing around here but hang in there I will get to all. I want to say something about Bernies Sargent. Good job Bernie. You mentioned having trouble getting the warmth in your colors. Look at the Sargent again. The skin tones on the face are a form of yellow, yours is more pink. Also Look at the background on the Sargent, especially on the right side of the painting. It's more yellow-brown and it is picked up again in the highlights of the hair. This is a case where the color charts would have said, Bernie, this is Cad. Yellow Light, Cad. Red medium (maybe even cad. red light) and black. The areas I pointed out are the clues. I'll bet your drawing underneath is a closer likeness and you just need practice using the brush to draw. Does that help you? You did a good job though. Just keep at it.
Oh yes, one more word about drawing. Drawing is a way of seeingand recording what you see. Very important. The most often mistakes made in a painting are values and drawing. Remember that when you are looking at your paintings. Try looking at them upside down or in a mirror. DO NOT use a reducing glass. If you own one get rid of it. They lie to you. It's a gimmick to an artist and a very bad one.
Blindhorse asked about mixing warm and cool colors without making mud. The answer is Yes you can. Look back at my mixing areas of the demo palettes. There is warm and cool both there. You need them to make a complete painting. Color tempurature is a "relative" thing. You can have two colors, each of which are warm individually, but one is warmer than the other.
Cad. Red light is warmer than Cad. Red Medium. Both Ultramarine Blue and Cobalt Blue are considered "cool" colors, but the Ultramarine is warmer than the Cobalt. Make sense to all? I'm going to discuss this more when I do the next demo in the workshop thread.
The idea of having a neutral gray under you galss for a palette is an excellent idea. I have done this for so long I forgot to mention it. When you see my palette in the next demo you will see it. The one I used for the portrait demos was a white disposable one I borrowed from a friend.
Okay, Great job everybody and just keep working. Every brush stroke is one more closer to being a real master. Think about that. It is true. So the more you paint the quicker you will get there, as long as you THINK and work with purpose and knowing what you are trying to do.
I'm off to finish my next post and I'm running behind, so I'm outta here! Bye for now.
John
Visualone
www.johncoxfineart
P.S. I have updated my website yesterday as wel as other business i had to attend to. Bye again. :wave:

[Anita Murphy]

Some fabulous work here and I wish I could join in :crying: but I am moving house in 3 weeks (To the other side of the world!) and the paint wont be dry in time for the movers! Will keep watching though. Can't wait to give this ago when we get to the our new home!

[TTHOMPIE]

I love the excuses these artists give.....never just a "The dog ate my homework." Paint dries real fast when you paint on a cardboard box....you must have pleanty of them around. Post....get your grade....and then ditch it. (I'm becoming such a geek :D )

[idcrisis55]

Good Morning Everyone!

John, I'm taking your comments on drawing/color charts to heart :o (plus all the other things you are teaching!) I sketch but do not draw well. As you said, one only gets better with practice.

Rose, I really was impressed with your color chart and the richness of the hair in your portrait. Is that a self-portrait? I looked at your blog and see that you are doing a lot of those. Also, thanks for the comments on the portrait I posted :).

Terry, I have to tell you that I have thoroughly enjoyed your posts. I chuckle, laugh, plus like the questions you ask :D. I haven't noticed whether I tilt my head or not when painting. No doubt though, I'll be checking that out :D. Also, your daughter is very smart and gave you excellent advice!

Ann

[Rosic]

I want to say something about Bernies Sargent. Good job Bernie. You mentioned having trouble getting the warmth in your colors. Look at the Sargent again. The skin tones on the face are a form of yellow, yours is more pink. Also Look at the background on the Sargent, especially on the right side of the painting. It's more yellow-brown and it is picked up again in the highlights of the hair. This is a case where the color charts would have said, Bernie, this is Cad. Yellow Light, Cad. Red medium (maybe even cad. red light) and black. The areas I pointed out are the clues. I'll bet your drawing underneath is a closer likeness and you just need practice using the brush to draw. Does that help you? You did a good job though. Just keep at it.
:wave:
Thanks John... a prime example of not paying attention in class... color charts???... didn't catch that part so I need to go make mine...:D ... use me as a good example of someone jumping the gun John...:eek:

Thanks again... you are so kind and generous... I appreciate you!

[Lap3]

Okay, here goes. I spent the afternoon re-doing a portrait that I started last week and wasn't getting anywhere with. I used John's limited pallet of alizarin, cad lemon, black and white. I am amazed with colors that I was able to achieve and the unity and harmony of the colors. Even the blue eyes are mixed from black, white and a little alizarin. I think my colors are still too intense but the only way to get better is to keep painting, right?

Please feel free to critique, I need ALL THE HELP I CAN GET. (This is a portrait of a couple that I am trying to do so I have cropped out the other face).

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/05-Jul-2006/80286-Danielle.jpg


Cheryl

[Adair_P]

... I know you have been drawing for a long time and you do it all the time. Correct?

Hi John..... yes, I have always drawn and painted. In 1990 I began going to life drawing classes and after the very first, I ditched my landscapes! I'm addicted to figurative work. :rolleyes:


Do you do a lot of pastel work?

Yes.... I do quite a lot..... but why do you ask? Can you tell?:confused:

John.... thank you for your very kind comments. I don't think anyone has made such a quick impression on me as you just have with this workshop. (Not even my :heart: husband.. ******ouch******....... didn't know he was looking!)
You make such good sense..... and you can teach as well as paint!
I shall be eternally grateful..
:thumbsup:

[Visualone]

Hi All,
As we progress and as you practice on your own, you will all see the importance of doing the color charts. As you do it, you will find so many color mixtures you wouldn't believe you could make with so few colors to start with.
It truly is amazing.
Lap3, welcome, and I think you are seeing what I am talking about. I want to again say, this is not the only color combinations you can use for a palette. Try all your reds, yellows and blues. Black is a blue remember. I'm sure ya'll are getting tired of me saying this in almost every post, but it is important to get this into your thinking. Lap3 you are doing well fromwhat I can see now. If I could se your reference I might have some questions on the drawing of the facial anatomy, but not having that I will be quiet as what you have is possible. I am referring to the close set eyes and the angle of the smile. Colorwise you are getting a handle on what i am teaching. Keep working. Practice makes for better paintings.
Pauline, I know what you mean about doing figure work. I would also love to do just figures and faces, but I have to pay the bills. I had a gallery that sold many figure pieces for me for a couple of years, but alas, the cost of their rent in the location they were at became un managable and the owner retired. So now i have no place to sell my figures. In the art business it seems like everyone talks about how wonderful it is that an artist is versatile, but when they are and have all aspects of their work together in a gallery, the reality is the clients and many galleries only want one style or subject. It is very frustrating. I sell landscapes more often because it is a more universally accepted subject (nudes). Such is life in the art world. There are a few artist who can do it, but very few.
I asked about the pastels because it shows in your oil painting style. Broad brush work. Don't take that as a negative comment or question. On the contrary, I love it.
I'm flattered and happy I can make a quick positive impression on you. It means we seem to be comunicating well. That's a good thing, but I do worry a little about any jealous spouses.:eek: :lol: Seriously. I'm glad i can help you in some ways. I will be doing a landscape demo soon, but it applies to all subjects. I haven't figured out how to demonstrate how I paint a very realistic figure. The portrait demos are only the initial lay in. The refinements come next and that is careful slow painting process the way I do it and it does not translate to still photos at all. Oh well. What can I do?:o
To all, I have finally posted the next installment and it is on perspective and composition. I hope it helps with any questions you have about this subject. See Ya'll later. It's dinner time. Bye:wave:
John
Visualone
www.johncoxfineart.com

[TTHOMPIE]

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/05-Jul-2006/76411-edith_the_girl.jpg

Still working hard. Moved up to an 8 X 10

[Lap3]

John, thanks for your comments. Upon looking at the reference, I see what you are saying. I have a long road to travel before I get to my desired destination, but I sure appreciate your travel directions!!!! here is the reference....http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/06-Jul-2006/80286-D_S_WM_1_2.jpg

[artbyjune]

:wave: Some questions:-

With portraits, I presume you can work wet-in-wet (all at one go) or let the initial lay-in dry and then do layers over it to 'correct' areas and refine things.

Maybe it would be useful to do a portrait in grisaille underpainting then layers to achieve more control...although the wet colour layer does have that more organic oiley look. I think that Grisaille can tend to produce kind of harder line work.

I tried out a self-portrait from a photo reference today. It is hard work painting realistically in oils. (I don't know whether its because realism is hard for me or maybe its the oil painting medium that I'm finding difficult at this stage.):p

I may as well post it, since this is a workshop, but even I can see things wrong. Mainly colours for shadows...I got muddled up there. :(

I probably could correct in future layers.

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/06-Jul-2006/11473-selfowc1.jpg

:heart:

[artbyjune]

Forgot to say, my palette was cadmium yellow and Alizarin crimson with black & white. Size of canvas is 8 by 10 ins. I did a brush drawing first in the cadmium yellow, correcting with yellow-crimson mix.

[liveforart]

Hi Terry, really nice work. A little less colorful as the other portraits but the choice of colors and the expression on her face gives me a feeling off ……I don’t know….. pain, suffering….It’s not just a portrait anymore, there is something more.
My opinion, your best work until now. Yep, I love it.:heart:

Ivan

[rosebard]

Hi Guys, :)

John, I have a question regarding the portrait process of painting and please excuse my bad submission of a portrait study. I will try another one :) . So Here is my question: Once you have a good outline drawing on the canvas then get to work on the color and tone on the first layer, which is the lay in first step of laying paint. This is paint direct from the tube, ok, I remember that, scrubbing. To work on a second layer, to refine the portrait, do you use any medium at all in the second layer, and what medium please? Does this second layer should be the last one? I am asking because my last work was a still life, and coincidently I have done that, a good drawing, then a first layer with paint straight from the tube, and a second layer for refining using a little bit of medium. Havent tried that yet with a portrait.

Thanks in advance.

[TTHOMPIE]

liveforart: Hi Terry, really nice work. A little less colorful as the other portraits but the choice of colors and the expression on her face gives me a feeling off ……I don’t know….. pain, suffering….It’s not just a portrait anymore, there is something more.

Thanks. :) The word you're looking for is ominous. My first attempt looked like a male vampire. Maybe I'll try a third. I'm certainly learning my palette with this one.

stumptailmonkey: Maybe it would be useful to do a portrait in grisaille underpainting then layers to achieve more control... The teacher didn't say to do that! You're in class....remember? If you want an extra credit assignment it has to be on perspective.

Rosic: a prime example of not paying attention in class... color charts???... Sounds to me like you should be in the back of the room? Maybe we should switch seats....I'm being good. Got my homework all done already. Even did some internet research on "golden mean".

[TTHOMPIE]

Bard..........I didn't go beyond stage one yet. Just the initial lay in. This last one is very thin paint with no medium used.

[Rosic]

Sounds to me like you should be in the back of the room? Maybe we should switch seats....I'm being good. Got my homework all done already. Even did some internet research on "golden mean".
:evil: :D :wave:

[artbyjune]

You are a 'hoot' , TThompie!!

[TTHOMPIE]

John, and classmates. I am sorry to ask this question, but …… I will accept the answer of “I have no clue what you’re talking about”. And that’s OK.

But…..my head keeps spinning back to the same question.

........
In the daytime, a dark object that recedes, becomes lighter in value.
Could this be because, if we were to assign a number value to atmosphere, the number assigned to the atmosphere would be a higher number? (example…atmosphere number 8, daytime number 9, dark object 3)

The value of the lights stay the same. So….if that stays the same….then it could be because it’s closer in value to the value of the atmosphere.
(example….atmosphere number 8, daytime number 9, light object number 7)
?

[TTHOMPIE]

Still practicing my flesh colors with the limited palette. I think I have to make some more color charts. With values this time. And I want to see if I can mix a better range of browns.

Hope you guys are busy.

Oh....this is an unprimed massonite board. Couldn't find another large white canvas board around.

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/09-Jul-2006/76411-lucy_tthompie.jpg

[Visualone]

Hi TThompie and all,
Sorry that I have been "missing in action". I've had some very unexpected business to attend to and will be for awhile, but I will be finishing this workshop all this week and then when i return from my trip to the wilds of Cheyenne, Wyoming I will answer questions and make some comments. I hope I haven't lost anybody here and again I apologize for my absence. Know that it wasn't expected at all.
Anyway, I want to answer TThompies question and maybe clarify some things dealing with value and distance, etc. And a comment about painiting on unprimed Masonite. Don't worry TThompie, you are not in trouble. :)
First, by trying to assign a value to an atmosphere is tough, unless you live in L.A. or someplace like that, where the air is visible a lot. :) Even when you have fog or other things in the air it is hard to do. Light or lack of, really effects what you are seeing. So it depends on just what each situation is. That being said there is almost always something in the air. The weatherman calls ir particulates. Dust, smog, mist, humidity, fog (last 3 water in the air) and on and on.These are the things that cause the darks to seem to get lighter in value as they recede. That applies to shadows and darker colored objects, both. You also have reflected light coming from objects around the objects you are painting. Does that make sense? Lot of objects there.:) You also have reflected light from the sky on areas not in direct light. Outside the sun is usually bright enough that the lights remain the same value, but remember I said they tend to get cooler in temperature. This "cooling" is caused by the particulates also, they are just not as apparent to the eye. Now let's say you are looking at something in the light and have a dark background behind it. Now you can see the particulates, because you have something to compare them to. Here is a tricky, eye fooling bit of trivia. You know how huge the moon appears as it is rising, and then it seems to get smaller when it gets up into the sky? Well surprise, surprise! It's still the same size! It just looked bigger because you had something to compare it to. Use a coin to hold up and just fit the moon when rising to block it. Arms length so the measurement remains the same. When It is at it's zenith the same coin held at the same distance still just fits the moon. You think I digress. I do a little, but only to mkae the point that painting and drawing is all about measuring and comparing. A value looks light untill you compare it to white, then you discover it is closer to a middle value. Cad. Yellow medium is a good example. So the atmosphere may seem totally transparent, but if you can compare it to something you can see that it is not. On the east coast of the U.S. the humidity makes an almost misty, soft look as things recede. Those darker values get cooler and lighter in value much quicker. Out here in the west and particularly in the mountains, the air can be so clear that there is very little change to the darker values as they recede, but there is a change. Just harder to see. The more air between you and the distance the more the changes in value and color temperature. sometime out here a painter may have to exaggerate these things to "create" the illusion of distance.
So the atmospheres value can change due to any number of factors and what you have to compare it to. So it is best to paint what you see and understand what is going on that creates these observations. I know I can over analyze myself right into total confusion, so over the years I learned to paint what I see. The "why" is good to know so when you are in the studios controlled enviroment you can paint convincingly and create the illusions you wish to create. Most of my paintings are almost always an exaggeration of something. I use that to create a "mood' or feeling. It is my way of showing you the viewer my "impression" of what I experienced. The Impressionists weren't called that just because of a style in which they applied paint only. It was literally their impression of what they saw and felt. They used colors, painting style, edges, light, as tools to accomplish this. I 've had students that thought impressionism was just painting loosely. Not true. It was that and many other things to get across their ideas and experiences. Your artistic license allows you the saame liberties. You just know how to use them effectively.
Okay, abot painting on unprimed Masonite. Masonite is a man made wood fiber board. There is to kinds basically, tempered and untempered. Tempered has oils that are constantly "drying" out of it. Thjis makes for a support that paint will eventually flake and chip off of. This can be "cured" by cleaning it throroughly with denatured alcohol and then priming it. you can also do the cleaning and then shellac the panel. When this is fully dry, it can make a very nice and interesting support. Especially if some of the Masonite is left showing. Using it like a pastel artist might use colored paper for the effect.
TThompie you are doing pretty good. Don't be afraid to add a little more red and yellow and white mix in the light areas. Almost an orange with only a little graying to it. Often in highlights themselves the white is enough to gray the orange color. Look back at my demo of the blond.
Tomorrow, I will be posting the first part of the landscape demo. I am also going to have a list that I have eluded to several times in this next posting. See ya'll then.
John
Visualone
www.johncoxfineart.com

[TTHOMPIE]

Thanks John! Adding yellow back into my limited color palette. I selected a small number of colors to use for a limited palette…..and decided to keep the pretty green that I had discovered. I know…….I ducked when you said “You don’t select a color because it’s pretty!” I saw you look right at me! :wink2: But….then I actually realized that I selected that color because it seems to tame the light red…….and I like light red for flesh!

It was only recently that I read something that made me realize that “values and temperature” actually played a role in paintings. I did a google search on values…..and after clicking several buttons….I wound up in Wet Canvas! So…..I’m in school…and paying attention. But……freely admit that I have a problem with discipline. But..I’m trying. Trying to paint just about every day…..at least an hour.

I was supposed to be making some normal looking color charts….and wound up painting this instead (copied from a John Singer Sargent painting (top portion of the painting only :) ))

I’m on vacation this week……so…….I’ll be doing those boring (but necessary) color charts.

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/09-Jul-2006/76411-john_snger_s.jpg

11 X 14 (the other side of that masonite board) :D

[TTHOMPIE]

TThompie you are doing pretty good. Don't be afraid to add a little more red and yellow and white mix in the light areas. Almost an orange with only a little graying to it


http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/10-Jul-2006/76411-007.jpg


I'm like the energizer art bunny........:smug:

[Lap3]

John: Just wanted to let you know that you haven't lost me for sure. I have dug up more books and been reading, studying, and "THINKING" so much that it is difficult to fall asleep at night. I am going to sling the old brush around a little today to see what my new found knowledge produces. So much to learn, so little time......

Looking forward to the next post

Cheryl

[Lap3]

Oh, meant to add, TThompie, you are really "getting" this stuff. You seem to be able to produce a lot of work. I think that I must "work mine to death."
Love the lady with the added yellow in the palette, you go girl.....

Trying to be the teacher's pet??????????

Cheryl

[onefinepint]

Hello All

I'm late. I'm behind, and I need to get to work. I read all of John's posts in Part 1 and 2 last night and all of this thread this morning. I was initially intimidated about starting with a portrait, but then I realized, I get to start with color charts! Yeah--I can put off the scary part for a while longer. I'm off to do some charts. I'll post what I accomplish, and I apologize for getting here late. I hope you'll all be tolerant with my tardy behavior and understanding while I try to catch up. It is scary to be a beginner and late to class, too. :eek:

[onefinepint]

I'm catching up fast. No one's been here since I last dropped in. Here are my color charts. I did a warm chart and a cool chart. I realized I have a more than ample collection of reds, an adequate collection of yellow, and a very weak collection of blues. I also learned that if I add to my blue collection, I will need to do the cool chart all over again. Perhaps I will eventually get over my apparent addiction to a million pretty colors and sell everything I don't need on ebay.

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/10-Jul-2006/21383-100_0513.JPG

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/10-Jul-2006/21383-100_0515.JPG

Can you tell which is which?

Now on to he scary part--the portrait. Or maybe I could just go buy some more new paint and keep on with making color charts. (any excuse will do). But alas, I can't leave the house, I'm having a new deck put on my house and the men keep blowing the power circuit. I have to be here to turn it back on for them. Guess I will have to do a portrait. :eek:

[onefinepint]

Well, everyone must be working. Still no one here. Anyway, I did my portrait assignment. I know there is plenty wrong with it. The nose and the mouth are goofed up--not really sure what to do there--but afraid to do anything else. Nonetheless, I'm pretty proud of myself. It doesn't look like an alien. (It's really a picture of my son.) I think the jaw line and the hair are clearly human. He'd probably be thrilled that the picture appears older than the 15 years of the picture. I can't wait for the next installment so I'll know what do do next. Right now, I'm petrified, frozen, afraid to do anything else until the boss gives direction. I hope I won't be sent to the corner for doing something really intollerably bad. Looking forward to hearing some voices in this thread.

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/10-Jul-2006/21383-100_0516.JPG

Oh, I forgot. The entire thing was done with Cad Red Med, black, and white. Amazing!

[Visualone]

Hi and welcome Onefinepint,
You are a bit tardy, but we'll excuse you this time as the teacher to to long a break to take care of some business.:o
First off, please don't be afraid. there is nothing to fear. i was told when I first started that they won't shoot me for making a bad painting:lol:. So don't worry about a thing. I also want you to know that you didn't do to bad with a first time portrait and being scared. There really is a rather good resemblance in your piece and your photo. Everyone of us has to start somewhere. I don't know one artist that started out a master. In fact there is a story that a new artist student was once told by their instructor that they would really know what they were doing until they had completed 400 paintings. I still wonder what the heck I'm doing and I have painted well over a thousand paintings! Whoa! Maybe I should be scared!:rolleyes:
You did great with the colors only using red, black and white. Try a little yellow mixed in the red and white on the highlights (cheeks, nose, etc.). Look at the shape of the head. I see you were going for the lock of hair at the crown of the head, but you just made it to solid looking instead of wispy. These are not big problems. Re read what I said about drawing near the beginning of this workshop. Drawing is king. Every brush stroke is part of drawing.
You are doing well and art takes hours and hours of practice. Hang in there and don't worry, you'll do great. The landscape demo is starting and the first part is now posted, maybe that will relieve some of the pressure.:thumbsup: Take care.
John
Visualone
www.johncoxfineart.com

[rosebard]

John I want to thank you a bunch for the portrait lessons you have given. I have much to practice yet, specially about facial anatomy. I am working torwards it. But the lesson about colors for portrait was a great help. About over an year I have being eager to learn about portraits. I started painting, instead of drawing, and study about anatomy and then color. So I had a hard time and didnt accomplish anything good when came to portraits. In fact I got frustrated and stopped trying to paint and went back to the drawing board. I feel the difference after 6 months but still much to practice.

Using only the three colors you suggested in your demo it saved a painting I was working on. I had to battle the photo, and other stuff, but colors wasnt the main problem. Thanks again. Here is a close up, couldnt take a good pic, but it does look good in real life. :)
http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i78/rosebard/hannaportraitcloseup.jpg

[onefinepint]

John

Thanks for the words of encouragement. :) I'll see you soon over at your landscape demo. I really appreciate all you are doing!

[blindhorse]

Hi John,
Haven't lost me either. Day job has been very demanding lately and not likely to get better soon so I don't have a lot of time for the studio, but I did over come my fear of doing a portrait (onefineprint, you are not alone) and started work on rendering a lovely little eight year old red-head I am especially fond of. Will swallow my pride and post results soon. I may be the slowest one in class, John, but I am persistent.

[Visualone]

Hi All,
Just "walking around" to each of you to see what's on your easel and answer questions or offer some help. I have to say all of you are really doing great. Everyone is at their own personal level and trying to improve and I can see it and feel it from the posts you all make. All artist have to do this. I would like to tell you something about this learning process. All of us are working and studying to raise the level of our work. This goes on for as long as we paint. if it does not we grow stagnant and wither on the vine. As we study and work we reach a plateau and we will stay there for awhile until we understand and use the lessons we are studying at that level. Soon we look around and we are on the next higher plateau and process continues. If I am on a higher plateau than some, it only means I have been studying and working longer than they have. This is true no matter what plateau you are on. You maybe looking up at me or some other artist, but guess what that other artist and myself are looking up at someone else. You just need to keep working and studying. Look back at my introduction and my background in the workshop thread. I talk about this. Be proud of what you do, but keep reaching up to improve always. You cannot learn something untill you are ready to learn it. This is why I believe in constant study. I do it to this very day.
One more thing on this subject and some may think this is controversial, but I ask you to think about it. I believe that the process of making art, the mechanics, if you will, can be taught to anyone. I cannot teach you to feel and put that into a painting or other work of art. You must learn that on your own. Each of you. If you wish to be an artist you need to ask yourself if you wish to truly put forth the effort and work to become an artist. You can teach someone all about medicine and anatomy and surgery, but that does not make them a doctor. You each have to want it and work for it and never stop.
Bard, that is a very nice portrait. i'm so glad the colors helped you. These palettes work. So many have their doubts when they first here about them, but most of the time they have never really and truly taken the time to learn it. When they do they are amazed that it really is so simple and makes so much sense. You draw well and that helps you. Your paint application looks good from what I can tell on the computer monitor. you may want to look closer at reflected lights, both warm and cool. They will help to add to the illusion of form and three dimension in your work. Very Nice, though, very nice. Is it your daughter, by any chance? She is a beautiful child.
Keep working my friends. I will be quietly looking in on you. Feel free to ask questions if you want or need to.
More later,
John
Visualone
www,johncoxfineart.com

[idcrisis55]

Hi Everyone, I am still here too. I have done the color studies but won't post right now as we have been having thunderstorms. Better go as it is lightening!

Ann

[rosebard]

Hello Classmates and John!!!

John thanks very much for your words. I am looking forward to work out as I have learned in this workshop. Like I said on my last post. I had to save this painting. But I plan to work towards of improving portrait drawing and have them placed well on my canvas before starting painting. It is still hard for me to understand in practice about warm/cool variations in skin tones. I think you going to be busy with the show soon, so in the future (I can wait, meanwhile I practice drawing. :) ) if you can talk more about that I would appreciate. Thanks again. Yep, that is my daughter, thanks. :)

John, you missed a question from me some posts ago. Once you place the first layer of paint, on the second layer when you refining things, do you use any medium at all? Do you usually do portraits/ figures in only 2 layers, or can happen to need more? Thanks in advance. :)

TT, thanks very much for pointing out about the initial layer being applied with only paint, no medium and thinly. I appreciated your comment. :) By the way, you rock!! Keep up the great work you doing with all that practice.

Welcome Onefinepint!!!!! Good to see your efforts!! :)

[Visualone]

Hi Bard,
Sorry I mised that question on using mediums. I rarely use a medium and never in a layer going over a layer with no medium. This would cause a serious problem that would more than likely result in cracking paint within a year or so. I am not a big fan of mediums. i much prefer the feel of paint as it comes from the tube. I can maintain more control and I have no worries about to much medium going over to little medium. Mediums are very useful for glazing techniques, but I don't use those methods. Not that they are bad, On the contrary, they can produce beautiful work. It is just not my style. hope this helps.
John
Visualone
www.johncoxfineart.com

[rosebard]

Hi Bard,
Sorry I mised that question on using mediums. I rarely use a medium and never in a layer going over a layer with no medium. This would cause a serious problem that would more than likely result in cracking paint within a year or so. I am not a big fan of mediums. i much prefer the feel of paint as it comes from the tube. I can maintain more control and I have no worries about to much medium going over to little medium. Mediums are very useful for glazing techniques, but I don't use those methods. Not that they are bad, On the contrary, they can produce beautiful work. It is just not my style. hope this helps.
John
Visualone
www.johncoxfineart.com

It helps, thanks a lot for the answer. btw, no need to apologize. You being too kind giving us all that support and instruction.

[Lap3]

John: thanks for the pep talk. I really needed that today. I AM really learning from this workshop, but you are right, you don't learn until you are ready to learn. It is like climbing a ladder, you have to hit all the rungs before you get to the top. I have read all this stuff before but I can only absorb it as I grasp the understanding of what it takes to get to the next step. Just taking baby steps........Color, value, intensity, saturation, atmospheric perspective, perspective, light, reflective light, shadows, warm, cool, bridging......whew....it goes on and on......got to get back to it.....until later.

Cheryl

[idcrisis55]

Good Morning Everyone,

I am learning a lot from the questions each of you ask and John's replies. Attached are the bridging studies I did this weekend using Holbein water miscible oils. That was my Ah Ha moment when this was explained. Now to learn to apply it.

Ann

[TTHOMPIE]

Lap3: Trying to be teacher’s pet???????????
Jealous eh? :p Trust me…..I too work mine to death too. For this class though….I’m giving less attention to the drawings so I can give more attention to the colors……otherwise I’d get no sleep at all. And I assume you did notice the hair looked like clothes pins! :lol: I just cropped that part out.

OneFine……if I tell you what colors I use, will you make my color charts for me? Soooooo boring! Oh….and if you don’t call colors “pretty”….call them warm, cool, great to neutralize, used to tone down……etc….you won’t have to have any guilt about not selling them on ebay. Your portrait of your son turned out real good! Very good likeness. If you’re going to try a real “portrait portrait”, you want to keep the first lay in of colors thin. Guess flexibility is the name of the game eh?

Bard…..you’re painting turned out really good! Your initial lay in didn’t have much of a nose. I’ll have to remember to do that more often. Looks like you did a great job on those teeth too……teeth are such a pain!

You know…..if there are any here that don’t have the time…or the courage..….take a canvas and just use a 6 inch square of that canvas to do a nose…….or a check……or a ball . No one said it had to be a human. Play with those colors. Make a flesh colored ball? !

[rosebard]

Bard…..you’re painting turned out really good! Your initial lay in didn’t have much of a nose. I’ll have to remember to do that more often. Looks like you did a great job on those teeth too……teeth are such a pain!

!

I am sorry TT. The painting is not the same as the first image without a nose I have posted before. LOLOLOL That one was just a small study concentrating on the 3 colors John used. But the support I chose was mdf primed with an acrilic resin, result was bad because I couldnt move the paint around and scrub. It was way too absorvent. But I posted the mess anyway.

This one is a big painting though. I started with an underpainting, and I switched it to John's fresh tone palette at the last couple of layers. It saved my life, cause I needed this painting for a local art show. Well i had floral paintings ready but I wanted a portrait. THANKS FOR YOUR WORDS. I AM GLAD YOU LIKED IT TOO. :)

[TTHOMPIE]

I stuck with the same painting. But....since I did such a poor job on the initial drawing....it's gotten a bit tackey and lumpy on the fixing.

However!

I think I might understand the color/value/gradation thing.

Instead of using lump color A and lump color D...and then blending the two lump colors together. I went from A (then made a B with the A and whatever color I would need to get to D) , I put down the B color and with small strokes blended A and B. Etc etc...

Seemed like more work.....but....not really....because with the limited palette...it was easier to actually make the color I wanted.

I think I really started to get the hang of it.

Here is just the head and neck. (since that's all I did just now). Still a mess....but....not really????

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/11-Jul-2006/76411-singer_sgt2.jpg

[TTHOMPIE]

Didn't mean to make the picture so big. I forgot to resize it and the WC computer resized it for me. And sorry about the shine.

You know.......I'm too conservative with the contrasts. But....I think I'll be able to handle contrasts better since I'm not going from A to D. I'm doing A to B, B to C, C to D. Which are smaller contrast steps.

Hmmmmmmmmmm

[TTHOMPIE]

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/11-Jul-2006/76411-stitched.jpg

[Lap3]

Wow, TThompie, you are really showing vast improvement. Great job. You're headed to the head of the class if your not careful... HA HA

This workshop is amazing. Things are starting to make since and I have been reading books and studying for about a year now. But being able to ask questions and read everyone elses questions and answers are really helpful. Plus, I may just be READY to learn it now......:clap: :clap: :clap: Well, here is today's re-work on the portrait that I am working on......http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/11-Jul-2006/80286-IMG_1764.jpg

Still using limited pallet but with more than four colors; cad lemon, ultramarine blue, cad scarlet, alizarin,pthalo green black and white. Trying to get the cools and warms made me choose the two reds, I think I could have lived without the pthalo green but I did use it...

Cheryl

[onefinepint]

Wow--everyone is doing great! I haven't ventured into another portrait yet, but the color studies have helped tremendously. Now when I want a particular color, I look there first. I also figured out cleaning my brush more often is huge. I didn't realize I was carrying mud around and spreading it all over. John's comment on odorless minderal spirits from Ace hardware are extremely helpful, too. :) I'm a lot less concerned about messing up my jar of turps. I used to dread having to buy another expensive can of it. Instead, I went down and raided my husband's shelf of stuff in the garage. Amazingly, his can of paint thinner says in very small print at the bottom--100 % mineral spirits! Who woulda thought? About $3.00 at Home Depot. Thanks John! :clap:

Now, if I can get up the nerve, maybe I'll try another portrait tomorrow. :wink2:

[TTHOMPIE]

Lap3....you're getting there! You got one side of the face looking real good! Did you do some charts for the color you added? If not....tsk tsk. :)

[blindhorse]

Hello classmates and John,
My pride is firmly in my back pocket and I humbly submit my assignment for your comments and critiques. I am here to learn (not boost my ego) therefore I welcome your comments.
I didn't attempt photo realism, in fact I painted looser than I usually do. I also didn't spend a great deal of time drawing an exact likeness, my photo refrence wasn't all that great any way. All I wanted was to try out John's limited pallette and learn what I could about values and mixing colors.
This was a big learning curve for me! What an astounding range of colors one can mix with two colors, black and white.
My eyes were really opened in regard to values, John! I know I have soooo
much to learn in this area but I got a glimpse of the concept and I'm excited about learning more.
The young ladies name is Alexis and I am exceedingly fond of her. The photo was a quick snapshot on an overcast winter day.
The first image is proof I only used cad. yellow light, cad red medium, ivory black and titanium white.

[Visualone]

Hi Blindhorse,
Good start. I would have you look at your reference photo and "squint" you eyes while holding it next to your painting. Notice the darker values of the shadows in the photo. You do have a good start but if you do the drawing and darken the values of shadows in the painting to match the photo, I believe you will see more shape to the face as it will become more three dimensional appearing.
Stick with the limited palettes. You will continue to be amazed. Thanks for being in the workshop. :)
John
Visualone
www.johncoxfineart.com

[onefinepint]

Yeah blindhorse! You did it! :clap: I know how hard it is to post the first portrait. I did my second one today. What I can say about it is, it is better than my first. I did the color bridging and very thin paint that helped a lot.

This is my daughter. Lips aren't right--too big, too bright. The mouth was a challenge, especially all those teeth. I think I got the forehead and eyes fairly close.

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/12-Jul-2006/21383-100_0521.JPG http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/12-Jul-2006/21383-100_0522.JPG

[blindhorse]

Onefine, TT and all,
Thanks for the encouragement. Nice job Onefine, on the pic of your daughter. :clap:

Wow, John, you were so right. I saw what you meant about the values right away and dashed downstairs to the studio this am. I spent about fifteen minutes at the easel and then had to tear out the door. Better?http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/12-Jul-2006/81679-portrait_re-do.jpg

[TTHOMPIE]

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/12-Jul-2006/76411-singer_sgt2.jpg

My daughter wants me to ditch this painting. She says it gives her the creeps. The kid is a NYC cop....has seen an autopsy.....and says my painting creeps her out. I have such a wierd family. :confused:

It's better than the last. And OneFine and Blindhorse have gotten a bit better too. On this painting....I didn't feel that connection as much with the bridging of colors. I wonder if that's because the flesh on this one is not as "pretty".

Oh...one thing I want to share with the group. If you drop your camera disk into your coffee...........yell out a not so nice word.........and plop it into your mouth immediately to clean it with your spit........it still works. :D

I'm getting better......my kids are throwing pictures at me to paint. :smug: Practice makes betterer......so does paying attention in class and having a good teacher. (browny points for TThompie :wink2: Hush up Bernie:p )

[Nickel]

I guess I should bite the bullet and let teach see something before he locks the door and says I can't come in......:eek:

Promise I have been doing my homework :heart:

Like Terry, I've been using the limited palette with the oil fourm's paint the masters....Sargent...

I have used this same paper palette since Saturday, so I've been really good about not sticking my muddy brush back into the paint nuts....bad habit...

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/12-Jul-2006/39040-Image030.jpg

My version of the waterfall todate...

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/12-Jul-2006/39040-25.jpg

And Sargents, as you see, I'm no Sargent, just me. :)

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/12-Jul-2006/39040-Sargent_John_Singer_A_Mountain_Stream_Tyrol.jpg

So did I do right by using cool colors?
I tried to do the yellow ochre, guess not enough blue to gray.
Easy to fix. I think :)

Still working on adding back in some more darks, not sure I haven't built a rock wall on the right.

Foreground needs attention, this is on one of my homemade panels, 11x14
and freehand, so really just painted in a few outlines to set the scene and started to paint.

Haven't used the cad red, but have used al crim, lemon, cobalt blue and iron oxide black & white. A small smige of ultra m blue.

I think everyone is doing a great job with their studies! :thumbsup: Nickel

[TTHOMPIE]

Well.....as long as someone else is bragging about breaking their bad habits. :)

I layed out my paints in the proper order (never, ever, did that). I kept the left over paint in their proper places and covered it with a saran wrap type of paper that clings good. Also kept two of the mixtures that I had made that were'nt muddied up.

Then this a.m. when I went to my paint area. I saw a sign "Dillon says he's sorry". (Dillon is my daughters cat). The area was a bit of a mess. Guess the cat got stuck to the saran wrap and panicked a bit.

Love that painting Nickle!! Great job. Let's hope the teacher thinks so too. :)

[Lap3]

Wow, this is fantastic!!! Sure is helping me to see the colors and values that I need. I have read and re-read and keep re-reading and everytime I do, something else sinks in. (AA-HAA!!!???!!!) Thank yo so much for your time and effort. Please know that it is very much appreciated and helpful. You are so accomplished. And your teaching skills are excellent. Learning by going through this with you is extremely beneficial. I could go on and on but just wanted you to know that your work on this workshop is very much appreciated......:clap: :clap: :clap:
Cheryl
Lap3

[TTHOMPIE]

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/14-Jul-2006/76411-009small.jpg

Wow! I feel like Steve Urkel "Did "I" do thaaaaat?"

I told you guys, my family sees I'm in school.....and started to throw some pictures at me to paint. This is a picture my daughter gave me yesterday of a friends baby. I messed up with making the face too small for a baby. I had it right.....and then overthought it (gotta make my THINK sign smaller!!) and kept making the face smaller because surely a human child doesn't have as big a head as I was seeing. I would have left it alone had I remembered my time in the delievery room......and if my THINK sign wasn't made so big. :lol:

Why isn't anyone doing the landscape?

I'm on vacaction for a few more days......might attempt it. Funny, it makes me nervous....and I really should learn how to paint a tree. But...then again.....my husband does landscapes....and he loves that everyone wants his paintings and not mine. :)

[Nickel]

Terry is your day job writting? Gosh you can make me cry...and laugh at the same time. :) Always loved the rowdy ones in class. Your husband won't stand a chance once you start doing landscapes.:evil:
And the baby is precious!
Thanks for the kind comments about the landscape of Sargent.
I owe much to John! He is a good guy and a great facliltator!
By the time John gets back from his art exhibition,I hope to have another
study done.
I am wanting to learn how to put together a comp like he shows how to do with the landscape from select photos. That is neat!

Hi everyone? Who's next?

Any more color charts?

:D Nickel

[Lap3]

Great job Terry!!! I am formulating my landscape in my head. Still working on the portrait section but plan to get to the landscape next. Landscapes have always lacked interest for me but if that is what would sell (at least enough to recoup some of my supply expenses) maybe that is where I should be concentrating......Just have to finish this portrait for a friend to be free to continue...Getting closer.....

Cheryl

[Julianne]

:clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: Claps and cheers to everyone! It's great to see your work, there's some wonderful stuff here, and Terry you're just growing in leaps and bounds!

Oh boy, I'm really far behind.... ah well, better late than never...

I did this in my (recently-joined) life painting class this week, over 2 sessions, using the limited palette of Titanium/Zinc White, Ivory Black, Permanent Alizarin, Cad Lemon and just a touch of Ultramarine blue. Thanks Johh, the palette info is perfect timing for me cos this is my second try at painting fleshtones in oils, and I was ready to start playing with color (first try I just did a monotone wipeout).

I would have liked a bit more time, and the drawing's not perfect, but hey, at least you get to see the colors, and I wanted to play with the colors so I didn't spend as long on the drawing as I should have....! It definitely does ease up the process of choosing colors, so I can concentrate more on the task at hand, and perhaps add a couple more colors once I feel a bit more confident with what I'm doing.... I may still soften the cheek shadow edges, they're bothering me. Sorry the pic is a bit fuzzy. C&Cs welcome.

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/14-Jul-2006/15904-Yukiko2c-possible_crop600.jpg

closeup

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/14-Jul-2006/15904-Yukiko2c-close1-600.jpg

[idcrisis55]

I really enjoy coming to this thread, seeing everyone's work and reading the comments. You all are doing such good work, in my eyes. :) I am working on (battling with) an acrylic landscape so John's landscape tutorial came at the right time.

Ann

[liveforart]

Finally found some time to do my homework, so I took a picture from the library and started first with making a color chart. I had to change some colors in my palette because I don’t have the same colors as John in his palette. I have used perm.Yellow Medium, Permanent Madder Deep, zinc white and ivory black.
In the first picture you can see the color chart en the pencil drawing, the second picture shows the lay in.

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/16-Jul-2006/84276-Color_chart.JPG
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/16-Jul-2006/84276-African_girl.JPG

I’ll try to start a second painting this week, I’ll post as soon as possible.
Feel free for any C&C

John, You are a fantastic artist and teacher and I wish you good luck with your art exhibition. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
I hoop that you can stay a little longer with us in this workshop after it, because I have to admit, I have no clue how to proceed with this portret.:crying:

Ivan

[Visualone]

Ivan,
You have a wonderful start. Next mass in her hair. Look at the main colors and values of the hair and just put them in. Make the correct shapes and put down the correct value. Do you know about the paint by number hobby paintings one gets from a craft store? If you do your next step is similar to that only you do just the main masses of dark, middle tone and light. Then begin refining each area just like I did with the landscape, untill it is finished. Big shapes first, the medium sized shapes, then the small shapes and it will work itself. Think like a mosaic after you have the large shapes in. You draw very well and have a good likeness. You are doing great, you will have a very nice painting when you are finished.
John
Visualone
www.johncoxfineart.com

[TTHOMPIE]

Here is the baby with the second layer on the flesh. I wanted to make the background more real....and maybe do some more on the baby. BUT, my daughter and husband ganged up on me and made me sign it. They don't trust me. :)

I don't think I trust me yet either.

The painting is the limited palette....plus I had to throw some cerulean blue in it since the original painting seemed to have a lot of that color.

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/18-Jul-2006/76411-010small.jpg

[Lap3]

GREAT JOB! It has a lot of feeling. I think the background is just fine. It doesn't fight with the focus of interest which is that sweet face. I think the signature is well justified. So accept a pat on the back from me :clap: :clap: :clap:

Cheryl

[Nickel]

Terry great job!!!!! She is so sweet! I think the painting is perfect too!
Her little face is wonderful!

Bravo!

So is anyone going to do a landscape this week? I am so tempted to do one.

Nickel

[TTHOMPIE]

Thanks, now I sta
rted the brother so he doesn't get jealous. :)

First layer of paint. Limited palette + cerulean blue

The mouth will need to be adjusted. Made smaller.

11 X 14 (that board that might self destruct).

Work tomorrow...my little vacation is over.


http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/18-Jul-2006/76411-brother2.jpg

[Nickel]

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/16-Jul-2006/84276-Color_chart.JPG
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/16-Jul-2006/84276-African_girl.JPG

I’ll try to start a second painting this week, I’ll post as soon as possible.
Feel free for any C&C



Ivan

Ivan, this is a great painting! So how about an update? :wave: Nickel

[Nickel]

Terry you are rocking and the brother, now how cool is he??? :D
so what are your colors, the cool or the warm plus cerulean? are you using a black? sorry about your vacation ending. you should become a painter. :D

[Nickel]

Onefine, TT and all,
Thanks for the encouragement. Nice job Onefine, on the pic of your daughter. :clap:

Wow, John, you were so right. I saw what you meant about the values right away and dashed downstairs to the studio this am. I spent about fifteen minutes at the easel and then had to tear out the door. Better?http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/12-Jul-2006/81679-portrait_re-do.jpg

Blindhorse, she is adorable! Love the color of her hair, and the shadows really have worked to enhance the depth. Great job :clap: :clap: :clap: Nickel

Whos NEXT? :)

[Nickel]

Well, here is today's re-work on the portrait that I am working on......http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/11-Jul-2006/80286-IMG_1764.jpg

Still using limited pallet but with more than four colors; cad lemon, ultramarine blue, cad scarlet, alizarin,pthalo green black and white. Trying to get the cools and warms made me choose the two reds, I think I could have lived without the pthalo green but I did use it...

Cheryl

Hi Cheryl, I am looking forward to an update! This portrait is just great!
Is this your daughter or you? Beautiful :thumbsup: Nickel

[Nickel]

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/10-Jul-2006/21383-100_0516.JPG

Oh, I forgot. The entire thing was done with Cad Red Med, black, and white. Amazing!

Yep it is me again! Hi Onefineprint! How are you doing on your sons portrait? I am looking for updates!!!! You are off to a great start! :wave: Nickel

[TTHOMPIE]

My honey said I should get a different picture where he doesn't look like a hoodlum. I think that's why he did that face. A Comedian.

I wasn't going to say my palette....since it might be a bit wierd. I don't know if it is or not.....but....I'm getting to like it for flesh. I seem to be able to handle it better than any other colors I've used. And using a limited palette is starting to make it easier. I still have a hard time ..... but not as bad.

W&N French Ultramarine Blue, W&N Light Red, Gamblin Cadmium Green, Gamblin Perylene Red. Sometimes W&N Lemon Yellow Hue (not used on the boy) W&N Cereulean Blue was used on that painting. I’ve been using W&N Cremnitz White For black I mix FUB+LR, for flesh I mix LR + little CG and in warmer spots the Red. The green actually makes a yellow when it’s added to either of the reds (Light red is like a brown). Amazes me that red and green can make a yellow (gotta make more color charts).

I want to do the landscape that John did. On a small canvas. And, maybe a few times. I'll have to read...and do it step by step since I can't do landscapes. Today it was too hot to try something that challenging.

[Nickel]

Thanks Terry, the palette is working! Color charts, yep, I know, and your yellow, well that is a new one on me too! Hot here also. Yeah, that landscape, lots of info to digest and learn. John left us a lot of homework. :)
The little boy kind of reminds me of Fonzi. :) he's a cutie! Nickel

[blindhorse]

Nickel,
Thanks for the words of encouragement. I think the others who have posted work have done excellent jobs and I applaud them all.
Yes, I have plans to do a landscape, in fact I have it drawn out on my support and have given a good deal of thought to how to incorporate the things John taught us into it. If things ever settle down in the 9-5 long enough to let me get started painting.....(sigh). But I've already learned something....I took two of my refrence photos and combined them to make this one drawing. That is something I have never done before.
I know once we all get going on the landscapes we will have lots of questions for John. I just hope he has the patience to hang around long enough for us to get going on them.

[liveforart]

The green actually makes a yellow when it’s added to either of the reds (Light red is like a brown). Amazes me that red and green can make a yellow (gotta make more color charts).

Amazes me to. Green = Yellow + Blue, mixed with red we have 3 primary colors. This should give brown. :confused:

Nickel, about the update, first I want to make a lay in from a blond girl to practice the limited palette. (a little behind in schoolwork:o )
After this I’ll try to improve both paintings with John’s advice.
I guess you have to wait a little longer for the landscape study.:p

Ivan

[Nickel]

Hi Blindhorse, thanks for the update! Good for you:clap: already combined and started your landscape from photos. WWWWayyy ahead of me. I am still in the thinking stage. I get stuck there sometimes :evil: not sure if it is an excuse, most likely, but I eventually move on. Must move on because John will be back ...... :D Can't wait to see your paintings.

Hi Ivan, I will wait ;) Looking forward to your blonde :D

If John ever saw the blonde I did, he throw me out....:lol: not really but she needed help. Remember the sign John had us make? Think, should add don't rush, lol, know where you are going.

Hi Terry! Hi Rose! Hi June! Hi Lap3! Hi Idcrisis55! Hi Bernie! Hi Adair P! Hi Barb! Hi Anita! Hi Julianne! and a Hi to John! and a HI to Lurkers! Post your studies!
We won't bite hard :evil: It's all about discovery and learning! :eek: We all start someplace! :wave:

I promise to work this week. :wave: John's made it so much easier to get from point A to point B. Best to you all Nickel

[Lap3]

Hi Nickle, and a big hello to fellow classmates, (and lurkers)...

Well you asked for an update so I took a couple to shots to submit. The portrait is for a friend. I am still working on it and need to finish the shirt and put glasses on the male (that is why there are strange shadows on his face.) But here is the update...
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/19-Jul-2006/80286-IMG_1856.jpg

I have also done a cat portrait for my daughter. I am posting it here because I used the limited pallet bridging the colors from a dark red brown and worked on the atmospheric perspective to get the depth in the background. It is still a work in progress. I plan to go back in and strengthen the darks and lights, put some tufts of hair in his ears and give him some wiskers. But here is "K.C." ( short for Kitty Cat...ha ha...) Pallet is cad yellow med, alizarin, cobalt blue, black and white. You can see my reference photo attached to the easel...
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/19-Jul-2006/80286-IMG_1863.jpg

I plan to start on my landscape tomorrow. I have my reference photos and the canvas is prepared (I am painting over a missfire...ha ha). I am still reading over all the info every night trying to get it all to sink in....you know....OLD DOGS....... Anyway, I will post the landscape once I get going on it....

Nickle, thanks for the kind words. I am no where near happy with my portrait abilities. My values are a real problem. The color that I mix and think that I need goes on the canvas sooooo much more intense than I intended. But each painting seems to get me closer, so I just keep trying...

Well, "back to the drawing board" to prepare for the landscape....
:wave:

Cheryl

[TTHOMPIE]

Yep....gotta keep trying because you're almost there! Those greens are great....and the cat depth is terrific.

[Nickel]

Hi Cheryl you've made a lot of progress on your painting! The couple look really happy and you can feel that when you look at the painting. The hands are awesome. Real tender feelings between the two. So too with KC, purr...you can hear it. So those are good things to me. Expressive.

One thing about values you can always stay on the lighter side and darken if needed. Not so easy the other way around. Remember that next to a light, a dark value will look darker even if the value is not so dark. Just to have more fun when painting, lol, a red behind a black will make the black look greenish. All these things are not so easy to remember at least for me. Thanks for the update and please keep posting them. Your paintings are good.:)

Nickel

[Nickel]

Sorry I am being bad today, I did take out the trash, but have avoided painting. Must be the heat! Eyes glazed over, I know John says to go to the studio each day like a job. Good advice, but what do you do when you just know you need help to concentrate. I studied looking at a few frames, decided it was too hot to fiddle with them. Maybe I need to go shopping for paint resources...lol. Like to shop :D

Any advice? Nickel

[TTHOMPIE]

You can read. I'm up to page 199 on the book "Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain".......I did skip the first 160 pages though. :D

[Nickel]

hehe, Terry, thanks, good idea!
I got that book too, good book to skip around in for sure!

:) Nickel

[rosebard]

Checking up on my fellow classmates and enjoying seeing all the progress made by all of you. Looking forward to see more from you all. :)

[liveforart]

Hi friends,

Finished the study of the blond girl today, I call it my 4 hours lay in.:o :o
I had a hard time with this painting, couldn’t get the values right yesterday so I had to change them this morning. I am surprised that the shadows have such a high value in the girls face, I always intend to use a lower value. Thanks John for your explanation about value, hue, limited palette ,…..and your “sign” think,think,think.:)
I’ve never took care about values before, just painting different colors.

About the colors, the painting of the African girl has given me less trouble (brown-red and yellow-brown) but with the blond girl I see so much color in her face, rose, blue, red, purple, gray, yellow…..It’s hard to get a realistic painting, it looks more like a color book. :rolleyes:


http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/23-Jul-2006/84276-Blond_Girl1.JPG

The same with this picture, I have no clue how to proceed. John mentioned the steps of “the paint by number hobby paintings”, I know they exists but I have never seen or used one before.:( So, any help is welcome.
Classmates, I hoop to see more of your study’s so we can share our experiences, troubles and frustrations. It always give me a feeling of being a member of a big family.:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

Ivan

[liveforart]

Forgot something, I couldn’t get blue out off the basic pallet, so I cheated a little and used some cobalt bleu for the blue-grey colors and the eyes.:D

Greetings,
Ivan

[Lap3]

Ivan:
Very nice work. I love your lay-in. Looks almost like a watercolor to me. The transparency that you achieve is beautiful!

I am going to re-work my portraits because I have that "coloring book" syndrome much worse than yours. I think that "seeing" all the colors in the face is my big problem as well. Then I look at my SIGN and it says Simplify, Masses and Experiment, ValuesSo . Guess I need to give it another go. The "Old Dog" can only get one thing at a time....But I keep trying.

Cheryl

[TTHOMPIE]

Ivan…..If you go back, John did his couple of women and said that the blond looked like a comic book person (I don’t remember his exact words). That’s because the initial lay-in is to get the basics down. A lay in of colors…..the placement of values…….(body parts)…. So, you’ve done what you were to do so far. Now, with the second lay in (maybe the finished painting?)…. you should fix whatever you did wrong (you did the same as lots of us with the eye….full view eye….instead of the ¾ view?...see below)….and continue to improve what you’ve already done.

I did paint by numbers when I was a kid. If you were to make you two pictures of this blond child into a paint by number kit….. the two cheeks would look something like this…..

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/23-Jul-2006/76411-eraseivan1.jpg

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/23-Jul-2006/76411-eraseivan2.jpg

With a paint by number kit, that would by your finished product. As a more experienced painter, we would blend those separate groups of colors together to make it look nicer. Note one side has 3 separate groups of colors whereas the other side has more than that. If however,you were to do the bridging that John talked about, you’d have more colors than either of these cheeks …..those colors would blended…..and more acceptable as reality to the viewer.

One of the critiques of one of our WC wonderful artists had a statement that the artist has used only two values on one of the cheeks. It looks like that’s what you did (which is fine for the lay-in). On a completed painting….that would not be fine. Two values next to each other….blended together….doesn’t really make as good a mid tone as a third value….midtone….and….bridging.

The bridging part I actually did with the one painting. Haven’t done it since….so…I guess it was my paint angel that showed me that it can be done….now he (I have a male angel even though I’m female) just looks over my shoulder and laughs at my feeble attempt to do it again.

And……if I said anything that is totally wrong????? That’s Johns fault for leaving the class unattended for so long. Although a “class monitor” might have been assigned……..the teacher has to know that th class monitor can’t necessarily control the people in the last row/last seat.


Lap3……whatever colors you used on the guys arm seems to be great? The color of the womans cheek is the color I’d use for my son when he comes home totally smashed (he’s 3/4ths Irish). Maybe you should try mixing that orangey color John told me to try (as the …..what’s he call it…….base color? )

I do so hope it’s not the blind leading the blind?


http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/23-Jul-2006/76411-eraseivan3.jpg

[Adair_P]

I did paint by numbers when I was a kid. If you were to make you two pictures of this blond child into a paint by number kit….. the two cheeks would look something like this…..

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/23-Jul-2006/76411-eraseivan1.jpg

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/23-Jul-2006/76411-eraseivan2.jpg

With a paint by number kit, that would by your finished product. As a more experienced painter, we would blend those separate groups of colors together to make it look nicer. Note one side has 3 separate groups of colors whereas the other side has more than that. If however,you were to do the bridging that John talked about, you’d have more colors than either of these cheeks …..those colors would blended…..and more acceptable as reality to the viewer.

Wow.... that is terrific Terry..... how did you do that:confused: :)


And……if I said anything that is totally wrong????? That’s Johns fault for leaving the class unattended for so long. Although a “class monitor” might have been assigned……..the teacher has to know that th class monitor can’t necessarily control the people in the last row/last seat.

:lol: :thumbsup:
(John.... I hope you're taking notes..:D )



http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/23-Jul-2006/76411-eraseivan3.jpg

:clap: Very well spotted Terry. I think you are doing a good job of being the class monitor.:smug:

This is such a great thread.... thanks John and everyone.

:wave:

[liveforart]

I love your lay-in. Looks almost like a watercolor to me. The transparency that you achieve is beautiful!
Hi Cheryl, Thank you for those very kind words, the only thing I do is trying to put the correct hue and value on the canvas. I to have the feeling it look like a watercolor and that raises the question is that good or bad? Finally I am trying to make an oil painting!! Are my values still to low? (to me it looks like I’m pretty close) are should I paint a dark background to become a more oil painting look alike?


Then I look at my SIGN and it says Simplify, Masses and Experiment, ValuesSo . Guess I need to give it another go.
Simplify I understand if we talk about landscapes, we cannot paint every tree in the bunch so we have to simplify and create an impression of it, but how can we create
A realistic portrait if we don’t use all the colors we see in the Face?? Many, many, many questions.:confused: :confused:


I did paint by numbers when I was a kid. If you were to make you two pictures of this blond child into a paint by number kit….. the two cheeks would look something like this…..

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/23-Jul-2006/76411-eraseivan1.jpg

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/23-Jul-2006/76411-eraseivan2.jpg

With a paint by number kit, that would by your finished product. As a more experienced painter, we would blend those separate groups of colors together to make it look nicer. Note one side has 3 separate groups of colors whereas the other side has more than that. If however,you were to do the bridging that John talked about, you’d have more colors than either of these cheeks …..those colors would blended…..and more acceptable as reality to the viewer. Two values next to each other….blended together….doesn’t really make as good a mid tone as a third value….midtone….and….bridging.
TTHOMPIE, fantastic explanation, thanks. With these examples it makes understanding so easy. I guess the second layer is about repainting the whole face, correcting mistakes and pay attention to midtones (bridging).



http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/23-Jul-2006/76411-eraseivan3.jpg

You are soooooo right, I didn’t see it. Teachers in drawing class told us a thousand times always pay attention to the triangle (eyes, nose and mouth). I forgot the first rule, never get lost into details, always keep a good overview of the whole picture.
I’m moving to the last row/ last seat next to you. No problem, I’m close to my favorite class monitor.;)

Ivan

[Lap3]

Hi, Ivan:

Simplify I understand if we talk about landscapes, we cannot paint every tree in the bunch so we have to simplify and create an impression of it, but how can we create
A realistic portrait if we don’t use all the colors we see in the Face?? Many, many, many questions.


I think that simplify, masses for the portrait comes in the lay in. Then, once the values are established, the little shapes come in with the refinement of the portrait. But I am hoping that John completes the two Demos that he started to shed further light on this.:confused: :crying: :confused: because I am stumbling around here in the dark....:lol: :lol: :lol:

I spent the entire weekend studying color theory and color mixing and had SEVERAL "AA,HA" moments and I think that it is finally starting to sink in. :clap: :clap: (I am just a little slower than the rest of you.....) But I am still painting....slow but stubborn...I guess.....:wave: :wave:

Cheryl

[Nickel]

Cheryl that is pretty much how I understand it too! Good explanation! :)
Hi Ivan! you are doing good!
Terry good demo and explanation too!
I am learning from you all!
Hi Pauline , Hi Rose, Hi classmates and lurkers!
AA,HA comes slow but they do come around as long as we keep at it! :)
As always, be kind to yourself when learning to paint.

Welcome back to John too! :)

Nickel

[bjs0704]

Hi! :wave:

I wanted to stop by and tell you what a wonderful job all of you have been doing!:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

There is SO MANY great tips here! That I need to go back and take notes!

You are all doing an incredible job! :clap: :clap: :clap:

Thanks, John! :clap: :clap: :clap:

Barb Solomon:cat:

[Anita Murphy]

Cheryl - wow - great stuff here!

Ivan - I love it and great tips there from Cheryl!

TThompie - this is superb! You guys are doing so well!

I envy you all - my paints are on the way to my new home and so I can't do anything for a couple of months! :(

[Lap3]

Anita:

I too am a "gypsy". My husband's life long career has caused us to move continuously. I am living in my 26th home in 29 years of marriage. My children are grown and living about 12 to 14 hours away and I have NO family or friends here. SOOOOO....... I paint ........
Looking forward to having you back in the ranks!!!!!
Take it easy on the move. I know that it is difficult to exist without getting all the boxes unpacked because that ONE ITEM that you desperately NEED is always "IN ONE OF THOSE BOXES OVER THERE". But it will take a little time to get it all back to normal......Be patient.....

Cheryl

[idcrisis55]

I used thumbnail images rather than taking up a lot of space with larger photos until the painting is farther along. Hope you don't mind?

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/26-Jul-2006/15669-07-26-06NorthPondPhoto03-21-06_002_small.jpg This is a photo of the pond in the North pasture I see out my window, taken March, 2006. I have lightened the photo for use while painting but wanted to show you the original.

Next, is my sketch based on the photo. http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/26-Jul-2006/15669-07-26-06_NorthPondSketch_small.jpg

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/26-Jul-2006/15669-07-26-06LandscapePalette_small.jpg Then my palette laid out in order, from White(cool), Lemon(cool), Light Yellow(warm), Deep Red (cool), Vermillion (warm), Ultramarine(Warm), Cobalt Blue(slightly cool), and Black. You will notice Yellow Ochre set off by itself. I may decide to use this but want to make a mixture first, using the dark mixture described above then adding more of the Deep Red and Light Yellow.

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/26-Jul-2006/15669-07-26-06LandscapeMixing_small.jpg This photo shows the beginning mixtures of the darks which is a bluish purple(using Ivory Black, Cobalt Blue, and Deep Red.) Then I go to a green by adding more Light Yellow. From that I add more red and yellow to create a yellow ochre. Next I added more yellow to create a more neutral yellow. The pile of paint on the viewer's left is ultramarine blue and deep red to make a purple. My plan with this painting is to make it cooler than what is shown in the reference photo and foggy.

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/26-Jul-2006/15669-nasirkhanMorgueFileWisconsinFog_morning500_small.jpg I went to Morgue File and found this photo taken by nasirkhan, which I think is very pleasing to the eye and similar in composition to my photo near the pond area.

I have taped canvas to a 24" x 12" piece of masonite. Being unfamiliar with oils I thought it best to paint on canvas that can be easily removed rather than gluing the canvas to the masonite. The canvas is acrylic primed Fredrix' Polyflax which is a bit smoother than regular canvas. The oils are Holbein Water Miscible Oils.

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/26-Jul-2006/15669-07-26-06_003NorthPond1_500_small.jpg This is the lay-in on the canvas using a thin layer of Ivory Black, Deep Red and a bit of Light Yellow mixture.

This is where the painting is right now. I hope to work on it a bit more this morning. Comments/suggestions, etc., much appreciated.

Thanks,
Ann

[rosebard]

Ann that is a cool beggining. Great seeing all the pics and the comments you made about them. Keep up the good work. :)

[rosebard]

Ivan, you doing a great job on this lay in stage. I think Terry explained it very well.

Congratulations Terry. Thanks for the explanation. It is really cool. :)

Got get back later to talk to you guys. I have something to show you all. But havent had the time to get back to it, as my allergy is treating me bad. See you later.

Thanks for all the sharing and posts here. Great thread indeed. :)

[bjs0704]

Ann - That is a nice demo!

Barb:cat:

[idcrisis55]

Thanks Bard and Barb, appreciate it.

Here is where the painting is now.
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/26-Jul-2006/15669-07-26-06NorthPond_004_500.jpg
Color as not been applied to the sky yet and the pond color will change. In looking at it right now, I need to establish the far bank of the pond a bit better too. Using thin layers, my goals for this part of the painting were to get color on the canvas, try to establish some values, learn to mix colors/values with this limited palette, plus learn color bridging. I can see now the color bridging is going to take lots of practice. Ha! who am I kidding it will all take lots of practice :D Also, there is an attachment that shows my messy palette :(.

Thanks for looking!
Ann

[Lap3]

Ann:

Really nice work:clap: I love the reds and violets in the ground. Seems to have an emotional effect on me. I went to your web site and I love your work! I am looking forward to seeing this one come together. I am learning a lot by watching everyone elses work so "keep em coming"...

Cheryl

[idcrisis55]

Hi Cheryl, thank you very much :) I am so enjoying this workshop too and really trying to impress in my mind, what instructions, comments, and suggestions have been written. I come back frequently and reread different segments.

Hopefully, more practice will bring better results as tidbits of information sink in. Seeing everyone's work keeps me inspired :).

Ann

[Nickel]

Ann this is a nice demo, plus I love the composition & subject,
waiting to see more:) Nickel

[idcrisis55]

Thank you for looking, Nickel :). I wasn't trying to do a demo lol, just wanted to show that I am trying to follow John's steps as best I can.

For me, the hardest part will be putting paint over what is already there without disturbing totally the layer beneath. Don't get me wrong, all of it is rather daunting, such as establishing the composition, getting the values, etc.

Good luck in your move. I wish you had your paints so you could share in the homework :D.

[rosebard]

Ann your landscape is coming along beautifully. The colors are beautifulll!!!

:) :) :)

[rosebard]

Using lemon yellow, ivory black, alizarim and white. First lay in layer.

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/26-Jul-2006/54461-demopera_451.jpg

[Nickel]

How cute Rose! :) I really like this! Nickel


psst.......those are really small cookies........just kidding.....:)

[idcrisis55]

Thanks Bard :) I really like your lay-in with the values you have started. Looking forward to seeing your progress.

Ann

[rosebard]

Nickel only thinks of food. Bad girlllll!!! LOLOLOLOLOL

This layer I did over week ago. Once I have the refinment done I will tell you what the story about it. :)

Thanks Ann. Never painted a hand, it is scary. Sure doesnt look much like a hand yet. Hope it does in the next layer.

Terry by the way, saw your blog. You got pretty cool hands painted there. :)

[Nickel]

Hey there! Yep, because of food Rose, I am working on a new project "hehe"
food related. I think your hand is coming along, at least we got off of feet. ;)

Yes Ann, me too :) saw your site! Cool indeed!

I know we all are working on our studies of limited palettes and learning colors that John has been so kind to teach us; if you want to, please go ahead and start a thread if you want to keep a focus on a specific painting you are working on. This thread is getting really long and I wouldn't want anyone to feel they have gotten lost. I am so happy to see everyones work. It is really wonderful to experience this learning with you all. Nickel

[idcrisis55]

Thanks Nickel :)

Ann

[TTHOMPIE]

Thanks guys. I’m now enjoying watching all your work. I never really knew about the triangle in the face. I’m almost on overload with all this new information coming at me.

I’m going to pay close attention to what all of you are doing. Remember to yell at each other if you see someone do something totally wrong....so that the rest of us don't go ahead and pick up bad habits.

I’ll attempt a landscape next month when I’m on vacation again.

[stoney]

Thanks guys. I’m now enjoying watching all your work. I never really knew about the triangle in the face. I’m almost on overload with all this new information coming at me.

I’m going to pay close attention to what all of you are doing. Remember to yell at each other if you see someone do something totally wrong....so that the rest of us don't go ahead and pick up bad habits.

I’ll attempt a landscape next month when I’m on vacation again.

Face triangle?

The heat is draining, but at least it isn't muggy!

[Nickel]

Stoney it's muggy here ;) east coast girl here :)

Ann it is Anita moving, not me, :) my roots are deep here in the Tarheel State.

Terry nice job that you get another vacation next month, that is cool!
I'll be watching for your landscape.:thumbsup:

I've pulled a couple of images from the reference library and will use them to compile my landscape. Still I take a lot of time to think what I want before I commit to paint.

See you guys & girls , Nickel

[idcrisis55]

Ann it is Anita moving, not me, my roots are deep here in the Tarheel State.


Oops! :o Thanks Nickel for setting me straight and I hope Anita, that your move goes smoothly :).

Looking forward to seeing what you decide to paint, Nickel.

Ann

[Nickel]

No problem Ann, I am hoping to paint a misty landscape, maybe some water, maybe a mountain range or a city skyline, or try to include all of the above plus a figure too. :) It's all in the details you know? :) Nickel

Plus I have to figure out how I want to keep these ideas
Simple.........

[idcrisis55]

I'm looking forward to seeing it Nickel. The painting sounds good with the mist and figures. I'm having a terrible time with the trees but will keep trying to get them to resemble trees.

Ann

[TTHOMPIE]

Stoney.....in answer to your question "Face Triange"? Here was what Ivan said.

.



You are soooooo right, I didn’t see it. Teachers in drawing class told us a thousand times always pay attention to the triangle (eyes, nose and mouth). I forgot the first rule, never get lost into details, always keep a good overview of the whole picture.

Ivan

[idcrisis55]

Here is where the landscape homework is today. I have to admit I am not happy with it simply because of my own lack of abilities.

I know there is much that could be done to make this better so help/critiques would be much appreciated. I didn't do the fog/mist as I decided I would like to concentrate on painting trees. I may yet add it but again, may not :D

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/28-Jul-2006/15669-07-28-06NorthPond_004_500.jpg

Thanks,
Ann

[Nickel]

Hi Ann, don't worry. :)
You are doing good.

A suggestion to think about, the front tree on the right, is that your main subject? If so, make it a little more colorful with warm colors, maybe a tad darker in values. The tree on the left, darken the value to lead from this tree to your right tree. Think of a triangle, left to right, where will you lead the eye for the top of a triangle? I would think maybe punch up the tree on the left middle plain next to the trail, and from there lead me to the pond. I hope this makes sense. I am not sure, remember John writing about the vertical in a landscape. Maybe add a rock pile under the tree on the front right to enhance a focal point. Take a piece of clear plastic/glass the size of your canvas, try ideas on this over your painting to see how ideas will work instead of working directly on the canvas, I guess if you have a photo program you can do it in this. I have enough trouble with painting in rl to worry with learning software :) Hope my ideas are somehow a benefit.

Nickel

[idcrisis55]

Thanks Nickel, I will read your comments again and see what I can do :)

Ann

[Nickel]

Hi Ann, can't wait to see what you decide.
I am sure you will do great.


I am going to work tomorrow if possible.....
Everybody always wants momma......

lol, that's ok, will post as soon as I have something.

Nickel

[stoney]

Stoney.....in answer to your question "Face Triange"? Here was what Ivan said.

Ah....Thankee kindly.
[tip o hat]

[rosebard]

Ann, I like your landscape. Keep up the great work. My head is stuck with still life, floral and portrait this year. But good info to think about it for next year lessons. :)

ok, here is my second layer. Thanks for looking. :)

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/30-Jul-2006/54461-quantovalhopinturalayer2.jpg

[idcrisis55]

Rose, that is a nice warm layer which will give a wonderful glow to the next layer which I am anxiously waiting to see. Like you, I like still life painting as well and would like to start gearing for figure work. First though, landscapes.

Here is my next and probably last installment of the landscape which does not much resemble the first posted painting. I need to go back and read more of John's lessons and then need to do some plein air studies.

Everyone is more than welcome to really hash this painting if you want because to me it is a mess. I obviously don't follow the terrain well nor check values. As you can see, I didn't look at the reference photo very often. It is back to the drawing board and more practice with landscapes and oils.
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/30-Jul-2006/15669-07-30-06NorthPond_017_500.jpg
Thanks for the encouragement and support,
Ann

[Nickel]

Ann you did really great bringing the focus to the trees! My eye is bounching looking and taking in the whole landscape. The trees are really pretty! It is a very interesting painting! I often stop looking at my reference photo. It is not the painting. I don't remember who I read that said that, but, they wrote to the effect you have to think about what is inside the four walls of your canvas. That is what has to become real. I think you really worked hard and it shows. The lake came out really nice too! The tree's reflection in the water is a nice effect. Thanks for showing the update!

Hi Rose, I like this painting alot. Is this the same update as in the circle thread? I loved the story you told about the children and how this represents their situation. It is a powerful statement you've painted. I can almost cry and wish there was someway to see a tear drop in this painting to show how sad a life. The colors looks really good. Are you using color bridging ?

Nickel

[idcrisis55]

Thanks Nickel, you have been very encouraging and supportive. :)

I read the Circle thread last night Rose, the way you described how it is for so many children, begging in the streets, is heartbreaking. It adds so much more to your painting, knowing the meaning and purpose of the painting.

Ann

[bjs0704]

Ann - I like how your landscape looks. It’s like a beautiful autumn day!
:clap: :clap:

Rose - I really loved the idea behind your painting. You’ve done really well with it. :clap: :clap:

It’s great seeing all of your work. You really are a great group! All of you work together so well!:clap: :clap:

Barb Solomon:cat:

[stoney]

Rose, that is a nice warm layer which will give a wonderful glow to the next layer which I am anxiously waiting to see. Like you, I like still life painting as well and would like to start gearing for figure work. First though, landscapes.

Here is my next and probably last installment of the landscape which does not much resemble the first posted painting. I need to go back and read more of John's lessons and then need to do some plein air studies.

Everyone is more than welcome to really hash this painting if you want because to me it is a mess. I obviously don't follow the terrain well nor check values. As you can see, I didn't look at the reference photo very often. It is back to the drawing board and more practice with landscapes and oils.
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/30-Jul-2006/15669-07-30-06NorthPond_017_500.jpg
Thanks for the encouragement and support,
Ann


/cue 'Artistic License.' :clap:

[idcrisis55]

Thanks Barb and Stoney, definitely appreciate the encouragement. :)

Ann

[Lap3]

I know that it is late but I just started on my landscape from the workshop. I don't know if anyone is still watching this thread but I thought that I would post. Today I just finished the base/undercoat.
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/31-Jul-2006/80286-IMG_1977.jpg

I thought that I would also show you the resource photo so that you can see where it is going.....hopefully....
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/31-Jul-2006/80286-Fav.jpg

It is the creek behind my house after a summer rain....

Cheryl

[idcrisis55]

Hi Cheryl, you definitely have my attention. I like what you have done with the undercoat. Nice gradations, ripples in the water, contrasts. Looking forward to the update.

Ann

[rosebard]

Thanks everyone for the comment on my painting.

Good job on the landscape I think Ann. :)

Hey Cheryl, I am sure still watching this thread. I cant critique on landscape, but I have a feel you going well. All I can say.

I understand Nickel the principle behind color briding, but not sure I have being able to apply it yet on practice. But I have keept it in mind when I was painting.

[Nickel]

Hi Cheryl I am still watching too :)
Lovely stream to paint, I like how you have started!

Hi Rose, yes, me too, I am just learning with you all this method of mixing.
Just asking how it is going, it is a new habit to learn but one well worth learning.

Are we all still keeping our new habit of an ordered palette? :D
My biggest change still is keeping my brushes wiped and clean before going back into the paint nut. :)
Good deal!

Hi John, we miss you here! Hope all is well and things are progressing smoothly so you can return here to soon walk around the classroom.

We will bake you some cookies.....Nickel

[Lap3]

I am doing pretty well with the orderly pallet and cleaning the mixing area to continue, but I sure seem to get a lot of paint on my face and hands :lol:
I guess I am just really getting into this stuff too much :evil: But I must say I really like the blue work shop paper towels that John suggested. They hold sooooo much more that I forget to change them out. (I think that is how I am getting so much on my face :lol: :lol: :lol: )

Thanks for the comments and looking. I have to make a trip to the supply store to get some more black before I can continue...

Cheryl

[Nickel]

Hey Cheryl,

Don't want you to think you are the only one
with paint on your face....lol

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/01-Aug-2006/39040-blackeye.jpg

I believe that is what is call a blackeye of burnt umber or something :lol:

I like those blue towels too! ;)

Nickel

[Lap3]

Ha Ha I love that pic. My husband comes home every nite and just laughs at me......."you've got paint all over your face".

I never look into a mirror.....gave up on that years ago :lol: :lol:

Cheryl

[Nickel]

I really should look in the mirror too, but don't ......I understand this competely. :D Nickel

[stoney]

I know that it is late but I just started on my landscape from the workshop. I don't know if anyone is still watching this thread but I thought that I would post. Today I just finished the base/undercoat.


I thought that I would also show you the resource photo so that you can see where it is going.....hopefully....


It is the creek behind my house after a summer rain....

Cheryl

Good light, depth, and texture at this early stage. :clap: :clap:

[Lap3]

Okay, I worked all day on it. Not sure if I am finished. I think I need to live with it for a day or two to decide. Not sure about the intense blue green on the right foreground. I wanted it to come into the foreground but I may have gotten it too intense. Please give me any suggestions that you may have. I have seen so many shades of green that I am color blind at this point. Need a fresh eye....

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/02-Aug-2006/80286-Creek_after_Summer_Rain.jpg

and Nickle, for your viewing pleasure :lol: here is a small pic of the pallet as neat as I could keep it. A lot of greens and a lot of values.

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/02-Aug-2006/80286-pallet.jpg

Cheryl

[Nickel]

haha, you are wayyyyyyy tooo organized on that palette! :D
much better than me, I've had a really bad day at messing up with
painting....I need help to find a good ground that dosn't soak up
my paint. I know I can use an oil primer, and just should.

So far the forward green looks good Cheryl. It looks like what you intended.
I like the effect too. Nice painting! Nickel

[bjs0704]

Cheryl - The colors and sense of light in your painting is so beautiful! Great job!:clap: :clap: :clap:

Barb Solomon:cat:

[rosebard]

Chery great job on the landscape! I loved the effect you achieved there.

I loved seeing the landscape paintings. You guys are rocking. Where is Terry?? Isnt she going to do landscape aswell??

Looking forward to it Terry. :)

I have a portrait of two friends I am going to start soon. But before rereading the all lesson again on portraits. :)

[idcrisis55]

Cheryl, I love the light, the way my eye moves through the painting and how fresh your painting looks. And that palette, so neat and clean :D, amazing!

Ann

[TTHOMPIE]

It's been way too hot to paint. I'm just trying to stay alive. Me and the dog pant together.

You guys are doing such a great job!!

Cheryl....your painting looks great! What you have to do now is see if you can do another great painting without making 218 individual piles of green. :)

[stoney]

Okay, I worked all day on it. Not sure if I am finished. I think I need to live with it for a day or two to decide. Not sure about the intense blue green on the right foreground. I wanted it to come into the foreground but I may have gotten it too intense. Please give me any suggestions that you may have. I have seen so many shades of green that I am color blind at this point. Need a fresh eye....

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/02-Aug-2006/80286-Creek_after_Summer_Rain.jpg

Cheryl

Looks *very* good. Love the water. What does catch my eye are the two trees midground right. For me, they're too symmetrical via the negative space between [bottom half] and the same along with trunk sweep in upper half. Perhaps have the upper half of the left one curve right?

[Lap3]

Thanks Terry. I am still working on the paint mixing. I am still struggling with the values and by mixing them in steps I am able to keep them straight. You have to remember, this is 24x30" and I hate to run out of a color. But I must admit, I am wasting a lot of paint.

Thanks Stoney, I hadn't noticed that. I think that those are two grape vines growing up into the trees. But I do see what you are saying. Curving the left one to the right would definitely break up that negative space into some interesting shapes. I will adjust that during the next session. I really appreciate the C & C's.

Cheryl

[Nickel]

Hi ya, here a little painting I did today, from an old charcoal study
wet paint, titanium, mars black, cad red, on a blue tone.

Just what do you think? I know I can blend it more out.
How does the compositon look?

Remember this is a quickie so it's a painting I am sure is not perfect so
any advice from your beautiful eyes?

Thanks Nickel

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/04-Aug-2006/39040-7resized.jpg

[Lap3]

Looks nice and feels really chilly. (which is good for August!!) I really like the sky and the red at the horizon. The white foam in the foreground looks great. I am in no way a good analyst for critiques. I guess my only suggestion would be to throw a bit more sky colors into the water. I just love the reds and blues and would like to see more of them. Nice job!

Cheryl

[stoney]

Thanks Stoney, I hadn't noticed that. I think that those are two grape vines growing up into the trees. But I do see what you are saying. Curving the left one to the right would definitely break up that negative space into some interesting shapes. I will adjust that during the next session. I really appreciate the C & C's.

Cheryl

You're more than welcome. Just glad I was able to be of some small assistance.

[Nickel]

Thanks Cheryl, it's 103 outside....need something chilly! :D

Here is my palette

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/04-Aug-2006/39040-Image009.jpg

and my sketch

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/04-Aug-2006/39040-Image008.jpg

:wave:

[saturnine]

Think i messed up
started a new thread in the Oil painting Forum whereas I should have posted here in the first place...........anyway

wanted to join in the fun as well
first a landscape.........something chilly nickel?
heres 'Camp Arctic' :Dhttp://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/05-Aug-2006/69640-icecampwip-1-1.jpg

used cad red light, crimson lake, cobalt blue, lemon yellow and ivory black
about four hours into it

this next one i started today, managed to take some snaps of the stages
the ref. photo first followed by the painting steps
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/05-Aug-2006/69640-ref_photo-goundars_wip.jpgstarted with a few lines in pencil......felt bolder and continued drawing straight with paint(something i have never dared to attempt before)http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/05-Aug-2006/69640-goundarswip-oil_line_sketch-4-1.jpghttp://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/05-Aug-2006/69640-goundars_wip-darks-both-3-1.jpghttp://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/05-Aug-2006/69640-goundars-intermediate-wip2-2.jpghttp://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/05-Aug-2006/69640-goundarswip-1-3-both_full_colour.jpgthink maybe i should have stopped here:(
feel i muddied up my colours with the modifications d the man (belowhttp://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/05-Aug-2006/69640-goundarswip-4-1-a_little_further_on_mrG-both.jpg

the paintings' midtones are slightly higher in value

[Lap3]

adi- nice work. I personally like the last step. I think that the step up in the midtones added a great deal to the depth of the painting. I love the light effect coming from the left and the completely lost edges of the faces. Really shows off the light. Great effect!!
Cheryl

[bjs0704]

Cheryl - The light and color of your river painting keeps getting better and better! It’s so beautiful!

Nickel -I love the almost neutral palette in this scene! Great job!

It is a nice thing to see when the weather is so hot!

Adi - I really love the sunset in this painting! The sky is gorgeous!

You have got a nice start on your double portrait!

Barb Solomon:cat:

[saturnine]

thanks cheryl and barb for your comments

cheryl was just marvelling over your painting...........was wondering what colours you used to achieve the seemingly infinite shades of green!!!
amazing
regards
adi

[Nickel]

Hi Saturnine 'Camp Arctic' looks lovely. Rather chilly indeed!!!!:D
I like it this painting very much. Nice space.....:thumbsup:

Also enjoyed seeing steps in your portraits!

Hi Barb! :D

Nickel

[Lap3]

Adi: Thank you so much for your comments. My pallet was probably not as limited as some here. I used cad red med, alizarin, cad yel med, cad lemon, thalo blue, white and black. Mixing black or blue with any of the cad's gives you a green. And I did several combinations and tried to mix several values of each color that I came up with try to get the depth that I wanted.

Barb: Thank you also for your kind words. I am going to visit my daughter in Delaware so will be away for about a week. Maybe when I come back I will see this fresh enough to finish it off.

Cheryl

[AnnieSV]

I've been following the workshop. I've learned alot. Here is a landscape using John's recommended palette - Cad. yel. pale, Cad. red light, colbalt blue, and mars/ivory black. I'm not thrilled with the composition but this study was to practice using a limited palatte. Please comment. I know I have a lot to learn! :rolleyes:

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/06-Aug-2006/74705-Pond_at_Lane_Ranch_Sun_Valley.jpg

[Lap3]

AnnieSV:

I love the colors. Very fresh. The rosey hill adds a lot of interest. My only comment would be that your colors need to get stronger as you come into the foreground. As John talked about atmospheric perspective. Your color values in the distance are great and very high key (light values). But the value/intensity of color in the group of trees behind the water appears to be the same or maybe lighter in the bushes in the foreground. You will be surprised at how much depth you will get in the painting by strengthening these colors (darkening the values) in the foreground.

Cheryl

[AnnieSV]

Great comment. Sometimes you get so involved in a painting that you
overlook the obvious! Thanks so much!!!

[Lap3]

AnnieSV: I know what you mean. I can work on something all day long and think I've done a pretty good job. My husband can take one look at it and tell me exactly what is wrong with it. I usually have to bite my lip and get away from it for awhile. When I come back I can see that he was right. But then again he always is..........:evil: :evil: :evil: :D
But I think your painting is really VERY NICE:thumbsup: Didn't mean to sound too picky:wink2:
Cheryl

[bjs0704]

Hi Everyone!

Annie - That palette worked great for the landscape that you've painted! It's lovely! Great job!:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

I've just moved all three threads from John Cox's workshop to the Projects subforum of the Classical forum. I'm doing this so that they don't slip to the back pages. This way everyone who wants to can keep working.

Everyone's work is gorgeous! You are really a great group!

Barb Solomon:cat: