Florida Series Painting #3 - WIP (Need help with name)

[C_Line]

Okay, I decided since I had taken break from flowers for the last few paintings, and I knew I wanted to paint this one, I'd go ahead and start this as my 3rd in the Florida series. I'm not sure what the name of this plant is, but it's in the tropical / orchid building at the Marie Selby Botanical Garden in Sarasota, Florida. I couldn't find the label anywhere, so Howard, or anyone...if you know the name of this specimen, please let me know!

I decided to approach this as a "grisaille" effort and so I printed my photo in greyscale, sketched in with pencil on the 16" x 20" canvas as shown below and started my greyscale painting tonight - really just blocking in values and establishing the layout a bit. I'll continue to work this up to a "completed" stage in greyscale before layering in colors.

Here's my reference photo:

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/29-May-2007/94054-Selby_Gardens_-_Pink_Flower.jpg

Here's a photo of the sketched stage:

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/29-May-2007/94054-Pink_Flower_Selby_Gardens_Sketch.JPG

Here's as far as I got tonight with start of grisaille:

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/29-May-2007/94054-Pink_Flowers_Selby_Underpainting_5-29-07.JPG

[linda28]

I know this is gonna be a gorgeous painting.This is the one i hoped you pick! Cant wait to see it.

[*Violet*]

ooooo ... nice ... i wanna see how this one goes too ... :)

[rmc]

fab graiseillle - perfect subject for one and I'm delighted to see that you've kept it relatively loose using big brushes - looking forward to updates!!!!!!!

[Anthony Dunphy]

Wow...a grisaille:) Tell my Celeste...is there anything you cannot paint?:) Beautifull!!!

[C_Line]

Well I hope not to let all down! As values are fundamentally so important to a well-executed painting, I thought this to be the perfect painting in which to demonstrate seeing the different values.

[jan409]

I like the start, am anxious to see it completed. Jan

[swampborn]

Oh, I'm going to enjoy watching the progress on this one. I don't know what the flower is but it is beautiful. I would call it "In the Pink." I really learn a lot from ya'll when you do these WIP's. Thanks.
Gail

[dribear]

YAY! A WIP. I learn so much from them. It looks wonderful so far.

Question: Is a grisaille just a black and white painting with the correct values rendered?

[debsn2paintn]

Can't wait! :)

[C_Line]

Hi all...glad you're excited about this one and I hope it will be helpful. Yes, Dr. Ibear that's exactly what a grisaille is. I suppose you could just mix black & white...I actually made my greys...I started with Winsor blue and burnt sienna & white - it was too brownish...ended up mixing all sorts of things to get a neutral (can't remember all the colors...you know what happens though when you mix all the colors on the color wheel...mud...so I got a "mud" I liked). Then I just added white to lighten as necessary or black to darken.

Once I get this well established and through to a completed painting, I'll start glazing in colors.

BTW - I did NOT seal my pencil sketch before painting & it's fine. Working in layers precludes the need to seal I think.

When you work from a black and white photo at first, it really allows you to see your values more clearly even if you don't do a grisaille. You need to stand back and squint a lot to make sure you're getting it right and to check the composition too.

Probably won't get to paint tonight as we're taking a high-school graduate out for dinner for a celebration!

[Viuhti]

OMG Celeste! Are you allways this productive? Yu just keep the paintings coming. One fabulous one after another... I have only ever painted a few weeks in a row and then have to take a break for a lot longer.
This will be great too!!!

[Assaf]

Hi Celeste, the painting looks awesome so far. Also, I recommend umber paints for grisalle (the new pale umber I bought seems amazingly muddy... I think it's perfect for this type of thing).

And for the name I suggest Pink Missiles. :-)

[C_Line]

Pirjo - I'm addicted. I've painted all my life but never so steadily since last Fall. I used to paint more in watercolor, but swung pretty much full time to acrylics. A local contest win increased my confidence to a new level and so I started painting more. The more I painted, the more practice, the better I felt about the results. Someday I hope to paint full time and so to that end I try to paint something 3-4 days a week. Practice has increased my speed and stamina. I love to learn and try new things - everyone here has taught me SO much! (P.S. I also have no children and a very supportive, non-demanding husband who loves to see me paint...so that helps me indulge my "habit").

Assaf...in fact raw umber was thrown in the mix! Thanks for the tip.

Okay I have two names "In the Pink" "Pink Missiles"...both very good! Thanks...I'm still looking for the botanical name...anyone know?

[Tazart]

Hi Celeste :wave:
Beautiful subject, you have a great eye & photography skills - this is definitely going to be another stunner, I can't wait to see how it progresses (been away/super busy for awhile & currently working backwards to check out your others in the series & about a million other posts !!!)

[Clever]

Celeste this will be lovely like all your work. Post this over in the Cafe...I bet Howard will know the name of it in an instant.

[LisaArt]

Hi Celeste, Looking awesome so far! Beautiful flowers...Cant wait to see it finished :)

[C_Line]

Thanks Taz, Margaret and Lisa. Believe it or not I worked a couple hours on this tonight but not much progress! Those bud things are going to be lots of work. I worked more on solid shapes in background I think. I'll post anyway even though not much appreciable difference here.

I do think even though the lowest flower cluster is awfully close to the bottom of the canvas (I actually moved it upwards a tad), the composition works okay since the eye seems to be drawn up towards the light...am I right with that?

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/31-May-2007/94054-Selby_Pink_Rockets_5-31-07.JPG

[CamiTampa]

Celeste
the composition works okay since the eye seems to be drawn up towards the light...am I right with that?
It certainly does, up and left right off the canvas. I do not believe this will be a problem in the final painting though because the color of the blossom will be like an anchor and
bring the eye back down to it. I envy your patience.
Cami

[mooz49]

I love this already Celeste ..... :clap:

[rmc]

It's looking good to me Celeste - it may be my screen but just a hint - it's best to keep a tone lighter in the graiseille - I'm sure you know that already - it is going to be superb:clap:

[C_Line]

Okay, good points everyone - Cami - I'm going to keep my eye on that issue and I think you're right as those blooms are such a warm color.

Thanks Anne.

Ruth - thanks for the reminder. The photo is rather dark due to late hour of taking it. However, that being said, I still need to watch my values and make sure they're not too dark for the end results to work well. That's why my attempt may be a "hybrid-grisaille" as the colors may become somewhat more opaque in the end - we'll see as she grows!

[gurleygirl]

This is fabulous already!!
Tracey

[gurleygirl]

Oh, and for a title, this is what I came up with.
"Masterpiece # __, by the fabulous, talented, skilled artiste-Celeste".

Tracey

[objectivistartist]

"The Sprites of Spring" ?

[fayre]

Looking lovely Celeste!
Your plant is Medinilla magnifica, commonly known as a javanese rhododendron and its origins are the Philippines.

[idylbrush]

Well Celeste, there you go, I was wrong. Should have gone to the garden to check it out. But, we did know I was only guessing didn't we.

They certainly are pretty.

[C_Line]

Wow! I've never heard of that before...oh my goodness, I sure can't just name it after its plant name then, can I...that's too big a handle!

Tracey...you're sweet...but I'd hold your horses on the "masterpiece"...that's too big a handle for me!

[C_Line]

Well, I was too tired to do much tonight but did work more on refining some details and then started laying in glazes of color starting with sap green & glazing medium, then some azo yellow & g.med. Then I mixed up some hookers green, sap, and burnt umber with g.med. and applied to entire dark area.

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/01-Jun-2007/94054-Pink_Rockets_-_Green_Glazing.JPG

Afterwards I just applied some Rose with glazing medium and some touches of cad yellow medium just to start on the flower areas. I should have lots of time tomorrow to paint so I hope to bring this to a much neater & richer place by tomorrow night. It is really helpful to do the grisaille though - even when I end up painting areas more opaquely in the end. It's like a pattern.

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/01-Jun-2007/94054-Pink_Rockets_-_Pink_Glazing.JPG

I plan to keep the background fairly hazy so as to focus attention on those awesome flowers.

I've been calling these "Pink Rockets"...similar to Assaf's suggestion, but still haven't decided on a final name.

[laudesan]

Looking good Celeste!! :clap:

Can't think of a name right now. my head is all stuffed up with the flu..

[nostalgia]

Beautiful as always. :)

[amaze_1101]

These jarvanese jewels are looking pretty magnificent Celeste. Can't wait for the finish.

[C_Line]

JJ - so sorry you're not feeling well...hope it doesn't last long.

Hmm..."Javanese Jewels"...that's another idea...

well, I hope by the conclusion this piece will brief life into itself and tell me what its name is!

[objectivistartist]

Hmm..."Javanese Jewels"...that's another idea... Yes - can see a nice figure with a wonderful bracing of jewelry around her neck and down between her breasts........ perhaps, if full figure, of an anklet to match.... and yes, too, florals in her hand....... and perhaps hair.....

[C_Line]

Cool Robert ... have been meditating on the name... and I'm liking it the more I think about it. With this picture in my mind and setting I hope it will transform this painting as I apply the brush to it again!

[rmc]

Javanese Jewels by name and jewel by nature!!!!!!!
this absolutely is magnificent :clap: :clap: looking forward to where you go next

[idcrisis55]

Each step of your painting is "Magnifica" to view (I like its plant name:D). Those colors in the lower parts are so pearly looking.

[Clever]

This is coming along nicely, Celeste...they kinda look like chandelier earrings to me

[Lady Carol]

Wonderful progression, Celeste. The flowers are certainly zinging.

[dribear]

incredible! I thought the graisaille was incredible and if I created that I would have signed it right then and there.

[C_Line]

I'm wondering if I should have left it at the grey stage! Ugh, this one's much harder than I imagined!

I think I've gone a bit wild with the colors as I was in the "island" mentality. Really wanted it to have a tropical feeling. This photo is fairly accurate although I think a daytime outside shot will be better. Anyway, I can't focus on this anymore tonight - so here's where I'm at. Not sure I care for the turquoise in the shadows - it just seems like the painting's missing something - can't quite put my finger on it. May just leave it alone a few days and see what it is.

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/02-Jun-2007/94054-Javanese_Jewels_6-2-07.JPG

Thanks for everyone's comments - could sure use some C&C at this point.

[CamiTampa]

I believe it's just not as vibrant as your usual stuff. I don't think there is anything wrong with it. It's pretty true to the ref.
You can make it yours, put the Celeste into it.

I really don't believe anybody is going to complain if you signed it right now. It's a wonderful painting.

Cami

[rmc]

Hey - it's coming on fantastically - you just need more layers of glazing / colour in the foliage - maybe warm some of it up a bit - I wonder whether because the flowers are so busy the top foliage needs to be a little less busy in terms of colour hues -
The flowers themselves are looking superb - you have done a great job at capturing them - who said it was going to be easy:lol: this looked like a major challenge to me:clap: :clap: :clap:

[Assaf]

Celeste, I think you need to introduce a few more powerful colors into the painting, to make it work. Purples and reds, in between the pinks, and some Hooker's green in between the softer greens. Also, the highlights at the bottom leaves could use a slightly more yellowish tone, to constrast nicely with the missiles.

[*Violet*]

hi celeste ... here's my 2 cents worth ... again, with a side x side i feel the left cluster could be enhanced with more bright buds with extreme values to them to make that cluster more 3D ... and the buds on the right cluster need more highlights/value extremes ... i like how you've lightened the large pink leaves/petals and have enhanced them with blues and purples ... they provide the flowers themselves with greater values than the photo indicates ... lastly .... perhaps those blues and purples could be brought into the upper white area? ... with a treatment quite similar to that which you incorporated into your last painting? ... a lovely lacy view of the sky as the result of more foliage criss-crossing -- not unlike the foliage that's in the reference but perhaps more added to it ?
...http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/03-Jun-2007/46454-celeste.jpg

[*Violet*]

oh heck ... i decided to play with a copy of your painting and compare it to the original to try and explain what i meant in my post above ... admittedly crudely, i tried to suggest more foliage with blue incorporated in it ... i added more buds with shadows and highlights to the left cluster ... i added highlights to the buds on the right cluster ... and i accentuated the stamens of the opening buds ... i hope you don't mind my taking this liberty to show what i mean ... regardless if you make *any* changes to your painting, it's already a beauty ... you do wonderful work and are to be admired indeed ...http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/03-Jun-2007/46454-celeste_modified.jpg

mind you ... i should have posted my changes beside your painting rather than the reference !! ... *oops* ... :lol:

[C_Line]

Excellent Violet! Just exactly what I needed ... thanks

Everyone -- you're spot on too about the intensity of colors needed. Thanks! I'll post an update when I have a chance.

[C_Line]

Not quite as elaborate changes as you recommended yet Violet, but it's getting better I think. This photo was taken inside a greenhouse looking up and so I thought the light should be rather green...right? Anyhoo...this is where I got after painting 1.5 hours or so tonight. I did go in and lighten the buds and then glaze over them clear bright mixes of Thio Violet and Napthol Crimson. Then I took a wet brush and removed some highlights. The photo again looks washed out - not as vivid as it truly is.

I think Ruth hit the nail on the head early on though as my values were probably too dark for nice glazing to begin with. I'm used to underpainting complimentary colors rather than neutrals so this has been a real learning experience for me.

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/03-Jun-2007/94054-Javanese_jewels_6-3-07.JPG

[laudesan]

Looking pretty darn Awesome to me and I LOVE the perspective!

[idcrisis55]

I agree with JJ. This is really beginning to come into its own.

[C_Line]

Thanks JJ and Ann...I appreciate your encouragement.

I'll try to take a daytime photo tomorrow for more accurate colors.

[LisaArt]

OH Celeste...SPECTACULAR...Oh you must be thrilled..its gorgeous...

[TxAggieDarlin]

It is spectacular. Wonderful work

[C_Line]

I think this photo is a bit more accurate colorwise.

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/04-Jun-2007/94054-Javanese_Jewels_6-4-07.JPG

[Linee]

The colors in this are gorgeous! I love the cool, greenhouse feel to it.

You might have answered this earilier on, but what colors did you use for your brightest pink?

[C_Line]

Linda, I've always found it tricky to get the luminous bright pink. What I've found really helped in this case was to lay a base of titanium white with a little Thio Violet mixed in (alternatively process magenta works well). Then I mix Thio Violet, Napthol Red and glazing medium and glaze that over the blossoms. It seems to give a nice bright clear color. I even take a clean wet brush and remove some of that glaze while it's still wet to reveal some of the lower base color for highlights. Then in some of the blossoms I glazed more pure napthol for the "pop" factor. I think the napthol warms up the pinks nicely.

[objectivistartist]

I like how it increases in being vivid as it works its way to the dark lower.... :thumbsup:

[*Violet*]

beautiful !!

[amaze_1101]

Celeste you are BRILLIANT! You have got that 'something' that only a few have.

There isn't anything more to say really.

[C_Line]

Thanks Robert, Violet and Elaine. This one has tired me a bit...Howard, you were right! It has been challenging...good for me though, right?

I'll probably do a bit of refining to this and then sign it and move on...I sense that it might be on the verge of overworking if not careful. I'm anxious to start painting #4 in the series...hmm, what might that be?

BTW - I think I've named this one "Javanese Jewels" that name just seems to fit nicely. Thanks Elaine and all who helped me name it!

[laudesan]

**sigh** Just beautiful!!!

[Lady Carol]

Golly, that is really nice, Celeste. Do you like it? Cause I sure do.

[C_Line]

You guys are too kind. Thanks JJ & Carol...I think I really struggled with this one and it's effected my view on it...but I do like it and think it looks nice in the series. When I get another one done in the series I might post a thread with all of them together...what do you think? (considering this series almost didn't come to life!)

[rmc]

Wow girl - this looks fantastic - love the hints of turquoise blue in the leaves and in the shadows and the different greens so well used - it has come to an awesome finish:clap: :clap: :clap:

[laudesan]

When I get another one done in the series I might post a thread with all of them together...what do you think? YES PLEASE!!!

[C_Line]

I promise, this is it on my updates for this thread! Here's the final signature and all. Subdued the lower foliage a bit and added some crisp edge highlights to increase dimensionality. And signed it of course!

"Javanese Jewels":

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/05-Jun-2007/94054-Javanese_Jewels_Final.JPG


Have briefly started #4 "Labyrinth".

[laudesan]

Love the Title and good you signed it..:D

:clap:

[idylbrush]

Nicely done. Isn't the Selby a treasure. I always enjoy getting there.

The art association had a show (I was the coordinator) titled "Selby Gardens, Familiar to Fantastic" and we had a painting day at the Selby. Artists came to the garden and painted during the open hours. It was well attended and was a success. We had nearly 300 entries for a show with 75 spaces. In my book that is a good show.

[buddingartist]

Absolutely stunning Celeste.

I liked it a lot from the grisaille stage and held up posting the congratulatory comment because I noticed in many of your threads that you never give up and continuously find the "magic" final brushstrokes/wash/color that just make all your paintings sing.

Bravo:clap:

[C_Line]

Thanks again JJ...I'll do it!

Howard, I hope it lived up to your "challenge"! Thanks for the encouragement. Oh, how I wish I could be a part of that painting day...I could spend hours at Selby, especially in the building this specimen was in, oh, and down by the Bo tree, okay and wandering through the mangrove area (where I took the photo of the Sea Grape leaves) and now know why you love it so!

What a sweet thing to say Buddingartist! You made my day!