Project Discussion: 100 Stones

[robertsloan2]

A new project has been announced in the WetCanvas! project system!

Title: 100 Stones
Project Leader: robertsloan2
Relative Difficulty: Irrelevant
Type Restrictions: Drawing
Medium: Oil pastel
Subject: Still Life
Days open for signups: Always
Maximum participants allowed: Unlimited

Description:

Using oil pastels, together we'll create 100 different studies -- sketches, paintings, drawings -- of stones from life. One stone per piece. A small pebble has within it the shapes and structures of a mountain. You can add one or as many as you want, the project will close when we have 100 stones created by everyone in it.Clear polished stones, crystals and even carved stones are all right, but it should be a stone and done from life rather than from a photo or imagination. Bits of pottery, twigs, metal and plastic don't count as stones. All entries must be done in oil pastels, though you can use techniques that combine them with other supplies like a watercolor underpainting or oil based colored pencils in details. Any surface is okay -- even painting one on a rock!

Additional Information:

For more information on the project: Click here! (http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_details&proj_id=1226)

Remember, in order to help keep the discussions on projects organized, you should post your questions, suggestions, and comments on submitted work here in this thread. By doing this, we allow other non-project efforts to not get "pushed down" by a swarm of project-related threads.

[christinemlr]

Robert

I LOVE this idea. Clever you, simple, accessible, and its going to be a fascinating gallery when done. I'll be out stone turning tomorrow...

Xina

[Pat Isaac]

Xina, don't forget you need to sign up for the project in order to participate.

Pat

[christinemlr]

Thanks again Pat - I didn't realise. so first thing - SIGN UP!

[robertsloan2]

Yay! Thanks for approving it, Pat! Xina, thanks for joining. I can't wait to see what you draw. All that talk in the Sketch thread about doing 100 sketches made me think of this -- I know I'd benefit from doing a lot more sketching.

I also have a rock on my easel that has bits of mica in it that's going to be very difficult to draw, but I want to try to convey its sparkliness. Maybe the Sennelier Iridescent White will help.

[gonehiking]

I've never signed up for a project before and was thinking that this sounded quite interesting. I started poking around and clicked on "sign up" thinking this was going to take me to a different page to actually sign up. Imagine my surprise when I saw I was already signed up. :eek: :) LOL What a fun surprise! :clap: I guess I don't need to think about joining anymore. I better start hunting for some stones.

[Pat Isaac]

That's right, when you click on sign up that is it "you are in".
Welcome...have fun and start looking...
Pat

[robertsloan2]

Gina, that's great! Thanks for joining. I just picked up a small sketchbook and my Senneliers and posted my first study.

Everyone -- you don't have to number yours while you're titling them because if two people post at the same time it could get confusing. I just numbered mine. So if yours is "pebble study number one" too, that is fine. I will be counting up the 100 myself when I look at the gallery and just count each unique study once no matter what its title is.

Also, if you have Senneliers in a set, this project is a great one for being able to use all the weird grays in the set. I know most of their sets have extra neutrals and grays that lean toward blue or green or violet or yellow. I used about four of my weird grays on my first one, so this is a lot of fun.

[Pat Isaac]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66447

Rock Study 1
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/70184/RockStudy01.jpg

What a great rock, Robert. I really like all the colors you have achieved with the grays. Those Senn grays are awesome. I also like all the facets and values of the rock.

Pat

[Scarefishcrow]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66447

Rock Study 1
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/70184/tn_RockStudy01.jpg

Great job with the shadows and grays, Robert.

Bill

[robertsloan2]

Thanks! I'm having so much fun with this. At last a reason to sort through my uncatalogued unlabeled rock collection. I have some fossils that I might do later on in this project too, never did get a good study of my dinosaur bone and its surface is so interesting. I might put that under the magnifier and not bother with its edges, just show the sliced and polished middle.

[christinemlr]

How wonderful those weird greys are Robert. Its beautiful.
I don't quite know how this project system works, how do you do the comment regarding this entry link thing?
Xina

[Pat Isaac]

You click on the link above the post with the image. It says regarding this entry.

Pat

[christinemlr]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66447

Rock Study 1
Another comment so I can do it properly. The 2 shadows work nicely and help the solid form of the rock, and it does have a glittery look so must be even nicer IRL with a real glitter.


http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/70184/tn_RockStudy01.jpg

[truck driver]

I gotta find a rock.. I suggested using the hardest object in the house, which is prlly my wonderfull wifes head. but that prlly wont work.

RG

[Pat Isaac]

Don't think so......:eek:

Pat

[Herb]

I gotta find a rock.. I suggested using the hardest object in the house, which is prlly my wonderfull wifes head. but that prlly wont work.

RG

:lol: :lol: RG, don't you get enough of sleeping in the truck by yourself when you're on the road? :lol: :lol:

[Herb]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66447

Rock Study 1
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/70184/tn_RockStudy01.jpg

Beautiful stone, Robert. I really like the enhanced color. I'm impressed with all the subtle texture you achieved.

On a general note, I think this project was a great idea! I was totally unaware of the project system until Pat started your OP Retrospective. I think it's a good way to get more activity in the OP forum...and it seems to me I am already seeing lots of new names.

[Pine Cone]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66447

Rock Study 1
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/70184/RockStudy01.jpg

What a great project - I just signed up YAY!!! My first Wet Canvas project :) And I love this stone you have started us out with..... great double shadow and love the sheen you achieved. I will be using Senneliers as well. New for me as I normally use Corel virtual pastels (Painter X) but this past year I've been buying up non-virtual supplies and trying them out - including a bunch of scary but lovely Senneliers WooHoo!!! So we'll see what happens - what a great way to learn - I LOVE LOVE LOVE stones of all types!!! (I live in the shadow of the Rockies - and they don't call them that for nothing :lol:)

So thanks much for this great project, and for such an inspiring first entry.

[Fleur]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66447

Rock Study 1
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/70184/RockStudy01.jpg

Beautiful study. You've inspired me.
:clap: :clap:

PS Infact you\ve inspired me so much, I've signed up for this project and am going to unearth my oil pastels and go rock hunting with Wizzie-dog on the beach.:cat:

[robertsloan2]

Thank you! This is so great! I can't wait to see what all of you draw.

Pine Cone, I've been to the Rockies and know you have some beautiful subjects right within a stone's throw of you wherever you are in them. So cool that you're coming to oil pastels from virtual pastels. I've been intrigued by doing digital painting for some years now but started entirely with physical supplies. It'll be interesting to see what you do with your new Senneliers. They are a joy. If they get too soft and slippery you can always put the tray in the fridge for half an hour to cool them, that makes them a little more stiff.

Fleur, have fun! I can't wait to see what you and Wizzie-dog bring back and you sketch!

I love this project, it's going to be so cool. Maybe I'll poke my box of small still life stuff for another stone today and add one.

[Pine Cone]

Thanks for the fridge tip Robert!!! Very timely. I had just collected my dusty little mini-boxes that hold my Senneliers from the frostiest corner of my little apartment, and carried them over to the computer where I read your message. As I carried them, I was worrying because they were so cold. I was wondering if they would break or if they were permanently harmed from being so cold. But if you can refrigerate these puppies, then I'm sure they are good to go, and unharmed!!! I'm so happy - I'm sure that my efforts will look pretty awful, but it'll be a happy happy happy awful - like a kid in mud :) :) :)

I can't wait to see what your next stone looks like..... your first one reminds me of the tiny mica bits I used to capture from the itsy-bitsy stream on the hill behind a cabin, high in a canyon in the Rockies where we used to hike. I was just a tiny tot and I couldn't imagine that there were any greater wonders in the world than that secret stream with its bits of treasure. Indeed, that little stream continues to comfort me from its place in my memory banks -- it was probably less than a foot wide and only about an inch or two deep, but persisted year after year.....

Yikes - sorry for babbling like a brook :wink2:

[robertsloan2]

Pine Cone, that stream sounds so beautiful. I've seen small brooks and streams like that and loved them, you can see every stone on the bottom and any minnow swimming in it. The water is ice cold and so clean and tasty, not like tap water at all. Just real and pure and coming up out of the earth. I used to love the mosses that grew around them too and sometimes in them.

A larger creek with garnets in it and boulders with garnet inclusions has that place in my memory. I didn't get to keep any of the garnets I found, but now if I ever see one it carries me all the way back to that. Makes me hope to someday go back there as an adult now that I can draw and paint. I wanted to even as a little kid.

I did another stone study this morning, a white quartz pebble that I found in my yard a few weeks ago. Some of y'all ought to start drawing your pebbles soon! I'm happy everyone's joining up but looking forward to seeing rocks I didn't draw soon too!

[gonehiking]

Pat - Thanks so much for the welcome. I've been lurking in the OP forum for a while, but our old computer monitor prevented me from seeing much of the art work. Santa brought a new monitor, so I can finally see whats on it and thankfully that includes my digital pictures as well. Now I can participate.

Robert - Hello and thank you so much for starting this project. This may be just what I need to get myself going here! Just so you know, I started mine this morning.

I desperately need some help. I've no idea how to respond to entries. I need a bit more of any explanation (maybe a lot more explanation) on how to comment than what Xina was told to do. Sorry, when it comes to technology, I'm not all there. Thanks. :)

[Pat Isaac]

When someone posts an entry, such as Robert's you will see at the top of the entry, regarding this entry and then a link. click on the link and then click on comment. Make your comment and then click submit reply.....Let me know if this works for you.

Pat

[gonehiking]

Thanks Pat. I think I understand now. There is only one way to tell for sure though.

[gonehiking]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66447

Rock Study 1
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/70184/tn_RockStudy01.jpg

This rock study is beautiful. I love the colors and the touch of purple in the rock.

[gonehiking]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66466

Rock Study 2 Milky Quartz
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/70184/tn_RockStudy02.jpg

This is lovely! All the different colors you have used all meddled together. And all the different colors you've used to draw the shadow. I should learn a lot by looking at your rock studies. It will be interesting to see what I manage to come up with.

[Pat Isaac]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66466

Rock Study 2 Milky Quartz
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/70184/tn_RockStudy02.jpg

I love all the little colors that you integrated into this piece of quartz. Really gives it a glistening feel.

Pat

[Yusuke]

Hi Robert,
It's quite interesting. Happy that I can see how the oil pastels can express the rocks and stones... Personally, I've got so many rock samples around ('cause I am a geologist...:D) and then I think I can contribute.

[artastic]

Hi robert, this will be an interesting project, first because I don't normally use OPs, but am willing to learn, and what better way to practice?
and secondly , because I have a collection of polished rocks, have always been a rock hunter (inherited the trait from my parents I think)
I will post my first three sad attempts

[Pine Cone]

Bonnie - They are all three fantastic!!! I love the colors, especially the 3rd one (the rough stone). And the cast shadows are nice. Do you know what kinds of stones they are? Really neat work :)

Robert - I love your 2nd one - the milky quartz. Interesting point of view with the shadow. Nice earthy yellows/creams/whites.

You guys are motoring right along - I'm worried all 100 stones will be done before I even do one. I would like to try a jasper piece that has kind of an intricate pattern so I'm thinking I should get some Holbeins (thin sticks with sharp edges) rather than try to use my Sennelier imitation lipsticks. But the Holbeins would take time to arrive, and by the time they got here, the project would probably be done at the rate you all are going :eek: Plus which I can't really afford them :eek::eek: What to do??? I think maybe go take a nap :lol: Naps solve so many problems :D

[christinemlr]

I MADE A MISTAKE I posted an unedited scan into the project instead of my edited one intended for the 100 gallery. Please can this mistaken one be deleted, so that I don't have 2 entries for this stone?
Xina

[artastic]

Bonnie - They are all three fantastic!!! I love the colors, especially the 3rd one (the rough stone). And the cast shadows are nice. Do you know what kinds of stones they are? Really neat work :)

....:eek::eek: What to do??? I think maybe go take a nap :lol: Naps solve so many problems :D

you are too funny, yes a nap solves everything, I have no idea what kind of stones, the polished rocks are some my mom had
most are quite small, though buried under the snow is an awesome piece of amathyst, I think I better dig it out so I can paint it!

[Pine Cone]

I MADE A MISTAKE I posted an unedited scan into the project instead of my edited one intended for the 100 gallery. Please can this mistaken one be deleted, so that I don't have 2 entries for this stone?
XinaHiya Xina - There is a method which works on regular threads, but I have no idea if it works with projects because I don't know how project uploading works. (I've never uploaded a Project System photo.) I'm posting the method - you will have to decide if you can adapt it to the Project System.

Step 1 - Rename the NEW (correct) file at your location (wherever you are uploading FROM) to the EXACT same name as the wrong file was named.

Step 2 - Using the Quick Uploader (or some uploading means that does NOT involve creating a new post in a thread, go through the same steps (ON THE SAME DAY) as you did the first time, but just close out after you see it appear in the uploader window. Because at that point, even though you aren't creating a new post in a thread, you have just overwritten the SAME named/SAME dated photo with your corrected photo and that's what shows from now on in the thread where the bad one was already located.

It's like magic.

But since Wet Canvas names files according to actual-date-plus-your-title, obviously the date and title of the corrected version must match the date and title of the bad version.

Does this make sense??? I hope it can be adapted for the Project System.

[christinemlr]

Thank you Pine Cone, before I read your post I uploaded the edited version and hey presto, 2 edited versions!, so I deleted one and all is ok (I hope)

BONNIE your stones look good, but why are the images so small? its difficult to see them

[christinemlr]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66466

Rock Study 2 Milky Quartz
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/70184/tn_RockStudy02.jpg

Yes it is an intruiging little stone. Good to see it and I like the enhanced colours.
Xina

[Pat Isaac]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66486

polished 1
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/104250/tn_polishedrock1.jpg

Very nice polished rock, I like the colors you have put in throughout.

Pat

[Pat Isaac]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66487

polished rock 2
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/104250/polishedrock2.jpg

Another great rock. You are a good job with the oil pastels.

Pat

[Pat Isaac]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66488

rough sharp stone
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/104250/rock1.jpg

I especially like the colors in the cast shadow.

Pat

[artastic]

Thank you Pine Cone, before I read your post I uploaded the edited version and hey presto, 2 edited versions!, so I deleted one and all is ok (I hope)

BONNIE your stones look good, but why are the images so small? its difficult to see them

I expect because the actual drawing is only about 2 x2 inches, I will scan future 'stones' bigger

[robertsloan2]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66486

polished 1
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/104250/tn_polishedrock1.jpg

This is great. I love how you captured the smoothness of the cut and polished side, it's lovely.

[robertsloan2]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66487

polished rock 2
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/104250/tn_polishedrock2.jpg

This one is gorgeous too. Your cool blue cast shadow helps define the roundness, and so do the strong highlights on it. beautiful.

[robertsloan2]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66488

rough sharp stone
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/104250/tn_rock1.jpg

This one is spectacular. I love the way you show the cleavage curves and the way the shadows on the surface deepen it, the various markings within the stone. Beautifully done. Thanks for participating!

[robertsloan2]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66489

rock 1
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/151368/tn_rock1Jan508.jpg

Christine, I love this. You've got warm reflected light falling into one of the shadows, the double shadow is great. That marbled dark area to the lower right is so realistic, all of it, if I were a geologist I could probably tell you what the rock is by what you've drawn. Gorgeous. Much better than I've done so far.

[Pat Isaac]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66489

rock 1
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/151368/tn_rock1Jan508.jpg


You certainly don't look as if you are new to the OPs. Doing a great job, nice texture and I think you blended quite well.

Pat

[gonehiking]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66486

polished 1
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/104250/polishedrock1.jpg

This looks nice and smooth along the side. Makes me want to run my finger over it. I love looking at different kinds of rocks.

[gonehiking]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66487

polished rock 2
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/104250/polishedrock2.jpg

This has a very nice curve and roundness to it.

[gonehiking]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66488

rough sharp stone
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/104250/tn_rock1.jpg

I like the roughness and jagged points you captured with this stone.

[gonehiking]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66489

rock 1
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/151368/tn_rock1Jan508.jpg

I really like this. It appears to have its smooth areas while being rough with cracks and jaggiedness at the same time. I think you did a terrific job with your shadows.

[robertsloan2]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66499

Sedmimentary Rock 1
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/69057/tn_SedimentaryRock.JPG

Nice! I like the striations and the angle you posed it, very easy to tell striations apart from shadows of irregularities in the rocks. A subtle little point of realism is striations running through that bit of shadow on the side.

[Pat Isaac]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66499

Sedmimentary Rock 1
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/69057/tn_SedimentaryRock.JPG

I do like all the striations in the rock and your color variations.

Pat

[Yusuke]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66447

Rock Study 1
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/70184/tn_RockStudy01.jpg

Robert, it is a good idea to use the iridescent colours to express shiny surface of mica (this case, muscovite?). Nice combination with blueish shadows. Great.

[robertsloan2]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66518

Tuffaceous flint from Syria
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/51042/tn_flint.jpg

Thank you for your comment on mine. This is magnificent! I can see the curvature of the fractures. It glows where the light comes through it translucent. I've seen many artifacts in flint and other similar stones, and that glossy smooth texture it gets with all the fractures coming at distinctive curves is unmistakable.

That is wonderful, and it carries so much meaning.

Mine, I'm not sure what it is. It's from Virginia. My friend Lisa gave it to me and first called it pyrite, but it's not pure pyrite and if there is pyrite in it, it's as mixed with the rest as the mica is. There are some streaks in it and twisted striations that show it used to be sedimentary and got subjected to heat and pressure. So it's an unknown metamorphic rock.

I might try painting it again, you've inspired me!

[artastic]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66518

Tuffaceous flint from Syria
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/51042/tn_flint.jpg

wow, this is wonderfully done!!

[Pat Isaac]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66518

Tuffaceous flint from Syria
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/51042/tn_flint.jpg

Beautifully done, Yusuke. all the cracks and crevices and the luminous center are just fantastic.

Pat

[Herb]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66518

Tuffaceous flint from Syria
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/51042/tn_flint.jpg

I think you are supposed to post your drawing, Yusuke, not a reference photo. :evil: :lol: I am so impressed with your ability to mix oil pastel for just the right colors, and I am in awe of the way you handle your edges.

[Pat Isaac]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66521

cut geode
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/143492/tn_mineralgeodeoilpastel.jpg

What an interesting stone, lots of wonderful patterns and colors. There are very good OPs out there. What did you use?

Pat

[artastic]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66521

cut geode
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/143492/tn_mineralgeodeoilpastel.jpg

I love these stones, and it IS hard getting used to OPs when we love our WCs right?, struggling here myself :o

it is a wonderful rendition though

[robertsloan2]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66526

sliced striated rock-rough
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/104250/tn_slicedrough.jpg

This one is elegant! I love the sheen on the top of the sliced area, the colored striations, the wonderful detail and that little greenish bit at the tip that contrasts so great with the warm colors. I can see it echoing back up into the rest too, just not as strongly. Magnificent!

[robertsloan2]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66535

smooth side of striated rock
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/104250/tn_slicedsmooth.jpg

Elegant. I like the way the little bluish bit came up upside down, the intricate markings and the patterns. You had fun with this one.

[robertsloan2]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66521

cut geode
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/143492/tn_mineralgeodeoilpastel.jpg

Gorgeous detail. I love this kind of lacy agate pattern and you captured the brilliance of the geode's center as well as the round patterns of what were once geodes and slowly filled. Beautiful. This project is great. I'm going to have to really work hard on my next one in order to keep up with the amazing quality of these small still lifes.

[robertsloan2]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66536

rock 2 small crystal
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/151368/tn_img039.jpg

Christine, the transparency and highlighting on a crystal is one of the trickiest things to paint in any medium. Great choice of a dark background. I love the way the light is consistent and I can see it bouncing back and forth between the planes.

Reading over your comments on it, without a blender you may want to use a scraper to get crisp lines and small details. I have been using my nail clippers when I want to scrape, because there's a small blade on them shaped like a pocket knife blade but not sharp. I can put it at an angle to scrape out a fair amount with the tapered edge or use the point for very fine lines and it's saved a number of small details and picked up specks out of areas they don't belong.

Those cheap cardboard tortillons and stumps from art stores do work as blenders, I read about those in Leslie's book along with those wonderful Colour Shapers that I'm enjoying. The firm (medium gray) one works better than the white soft one on OP, but I'm going to try a Clay Shaper, which is almost black and extra firm next month.

But even with the problems you mentioned, it's gorgeous. Having a blue for a black doesn't hurt it at all, it gives a good dark value and some vibrance.

Wow. Going to definitely have to beat my best to keep up with this crowd.

[Pine Cone]

Wow, you guys have added some really neat stuff since my last comment - inspiring and beautiful work - thank you all for sharing!!!

Bonnie - I enjoyed seeing both sides of your striated sliced rock. Your paper choices were both excellent and brought out different moods and colors from within each side of the rock. Very nice work!

Xina - Double shadows seem to be a theme here and yours on Rock 1 are wonderful. Love the colors of the shadows and the rock itself. You mentioned getting into a mess, and a fine mess it is. Charming. And Rock 2 is fabulous. I think that the colors and translucent nature are gorgeous, and your idea for creating shadow and mystery worked well.

Yusuke - Wonderful work - so 3D with the excellent contrast and deep shadow. I also enjoyed the background on the rock itself. Interesting in every way.

Gina - Lovely banding. Looks like you're already getting the hang of the op's. I look forward to seeing more of your work. How cool that you found this stone on the beach!

Shelley - I love the cheerful patterning and color scheme. Although you said you didn't like using the op's, I can't tell you were unhappy by the cheerful result. What kind were you using?

[Pine Cone]

Hi again campers - I spent the last four hours or so trying to paint a little bit of Hemimorphite for this project but was simply unable to produce an acceptable result. I picked it because I thought it would be quite a bit easier in oil pastel than the piece of jasper I was originally planning to try.

I guess for me oil pastels are going to be the wrong medium for small detailed earthy objects at this point in my artistic life. I feel so bad not to be able to participate, since I love Robert's idea so very very much. But I'm just not getting any acceptable results from this medium and subject right now.

Hopefully if Robert brings this project around again in the future, I'll be more skilled and able to add my efforts to all of the beauty you folks have been creating. I hope you won't mind if I peek in here from time to time to see what you all are up to, and to learn from your talent???

[Pat Isaac]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66526

sliced striated rock-rough
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/104250/tn_slicedrough.jpg


I like the contrast between the smooth and rough sides of this rock. Nice variation of color.

Pat

[Pat Isaac]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66536

rock 2 small crystal
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/151368/tn_img039.jpg

I like all the nuances of color you have in the crystal, Xina. robert is right about the paper stumps. they work quite well and I use them a lot.

Pat

[Pat Isaac]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66535

smooth side of striated rock
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/104250/tn_slicedsmooth.jpg

Love all the variations of color and the blue shadow emphasizes the rock colors.

Pat

[artastic]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66562

rock 3 little stone with holes found on beach
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/151368/tn_img040.jpg

this is a gorgeous piece!
what is the support?

[artastic]

Hi again campers -

I guess for me oil pastels are going to be the wrong medium for small detailed earthy objects at this point in my artistic life. I feel so bad not to be able to participate, since I love Robert's idea so very very much. But I'm just not getting any acceptable results from this medium and subject right now.

Hopefully if Robert brings this project around again in the future, I'll be more skilled and able to add my efforts to all of the beauty you folks have been creating. I hope you won't mind if I peek in here from time to time to see what you all are up to, and to learn from your talent???

oh too bad, I always look forward to your wit and insight!!

OPs are a big struggle for me too, and I thought what better way to learn than join a project where I HAD to use them

hope to see you soon!

[robertsloan2]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66562

rock 3 little stone with holes found on beach
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/151368/tn_img040.jpg

Lovely. I like the way you gave depth to the holes and caught the fine thin curving shapes within them, this is gorgeous. Subtle color variations leap out at me, and the whole rock is very three dimensional. Great choice of background too.

I'm going to think about doing some on tinted paper, it's not like I don't have lots of Mi-Tientes around.

Thanks for mentioning the materials and surface in your post too. I should remember to do that every time I put one up. I should also do one again today since it's been a while since I did any.

[christinemlr]

Thank you Bonnie and Robert. Sorry I forgot to say, it was done with Sennelier OPs on Sennelier La Carte sand.

Xina

[robertsloan2]

Hi again campers - I spent the last four hours or so trying to paint a little bit of Hemimorphite for this project but was simply unable to produce an acceptable result. I picked it because I thought it would be quite a bit easier in oil pastel than the piece of jasper I was originally planning to try.

I guess for me oil pastels are going to be the wrong medium for small detailed earthy objects at this point in my artistic life. I feel so bad not to be able to participate, since I love Robert's idea so very very much. But I'm just not getting any acceptable results from this medium and subject right now.

Hopefully if Robert brings this project around again in the future, I'll be more skilled and able to add my efforts to all of the beauty you folks have been creating. I hope you won't mind if I peek in here from time to time to see what you all are up to, and to learn from your talent???

Please don't be intimidated by the amazing beauty of some of the stones others are posting. This project is not "100 stones by the best professional painters in the forum" or "An OPS Signature Members Project" or something. It's 100 stones by anyone who does them.

If you post your hemimorphite as the best you can do with it, then ask for C&C on it, I'm sure the amazing artists here will help you improve it or improve the next one that you do. I know I'd be more than willing to help. My first rocks have already been mightily overshadowed by many of the others.

That's okay though. It helps me improve mine. I'm going to be trying things I've seen on others' rocks. But please do contribute even if you aren't satisfied with your entry -- it may be a lot better than you think it is. I can't tell you that unless I see it.

Pick the easiest rock you have and then do it the best you can and post it. Then do the tougher ones or do that one again after the comments. I know I will. I am so motivated every time I see one of the gorgeous ones.

I will post one of my flops though if I get any, promise.

[Pat Isaac]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66562

rock 3 little stone with holes found on beach
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/151368/tn_img040.jpg

This is a lovely little stone. I really like the way you have shown the nooks and crannies and the variety of color. Just great.

Pat

[artastic]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66466

Rock Study 2 Milky Quartz
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/70184/tn_RockStudy02.jpg

wonderful shadows and bright smooth surface

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66574

Amethyst Crystal
http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/../Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/70184/tn_AmethystCrystal.jpg

I think this is amazing, love it! I have a big chunk of amethyst I am going to try and paint a bit of , hope it looks this good!

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66577

Small Polished Geode 1
http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/../Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/70184/tn_SmallPolishedGeode1.jpg

wonderful contour lines, very interesting rock!!

[robertsloan2]

Thanks! I love how this is turning out. Can't wait to see more from you too.

[Pat Isaac]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66574

Amethyst Crystal
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/70184/tn_AmethystCrystal.jpg

Lovely color and delineation of the crystal. Must be a beautiful piece IRL.

Pat

[Pat Isaac]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66577

Small Polished Geode 1
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/70184/SmallPolishedGeode1.jpg

Interesting shaped geode and nice color lines. I like the cast shadow.

Pat

[robertsloan2]

Thank you! I love that strange amethyst-tipped crystal point, it's been sitting out on the tray on top of my printer for months as I keep studying it. I may even try to do it considerably larger and get even more detail -- it changes so much when I turn it or when the light changes with time of day.

The little polished geode was a worry stone in my pocket for years and years. I always meant to try to do it and now I've finally gotten a good rendering. Maybe I'll do a different one today.

[robertsloan2]

I posted "Cretaceous" with a short description and also posted six progress images for it. If you want to post progress images, they don't count as part of the 100 stones for having 100 different stone studies together as a group. But if you're curious about how my stages look, check them out!

I also used it as a demo on my oil pastels site. The first colors were Indigo and Venetian Red, but I also used grays, Red-Violet, Oxide Yellow, Burnt Sienna and Burnt Umber with a little Cobalt Blue by the end. I used lots of tints on it and love the four-tint range on those now.

[Pat Isaac]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66590

Cretaceous
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/70184/tn_Cretaceous7final.jpg

What an interesting stone, Robert. Great color and I like how you brought out all the crevices in the fossil. How do you like the Holbeins?

Pat

[artastic]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66602

Cretaceous 6
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/12-Jan-2009/104250-Cretaceous6.jpg

wonderful piece, love the depth and the great blending!!

[Yusuke]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66562

rock 3 little stone with holes found on beach
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/151368/tn_img040.jpg

Nice little humble piece. This one looks like a volcanic product. You really captured this complicated shape.

[Yusuke]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66536

rock 2 small crystal
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/151368/tn_img039.jpg

You succeeded to express the luster and shape of the quartz. Painting on a black paper is so effective.

[Yusuke]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66590

Cretaceous
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/70184/tn_Cretaceous7final.jpg

You received a nice birthday gift, Robert. Sketching is a good way to tell us the story about your collection. Putting it on a table and painting the shadow carefully in rich tones are successful.

[robertsloan2]

Pat, Bonnie, Yusuke, thank you. I love the Holbeins now that I've been able to use more than one color. Those tints made it so easy. I think I was put off by needing to get a large set, but now that I have a large set I'm thrilled with it. The set of 50 at Blick would not have been adequate to the types of things I do with color.

Now I'm actually tempted to raid Jerry's for the colors I don't have, at least in the 1, 3, 5 colors that won't be discontinued. I could adapt to only two tints per hue even if I found myself using the #2 and #4 ones a lot because they were there. What I loved was having them organized like that and being able to go monochrome in the first layers -- you can see it on the progress images.

I went ahead and posted them but did not try to post my notes into the descriptions threads because my notes alternated between too cryptic and just too lengthy. I found out earlier that I can't paragraph in the descriptions on a Project post, so that means I need to fight for conciseness.

Now I want to go see if you posted any new stones!

[robertsloan2]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66604

Sliced ammonite fossil
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/51042/tn_1303.jpg

I bow to the master.

Your fossil is so real and vivid. It's as if it's sitting right on my desk. This is so beautiful. I am going to have to go back to my Holbeins, see if I can work larger and try for more accuracy because you have inspired me. This is spectacular, Yusuke.

Thank you for adding it to the project. I caught a glimpse of another good one in passing too, I'll go comment.

[robertsloan2]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66603

Halite from Mongolia
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/51042/tn_1562.jpg

This one is lovely. You conveyed how translucent-transparent it is, it glows and has such gorgeous color and detail. I look at the cast shadow and see some of why, the light just pours through it to color the cast shadow. When I didn't notice that, my mind registered it as truth -- clear mineral, not solid opaque mineral.

All three of yours are fantastic. I see you did these a while back and dated them, thanks for including them in the project. You're inspiring me to work harder at conveying the textures and more accurately on shape.

[Pat Isaac]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66604

Sliced ammonite fossil
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/51042/tn_1303.jpg

Wonderfully done Yusuke. I love the luminescence you obtain in your rocks.

Pat

[Pat Isaac]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66603

Halite from Mongolia
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/51042/tn_1562.jpg

Love the color of this one, Yusuke and the reflected color also.

Pat

[Underwater]

Do we submit the process (prepatory sketches) or the final product?

[Pat Isaac]

You first have to sign up for the project and then you can submit either progress or final images. Go to the beginning of the thread and click on the click here link.
Hope to see you stone images.

Pat

[artastic]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66609

Beach stone
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/35760/tn_stone.jpg

this is a beautiful piece, great color and dimension!

[artastic]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66603

Halite from Mongolia
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/51042/tn_1562.jpg

what beautiful color! you have a great way with these OPs
Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66604

Sliced ammonite fossil
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/51042/tn_1303.jpg

what an interesting piece, wonderfully contoured

[robertsloan2]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66609

Beach stone
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/35760/tn_stone.jpg

Pat, this is great. I love the strong three dimensional shape, the subtle shading, the colors that play in the shadow side and the way it's backlit. Your common beach pebble is highlighted into something wonderful. This sort of small treasure found its way into my pockets so many times.

I can remember every one of them looking at this one. You managed a harmonious blue and orange color scheme that works, maybe just the choice of the stone became the first part of this painting's success. Incredible.

I love learning from this project, every other stone painting posted is making me think about how I paint rocks. You caught that slight hollow on the shadow side, rounded and worn down by water but distinctly there in its original cleavage by how you shaded it. Way cool.

[robertsloan2]

Do we submit the process (prepatory sketches) or the final product?

You can submit the progress images to the project too as soon as you sign up for it. I did on the Cretaceous Leaf Fossil one since I had so many different stages scanned. Once it's done it'd be great to see the final version. If you click on one of the images, then click on "100 Stones" link at the very top it'll take you to a page about the project where among the links at the bottom is the signing-up link.

Welcome aboard! Looking forward to what you do with your stones! Please do note the brand of oil pastels used, the surface and anything relevant like special tools or washing it with water or odorless turps.

[artastic]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66655

Black and White Rock
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/70184/tn_BlackWhiteRock.jpg

this looks very 3d with all the wonderful shadows and crevices

[Pat Isaac]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66655

Black and White Rock
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/70184/tn_BlackWhiteRock.jpg

Nice rough feel to this rock, Robert. I like all the crevices and the cast shadow is great.

Pat

[robertsloan2]

Thanks! I might do this one again, it's still up on my easel. Just turn it in a different direction and put it on a different background. When I flipped it over I saw a cool pattern.

[artastic]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66664

Crystal Sketch
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/70184/tn_CrystalBig.jpg

your 'bad stone drawing' is better than my 'good stone drawing'

[Pat Isaac]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66664

Crystal Sketch
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/70184/tn_CrystalBig.jpg

I would love to see this crystal IRL. I'll bet it is gorgeous with that purple top. I find all the black a little disconcerting in this take on the crystal. Kind of takes away from its beauty.

Pat

[Yusuke]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66655

Black and White Rock
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/70184/tn_BlackWhiteRock.jpg

Nice work, Robert. I have commented that "Nice tonal study on tonalite.:lol: " in the weekly sketch thread before visiting the project page, but I found I was not very wrong...:) According to your explanation, it seems like it is a kind of granite. Tonalite is the one with little K-feldspar of granite. Anyway, the round shape of this pebble is well depicted.

[Yusuke]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66609

Beach stone
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/35760/tn_stone.jpg

Pat, gray background worked so well. I wonder what this pebble is... I like the strong contrast.

[Pat Isaac]

Thanks, Yusuke. I have no idea what it is, but those are pretty much the colors.

Pat

[artastic]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66675

Malachite cat
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/51042/tn_754.jpg

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66676

Soapstone cat
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/51042/tn_741.jpg

these are beautifully drawn, I am especially fond of the soapstone

[Pat Isaac]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66675

Malachite cat
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/51042/tn_754.jpg


Nice rendering of this carved cat. I like the shine you have achieved.

Pat

[Pat Isaac]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66676

Soapstone cat
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/51042/tn_741.jpg

Such a delicate rendering and I like your use of the complements.

Pat

[robertsloan2]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66675

Malachite cat
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/51042/tn_754.jpg

Yusuke, this is beautiful. I love how the depth and three dimensional form of this malachite sculpture comes through in it. On top of that, I'm a cat lover so seeing this gorgeous little cat statue has an extra element of delight!

[robertsloan2]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66666

Amethyst rock
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/104250/tn_amathyst1.jpg

Artastic, this one is so bright! I love what you did with the blues and violets in it, and the contrasting warm earth tones where its matrix is. You caught the luminosity of an amethyst so well here.

[robertsloan2]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66676

Soapstone cat
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/51042/tn_741.jpg

The shadowing on this one is more pronounced than on the malachite cat, still wonderful and I think it's just the difference in the stones. The little cracks you picked out, the streaks of darker stone filling them are gorgeous too. It's so clear what kind of stone it is.

Did you carve these two cat statuettes or purchase them somewhere? They are very, very cool!

[robertsloan2]

Pat, thanks for your critique. I think next time I draw the amethyst crystal I'll try a different background on it and see how it goes, you could be right about the black. I was only doing it because of what it was sitting on at the time I did that sketch, a black object, and the shadow on it ran in an odd direction very near the crystal by the time I was done.

I might try it in artificial lighting next and set it on a toned background or white again so that I have more control of the setup.

[Pat Isaac]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66666

Amethyst rock
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/104250/tn_amathyst1.jpg

What a lovely stone with so many facets and colors....

Pat

[Colorix]

Gorgeous rocks! This thread Rocks!

Um, I'm thinking of joining, but there was one thing I didn't get, is it 100 stones for the group, or per person?

Charlie

[Pat Isaac]

I think it is for the group as I understand it.

Pat

[Scattykat]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66577

Small Polished Geode 1
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/70184/SmallPolishedGeode1.jpg

cool mineral...:thumbsup:

[robertsloan2]

Thanks, Shelley!

Charlie, it's 100 stones for the group. Put in as many as you like. If it was 100 stones per artist I would've just started a thread for it declaring I was going to draw 100 stones and asking others to make the pledge. I thought that would be a bit much. It's cool to do just one or as many as you want to.

We are almost a third of the way there now too!

[robertsloan2]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66700

River Rock
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/71766/tn_RiverRock.jpg

Herb, this one's great. I love the boomerang shape and the brown background you chose to set it off. You caught plenty of detail in the striations and the smooth graceful lines of the stone. Those dark holes or inclusions in the center are a perfect focal point and you did something so cool with the contrast around them. Very true to life and fascinating.

[Pat Isaac]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66700

River Rock
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/71766/tn_RiverRock.jpg

Well, Herb, I think you have done quite well with this rock. The crevices and holes are just great and I love the sublte color.

Pat

[JTMB]

Hi everyone!

Well, here's my entry into the project. I first tried a round rock with unique red and gray color combinations. But, I didn't like my first completion of it (the round rock looked rather flat, actually!) and so found another one, which turned out a bit better. I had fun doing this - great practice. Done with Senneliers and Holbeins on Canson watercolor paper, 9x12.

John

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/19-Jan-2009/165640-1242-S3-RockStudyForWetCanvasOP-Jan,09-WC_copy.jpg

[Pat Isaac]

Fantastic rock. I really like the crispness of the edges and shadow. Nice color striations.

Pat

[artastic]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66700

River Rock
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/71766/tn_RiverRock.jpg

I think this is beautifully done, there is alot of depth and the light is great

[artastic]

Hi everyone!

Well, here's my entry into the project. I first tried a round rock with unique red and gray color combinations. But, I didn't like my first completion of it (the round rock looked rather flat, actually!) and so found another one, which turned out a bit better. I had fun doing this - great practice. Done with Senneliers and Holbeins on Canson watercolor paper, 9x12.

John

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/19-Jan-2009/165640-1242-S3-RockStudyForWetCanvasOP-Jan,09-WC_copy.jpg

you haven't uploaded this yet, I couldn't find it

it is a lovely rock, very well rendered.

[robertsloan2]

Hi everyone!

Well, here's my entry into the project. I first tried a round rock with unique red and gray color combinations. But, I didn't like my first completion of it (the round rock looked rather flat, actually!) and so found another one, which turned out a bit better. I had fun doing this - great practice. Done with Senneliers and Holbeins on Canson watercolor paper, 9x12.

John

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/19-Jan-2009/165640-1242-S3-RockStudyForWetCanvasOP-Jan,09-WC_copy.jpg

John, this is great. I like the strong shadow and the way you show the abrasions at the edges of the cleavages, the way it rounds off at the edges where it broke. That's beautiful.

In order to upload it, you need to go to the project itself. There are two routes. One is to click on the link above any of the posted stones from this thread, which will open another window with that image and the project name as a link. This is the shortcut I usually use. Click on "100 Stones" at the top of that page and it opens another page about the project.

Or go to the top menu bar or any page and choose Art Project System from the drop-down menu. Then from there navigate to the 100 Stones project.

Once on the project page by either route, at the bottom there are a row of links that include "Upload Final Images." If you have progress images there's also a link for "Upload Progress Images" and those don't get counted in the number of images for the project. Right now we're at 31 and when you upload yours it'll be 32 -- almost a third of the way to 100 stones!

Thanks for participating. Please do make this an official entry, it's gorgeous and deserves to be in the permanent gallery.

If you don't like the round rock you did first, you could upload it as a Progress image and explain what frustrated you about it. That might help me and others understand what we're doing too. Or you might get a big chorus of "hey this looks good, why hide it?" Either way, it'd be great to see it.

I posted progress images on my Cretaceous leaf but haven't seen other progress images yet, would be cool if someone else put in preliminary sketches, failed trials and stages on some of theirs.

[JTMB]

Thanks Robert for training a newbie on the project system. The image is in the official location now. Maybe I'll look for another stone to paint today! :)

John

[Pat Isaac]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66717

Stone Study - 100 Stones Project
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/165640/tn_1242S3RockStudyForWetCanvasOPJan09WCcopy.jpg

Okay, I am going to bring it up to the forum so others can comment on it. It is very well done.

Pat

[artastic]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66721

Rock study 1
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/166101/tn_WC100Stones1.jpg

interesting technique, and a great finish, I am learning alot about OPs with this challenge

[Pat Isaac]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66721

Rock study 1
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/166101/tn_WC100Stones1.jpg

Glad you enjoyed the challenge and your stone looks wonderful. You have captured the smoothness very well and the colors are wonderful. Great job.

Pat

[artastic]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66726

Cleaved Fluorite
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/51042/tn_fluorite.jpg

I love your OPs, and see also that you are a geologist, I appreciate all the information on each piece you submit

[Pat Isaac]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66726

Cleaved Fluorite
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/51042/tn_fluorite.jpg

Gorgeous color Yusuke and you have achieved a crystal like appearance. I too like all your info on the stones.

Pat

[robertsloan2]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66721

Rock study 1
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/166101/tn_WC100Stones1.jpg

Your technique to get the peppery effect was brilliant. It really succeeded in creating that unusual texture. I like the way you captured the milky streaks and horizontal striations too -- beautiful study. Colourfix is fun!

[robertsloan2]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66726

Cleaved Fluorite
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/51042/tn_fluorite.jpg

I remember seeing fluorite in both cubic and cleaved form. You caught the light and color so beautifully in it, this has the radiance fluorite crystals hold. What a gorgeous study of a mineral I'd almost forgotten. Wonderful. Thanks for your detailed geologic information too when you do these. Most of the time when I do them all I know about it is "it's a rock" or "it's quartz."

[Pine Cone]

Thank you Bonnie and Robert for your encouraging words back on January 9, when I left the project with a sad heart.

Robert, you suggested that I should post my Hemimorphite anyway, and ask for C&C on it. You are right, but in the four hours I spent that night, I never got to the point of actually doing the rock. I was trying little swatches, seeing what I could do to achieve the patterning, etc., etc. And in four hours, I got nowhere. And that was an easier rock than the one I had originally planned to try.

But I went to my local New Age (rock) shop, and found an aventurine bead with no patterning - just a slight color shift. Do you think it would be okay to join the project again and give it a try?

I wonder if it is the paper - I tried the Hemimorphite on Colourfix, which I love for soft pastels. I'm new to the non-virtual supplies (I normally paint with Corel Painter or Adobe Photoshop), but I found oil pastels easy to use when I painted a flamingo for the WDE last summer. But that was on cheapo charcoal paper that didn't have much grain (and NO sandpaper), and with Van Gogh (which I discovered later are student grade). Maybe I should go back to those? Maybe it is an intellectual problem - back when I did the flamingo, I had no idea that people considered oil pastels difficult, and they were just another brand to me back then, like Corel Painter. (Maybe ignorance really is bliss???)

I love rocks - I love pastel - I would really like to find a way to participate.....

[christinemlr]

Pine Cone My suggestion to you Pine Cone is don't think/worry so much about what your doing or its result. Just do lots of those two stones you've got and then decide which ones you like and which you don't. You obviously enjoy looking at the stones, so look at them with pastels in hand and different coloured papers maybe, and see what happens. I think I might take my own advice and do this myself!

Xina

[robertsloan2]

Welcome back, Pine Cone! Yes, please do draw whatever stones you want to and join in again. If you don't worry as much about how they'll come out, you can do one and ask for critique that can solve the problems you're worried about.

If you can't decide which one to do, close your eyes and just grab one at random, then put it in the light and draw it the best you can. I'm looking forward to seeing yours.

If you find the Van Gogh texture easier to handle, use those. They are student grade but they may be marginally artist grade -- the sample I got was a lot better than I expected for student grade. Use the brand that works for you. The aventurine bead without patterning sounds like it might be easier.

[Pine Cone]

Thanks Xina and Robert - I appreciate your advice and willingness to have me back. I've rejoined, and will try your suggestions! Thanks so much!

[robertsloan2]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66750

Permian Limestone with Crinoid Fossil
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/51042/tn_limestone.jpg

Yusuke, this one is even more spectacular. You have a beautiful fossil here and you've captured it so perfectly I'd use this as the cover of the museum guide or something. It's wonderful. The subtle patterns in the rock itself combine with the depth shading of the fossil to make it jump off the screen. Glorious.

[robertsloan2]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66747

Rock study 2
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/166101/tn_January2009041.jpg

This agate is so lively. The shadows and the local color of the stone combine so beautifully here and you've caught the complex shape great. Good choice of background color and fine highlighting.

[robertsloan2]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66758

Clay Cooking Ball
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/108067/tn_cone.jpg

Excellent! You captured something unusual with this. I can easily see the cone shape coming forward, and the soft reflections of the blue background up onto it are natural and beautiful. It looks great, Bill. The way it tilts forward and off to one side helps show the way it's balanced. Difficult modeling and you accomplished it just right.

[jamezzz]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66603

Halite from Mongolia
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/51042/tn_1562.jpg

I really like the colors in this one, very rich, nicely blended, but not so much that you've lost the jagged edges...just right. Great job!

[jamezzz]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66574

Amethyst Crystal
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/70184/tn_AmethystCrystal.jpg


Great job capturing the angular structure of the crystal. I also thought colors were done really well!

[jamezzz]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66750

Permian Limestone with Crinoid Fossil
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/51042/tn_limestone.jpg

Wow! Another great one! Mostly gray tones, but yet so vivid. I love the combination of smooth blending and loose detailing.

[Scarefishcrow]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66758

Clay Cooking Ball
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/108067/tn_cone.jpg

Excellent! You captured something unusual with this. I can easily see the cone shape coming forward, and the soft reflections of the blue background up onto it are natural and beautiful. It looks great, Bill. The way it tilts forward and off to one side helps show the way it's balanced. Difficult modeling and you accomplished it just right.

Thanks Robert, It was very difficult to model and I tried several light setups and this worked best. I wish I had captured the color a bit better. These are sort of a dull reddish orange in color and the hue came out darker than I had hoped. But it was fun to do!

I was determined to get at least 1 in here before it ended! Going to work on another today.

Bill

[Pat Isaac]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66750

Permian Limestone with Crinoid Fossil
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/51042/tn_limestone.jpg

Wonderful drawing, Yusuke. I really like all the crevices and the nuances of color in the grays. Wow, that is old.

Pat

[Pat Isaac]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66758

Clay Cooking Ball
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/108067/tn_cone.jpg

You did a great job depicting the conical shape of this ball, Bill. I do like the resemblance to chocolate

Pat

[artastic]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66771

Zebra Rock
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/81317/tn_zebrarockoilpastel24010.jpg

well how cool is this, I have never seen a rock like this, very nicely formed!

[Pat Isaac]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66771

Zebra Rock
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/81317/tn_zebrarockoilpastel24010.jpg

What an unusual rock...nicely done and it almost looks like a piece of candy..

Pat

[Pine Cone]

I hope you don't mind if I comment in a block like this - with 20 new stones added since the last time I commented, it is the only way I can express my admiration and appreciation for each!!! You all are amazing in your portrayals of nature's treasures.

Bonnie - Gorgeous colors and textures from your amethyst chunk. Could also be the basis for an amazing abstract composition. Lovely and full of interesting eye candy.

Robert - Another great look at your gorgeous amethyst crystal! Love the angled shadow. Good idea to set it on the Cretacolor lid (love their tins!) How do you like your Mungyo's??? I have some Mungyo Gallery Hard Pastels that I haven't used yet, and I've tried to find out if they are student grade or professional, but can't find the answer anywhere. The color on your amethyst is terrific.

I love the banding on your geode and the texture is very nice. Your leaf fossil is interesting and meaningful. What a thoughtful gift from your daughter! Nice depth and fade to the shadow. Your black/white/mica rock looks like it has been on some interesting river expeditions! On your most recent crystal that you weren't happy with, I'm wondering if you couldn't just work some more on it? You've got the feeling of light coming through it splendidly - you've got a sense of the amethyst at the tip - the rest maybe just needs finishing up a bit?

Yusuke - It is fascinating to see these stones you've collected from all over the world. The color of your Halite from Mongolia is glorious. Seeing inside the ammonite fossil is very interesting. I've never seen these fossils on building walls, but I have seen a few at my local New Age (rock!) shop. I can't help but love your Malachite and Soapstone :heart: cats, :heart: especially the Soapstone I think. You've captured their sheen and personality well, despite difficult angles on both. Love the colors and possible semi-transparency of the fluorite crystal - quite mysterious. Your Sea Lilly limestone fossil is beautiful and mysterious as well.

Xina - I love this third entry from you. Stones like this tell of a life lived that we can only guess at. You've conveyed that so well with the pits and crannies. Your colors are absolutely beautiful, and the background and shadow are perfect.

jamezzz - That Colourfix is really working for you! Love the colors and texture you achieved by combining the oil and soft pastels for your pinkish cracked rock. Gorgeous deep sun colors on your agate.

Pat Isaac - Beautiful beach stone. You've achieved a very real 3D drama with your shading on the stone itself as well as your ground shadow. Beautiful yellows with the turquoise.

Scarefishcrow - An interesting tale to go with your nice view of the clay cooking ball. What a difficult angle :eek: yet the point reads as it should. Nice work.

bluefrog - Amazing bit of rock from down under. Australia certainly produces some unique and beautiful elements and this is no exception. Lovely portrayal of the colors and banding.

John - You really conveyed a strong sense of grain and striations. I can tell that you had fun working on this! Nice job.

Herb - I'm glad you decided to post this graceful river rock. It is absolutely beautiful. From the crannies and ridges, to the highlights and overall shape, it is just beautiful.

[robertsloan2]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66771

Zebra Rock
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/81317/tn_zebrarockoilpastel24010.jpg

This one is fascinating! I've never seen a Zebra Rock, the pattern is striking and you've rendered it so well. It looks like a sedimentary rock that wound up changing direction in an earthquake or some other motion and then the same sediments kept depositing. Way cool.

[artastic]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66795

pebble 1
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/169388/tn_CopyofDSCN5116.JPG

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66796

stone 1
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/169388/tn_DSCN5117.JPG

wonderful colors on both, rocks look so different when they are wet, a whole new personality.
I love the highlights and the texture of the second

[Pat Isaac]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66795

pebble 1
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/169388/tn_CopyofDSCN5116.JPG

Great color, the wetness obviously brought out the color.

Pat

[Pat Isaac]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66796

stone 1
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/169388/tn_DSCN5117.JPG

Great color and I like all your work on the cracks and crevices...

Pat

[robertsloan2]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66795

pebble 1
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/169388/CopyofDSCN5116.JPG

Nice! I love how pebbles look wet when their colors become vivid. Looks like an agate or something like that, very cool!

[robertsloan2]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66796

stone 1
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/169388/DSCN5117.JPG

This one is striking. The patterns in it remind me of something that my grandfather had in his lapidary setup, he used to collect agates and pebbles as well as order some semiprecious stones from catalogs. Great idea wetting them before painting them to get the full depth of color.

[Yusuke]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66717

Stone Study - 100 Stones Project
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/165640/tn_1242S3RockStudyForWetCanvasOPJan09WCcopy.jpg

This is nicely done! The form (especially the edges) and surfaces are well explained. Please let me write a bit too technical comment... this seems like a kind of volcanic rock. Your "green striations" should be amphibole or pyroxene phenocryst and the hexagonal shape looks columnar/platy joints formed in volcanic rocks. Well, I mean, you discerned and captured (and enjoyed!) nicely.

[Yusuke]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66771

Zebra Rock
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/81317/tn_zebrarockoilpastel24010.jpg

Ah, its shape and the zebra patterns are well depicted. I'm familiar with zebra rock cause my colleague studies zebra rock. :)

[artastic]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66758

Clay Cooking Ball
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/108067/tn_cone.jpg

you have certainly achieved the conical shape, I find this vvery hard to do.
interesting history as well

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66827

Fossil Brachiopod Cast
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/108067/tn_Brachiopod.jpg

I really like the blending of colors and the depth

[artastic]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66750

Permian Limestone with Crinoid Fossil
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/51042/tn_limestone.jpg

beautifuly painted, and amazing history, I hope I am learning something by looking closely at your wonderful drawings

[Pat Isaac]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66827

Fossil Brachiopod Cast
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/108067/tn_Brachiopod.jpg

What an interesting fossil, Bill. Nice modeling and it is clamlike.

Pat

[robertsloan2]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66827

Fossil Brachiopod Cast
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/108067/tn_Brachiopod.jpg

Great choice of subject, Bill. I remember so many brachiopod casts when I used to go to museums, they fascinated me. You captured every detail and again managed to convey its unique rounded shape. Beautiful fossil. I like your choice of rich red background too, reminds me of some of the display trays in those museums.

[robertsloan2]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66826

Shale fro Drumheller
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/104250/tn_shale2.jpg

Gorgeous, artastic. It's got so much detail and you caught every curve of the striations and the cleavages. This is one of your best. I like the subtle mixtures of cool colors you used in some of the deep darks, they make the warms snap out even brighter.

[Scarefishcrow]

Thanks to all on the kind comments regarding my Brachiopod and clay ball sketches!

BILL:wave:

[robertsloan2]

I think it's counting my progress images as entries now, so subtract 10 from the number of entries when you see how many there are. It's only complete when there are 100 final images, not final images combined with progress images. Otherwise I'd be taking up way too much of it with progress images!

[artastic]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66834

White Rock
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/70184/tn_WhiteRock.jpg

lovely finish, thanks for the WIP for us non-OP'ers I need to do a bit of study!!

[Kathryn Wilson]

Gosh, what could be better than this - oil pastels and rocks! I have a basketful of rocks I've collected over the years and have always wanted to paint.

Gotta do this one!

[robertsloan2]

Thanks, artastic!

Kathryn, please do! Can't wait to see what you've got in your basketful... I know I have some more rocks buried somewhere across the room including some nice polished ones. I think I need to dig those out.

[Pat Isaac]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66826

Shale fro Drumheller
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/104250/tn_shale2.jpg

This is just great. Love all the color and striations.

Pat

[Pat Isaac]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66834

White Rock
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/70184/tn_WhiteRock.jpg

Nice piece of milky quartz. I really like all the subtle pinks in the stone.

Pat

[robertsloan2]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66838

Peridotite xenolith
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/51042/tn_olivine.jpg

Yusuke, this is magnificent. I've seen this mineral before, used to own a nice piece of it. You captured the greenish and violet areas perfectly, the texture, everything. I love your realism on any small still life object and I'm still working toward that level of detail. Maybe on my next stones.

[Pat Isaac]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66838

Peridotite xenolith
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/51042/tn_olivine.jpg

Interesting stone, Yusuke and the green does look gemlike.

Pat

[Colorix]

Hi guys, just signed up, wanna throw a stone or two on the pile, and get better acquainted with the OPs, now that I have some decent sandpaper.

Yusuke, you just have to be a geologist, aren't you? Beautiful paintings.

Charlie

[artastic]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66854

Polished Green Stone
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/70184/tn_PolishedGreenStone.jpg

gorgeous gorgeous colors. love the smooth shape and highlights , can really see this as 3-D

[Pat Isaac]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66854

Polished Green Stone
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/70184/tn_PolishedGreenStone.jpg

Beautifully done and the smooth polish comes through.

Pat

[Scattykat]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66604

Sliced ammonite fossil
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/51042/1303.jpg

great fossil, well done...:thumbsup:

[Scattykat]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66675

Malachite cat
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/51042/tn_754.jpg

great idea, it certainly qualifies as a stone, and beautiful, carved or not, love this one...:D

[Scattykat]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66750

Permian Limestone with Crinoid Fossil
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/51042/tn_limestone.jpg

fine bit of paleantology, love them ossicles...:cat:

[Scattykat]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66666

Amethyst rock
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/104250/amathyst1.jpg

scrummy piece of mineral rock Bonnie, beautiful colours and light reflected in those facets...:thumbsup:

[robertsloan2]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66873

Amazonite from Russia
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/86669/tn_OPamazonitesmall.JPG

This is great. The rough strokes of the background remind me of a slab of limestone or something that you've set out the amazonite on. I had no idea amazonite was so prominently striped, it's a fascinating rock. You captured its depth well with the shading on the right -- subtle and powerful.

[robertsloan2]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66874

Banded Amethyst from Nambia
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/86669/tn_OPamethystsmall.JPG

This one is my favorite of your three semiprecious stones. The highlight on the shiny polished surface, the sudden change in color, the banding and shading and that darker, muted reflection all give it gorgeous realism.

[robertsloan2]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66875

Lapis from Afghanistan
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/86669/tn_OPlapissmall.JPG

Once again vivid and accurate. I like how you caught the pale webbing and texture on this one. I've seen pieces of lapis with that lighter webbing in it and that's not easy to get in oil pastel, the little inclusions of ruddy color are something else that adds to its realism.

My only suggestion on this one is that it might've been good to use some violet and gray into the shadow rather than the same masstone blue as the deepest parts of the lapis, that's the only place where the realism starts to break down.

Sometimes I deliberately push a shadow bluer or more violet to look better with the rock on these stone studies. Other times go to a grayish tone if it would look better. It's on a blue surface so that would show through in the shadow too, still I doubt it was exactly the hue of the stone.

[robertsloan2]

We now have 42 finished entries and 10 progress images. When uploading your final paintings, subtract the number of progress images from the total number of images listed in the project. The goal is 100 final images from everyone -- progress images don't count toward it. So please, feel free to upload progress images if you happen to snap them or scan them while you're working. I love seeing how others layer their paintings.

Fantastic work everyone. This project is coming out magnificent!

[Herb]

I haven't been able to keep up with individual posts (:o ) but I've been checking the project and admiring everyone's work. Great stuff. :thumbsup:

[Scattykat]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66574

Amethyst Crystal
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/70184/AmethystCrystal.jpg

such a pretty crystal, great reflection and shadow...

[Scattykat]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66562

rock 3 little stone with holes found on beach
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/151368/img040.jpg

this is so well done, can almost feel it in my hand, love how you got all those little hloes and pitts represented...

[Scattykat]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66873

Amazonite from Russia
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/86669/OPamazonitesmall.JPG

beautiful green mineral...

[Scattykat]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66795

pebble 1
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/169388/CopyofDSCN5116.JPG

like the strata in this pebble, and the colours...

[Scattykat]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66721

Rock study 1
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/166101/WC100Stones1.jpg

love this stone, very well done, was worth getting that paper...

[Scattykat]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66827

Fossil Brachiopod Cast
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/108067/Brachiopod.jpg

ah yes I remember those brachiopods from my geology lessons, love the feel in this little pic, good rich colours...

[Pine Cone]

Wow - neat new stuff everyone!!! I hope you don't mind if I comment on them in this block quote. With 13 new entries since last time I commented, this is the only way I can express my appreciation for all of them.

Robert - Your milky quartz pebble is appealing. I love those rusty streaks against the slight pinkish hue. You've done well with the edges. I can feel their shape. That bright spring green stone is nice too. Wonder if it is chalcedony... I have no clue, but it is sure pretty. Love the smoothness you've portrayed, and the gloss on the surface.

Yusuke - Your non-peridot olivine is interesting - perhaps more so than the gemstone, what with all the crevices and the difference between the inner and outer layers.

Bonnie - Your shale piece is wonderful, with a rich history. You've shown the planes and the colors so well.

Shelley - I think your drawing of the agate slice is lovely. Your transitions from transparency to milkiness are very nice, and the rings are perfect. That green stone is stunning - love the gold stripes. Oh, but the amethyst is knocking my socks off. What a gorgeous portrayal of a beautiful stone. It appears that you and oil pastels agree with each other. Fantastic work.

gakinme - You've drawn a unique set of stones - fascinating! Love the bright greens of the Russian Amazonite. Nice shadow as well. You've portrayed the colors, unique banding, and sheen of the Nambian Amethyst well. And your Afghan Lapis truly has that Lapis royal blue look to it.

LULAY - I love the bright colors you've brought up with water. Somehow these both look like they belong in that fish pond, maybe with some goldfish in it to compliment their color! I especially love the smoothness of the first, and the interesting shape and shading of the second.

Scarefishcrow - Bold and expressive interpretation of your fossil. Love the fossil against the saturated red!

[robertsloan2]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66885

agate slice
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/143492/tn_agateslice.jpg

This is glorious. I love the delicate lines you scraped in, so many agates I've seen have dozens of tiny concentric lines like that but they're hard to get with a blunt stick of oil pastel. The gradual shading is gorgeous too and you really got the color spot on for a certain type of bluish agate I've seen. I can just imagine how lovely the stone is if you say you haven't really got the likeness. I think you've conveyed its luminous translucence beautifully.

[robertsloan2]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66886

malachite, I think
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/143492/tn_malachite.jpg

Nice! I can see why some people thought my green stone was malachite -- though this has much more of the true Malachite hue, that gorgeous slightly toward blue clear green. I like the way you put the lines and inclusions running through it and the soft shading that rounds it as well as the strong highlight of its shiny surface. The muted green reflection is great too.

[robertsloan2]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66887

amethyst
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/143492/tn_amethyst.jpg

You found all the colorful ones! Again as with the agate, I like those very fine lines you scraped in. They add a lot of realism. The color is true and lovely and it looks so much like it's been deposited slowly over centuries as it crystallized -- solid amethyst is not like the separate crystals but it's oh so gorgeous.

Three wonderful stones, thanks for adding them!

[robertsloan2]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66923

Worked Piece of Chert
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/108067/tn_200902041508050223.jpg

Wow.

Bill, I like the dark blue background, it reminds me of a museum exhibit that way. The features of this worked piece of chert are stunningly visible, the curved fluted grooves and notches. This is great. I love the way you keep finding these interesting artifacts!

It's striking the way you show the shape and planes of this dark stone and make it come alive. I can even see the sheen of the surface, not shiny glossy or matte, just that smooth sheen that it gets.

[artastic]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66838

Peridotite xenolith
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/51042/tn_olivine.jpg

wonderful perspective and color, I have seen peridot polished, a beautiful stone

[artastic]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66885

agate slice
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/143492/tn_agateslice.jpg

I think you have caught this perfectly! I love the color and striations

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66886

malachite, I think
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/143492/tn_malachite.jpg

wonderful color

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66887

amethyst
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/143492/tn_amethyst.jpg

you have caught the shine on this polished beauty, my sisters birthstone and her favorite

[artastic]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66923

Worked Piece of Chert
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/108067/tn_200902041508050223.jpg

terrific contours and depth

[artastic]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66873

Amazonite from Russia
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/86669/tn_OPamazonitesmall.JPG

great contours, easy to see the shape, what a great colored stone

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66874

Banded Amethyst from Nambia
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/86669/tn_OPamethystsmall.JPG

nice contour and dolor

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66875

Lapis from Afghanistan
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/86669/tn_OPlapissmall.JPG

one of the WC pigments I have is Lapis Lazuli, a mineral pigment
this is lovely

[artastic]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66747

Rock study 2
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/166101/tn_January2009041.jpg

a challenge well met!
this project has been a challenge trying to get a 3D rep of a many faceted object

what wonderful works!!

[artastic]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66937

Clear Quartz
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/70184/tn_ClearQuartz.jpg

this has a wonderful transparency , I love all the subdued shadows within the stone

[Scattykat]

thanks for the encouraging comments on my stones :D . I only have a small box of bits of oil pastels that were my daughters at school, and have never really liked or taken them seriously, till now that is....so much so that I've ordered 4 or 5 of several different makes to see which I prefer before slaughering my piggy bank :eek: . At the price they are, I shall take them more seriously from now on!!!
We visited a friend yesterday, who has a collection of 'netskies' (?) I think he called them, they are tiny japanese carvings, some no bigger than my thumbnail, and each is from a single stone, some jade, some tigers eye, etc, they are totally delightful, he offered me take them home and when I'd finished bring them back 426870, but after he told us how valualbe they are 426869 I said I'd revisit for a days sketching, but that isn't going to be for a couple of weeks at least. If you havn't got to the 100 I'll put a couple in here if they turn out ok.
This is such an interesting thread, I've always loved unusual stones and minerals, thanks for having such a cool inspiration...:thumbsup:

[robertsloan2]

Please do! We're only at 47 -- the project system counts the ten progress images I uploaded but they don't count in terms of it being 100 Stones. I'd love to see those netsukes!

In my reviews I'm finding out that the cheap brands vary a lot in texture, softness and opacity. I'm finding some equivalents to the good artist grade brands in texture, so getting several cheap sets is a good idea. I've still got four more to review, if I really get going I'll manage them all today.

[artastic]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66962

Chert
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/70184/tn_Chert.jpg

great job on all the irregular surfaces and with the light catching the edges

[Pat Isaac]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66887

amethyst
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/143492/amethyst.jpg

What a beautiful stone. Nice modeling of color and the gloss comes through.

Pat

[Pat Isaac]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66937

Clear Quartz
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/70184/tn_ClearQuartz.jpg

I really like this against the wood grain and the reflected light is great.

Pat

[Pat Isaac]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66962

Chert
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/70184/tn_Chert.jpg

Great job on all the facets and nice color.

Pat

[jamezzz]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66887

amethyst
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/143492/amethyst.jpg

Great job depicting the color, transparency and sheen on this one! Love that fine detail dividing the dark and light purple!

[robertsloan2]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66981

Another Rock
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/108067/tn_tiny.jpg

Bill, your color modulation and sgraffito experiments came out so wonderful on this. It's glorious impressionism. The texture of the scraping unifies the whole piece and the light and dark variations in the background make that exciting, but the color pushes it back to bring the warm colors of the chert forward. This one has strong values and good three dimensional volume.

It jumps right off the screen and makes me smile, this is a colourist piece with all the joy of enhanced color and a sweet texture that made me grin at first sight of it. Keep on experimenting with this style along with your old style, it has so much power of its own! Color doesn't have to be literal to be true, the cool shadows and warm highlights give this stone a lot of depth and dimension.

The color shifts also do something else that's very real. They change the color of the light, a pinkish golden glow with blue shadows like dawn light instead of general daylight. That's the real reason why artists can get away with outrageous colors as long as the values are accurate -- it just looks like it's under different light. You created and implied a gorgeous dawn landscape with the colors of light falling on this worked chert stone.

Dawn of mankind in dawn light... it carries a lot of meaning too. This is one of your best works.

[Scarefishcrow]

Thanks, Robert, I appreciate your comments and this project has been a marvelous learning experience in drawing, depicting planes, shadow, contours, just about anything you can think of. Great idea for a project.

Bill

[Pat Isaac]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66981

Another Rock
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/108067/tn_tiny.jpg

Unusual piece, Bill. I really like all the sgraffito work and the great color. I also like the use of complements, the warm stone against the cool background.

Pat

[Scarefishcrow]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66981

Another Rock
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/108067/tn_tiny.jpg

Unusual piece, Bill. I really like all the sgraffito work and the great color. I also like the use of complements, the warm stone against the cool background.

Pat

Thanks, Pat. When somethings not working, you have nothing to lose by trying something different. Sgrafitto has so many possibilites. Especially for textural effects rather than detail line work as it is usually employed. Almost like various hatchings you might doe with graphite, but scratched into color.

Bill:wave:

[Colorix]

Gorgeous work, guys! I'm so behind on everything I can't comment individually right now, but I *will* make a contribution and tick us one step closer to 100. (Or more ticks!)

Charlie

[robertsloan2]

Thanks, Pat and artastic!

Yayyy Charlie! Can't wait to see what you do for the project. I believe we just reached 50 between my last one (a second study of the quartz pebble) and Bill's delightful warm chert on blue background with sgraffito. More ticks would be great, I love your work!

[Colorix]

Thank you, Robert! I've added one 'tick'. I'd love to get more serious with the oilies, but that has to wait until April, but a sketch now and then is easy to squeeze in, and I get to know the quirks of them gooey stuff.

Charlie

[Pat Isaac]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=67007

Lapis Lazuli Marble
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/117343/tn_OPLapisLazuli.jpg

Nice color in this stone, Charlie. One way to add layers of color to OPs is to let it set up overnight. They are not quite as immediate as the softies. I like the light of the background and the highlights.

Pat

[robertsloan2]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=67007

Lapis Lazuli Marble
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/117343/tn_OPLapisLazuli.jpg

Charlie, wow. Jaw dropping. I love how you handled the shadow. I can see the colorful penumbra and so many variations. Thank you for doing this. The background is very cool and I can see the quartering in it as well as some beautiful variations between the areas. On the stone itself you have such rich color and captured the shine of polished stone so well. I've often seen lapis with those rusty little inclusions in it, your lapis marble is a gorgeous specimen.

And you painted it with such consummate skill that now I'm considering daring the tigereye. Erengi are a lot of fun.

[Colorix]

Pat, Rob, thank you!

Good advice, Pat. Now I just wanna know where to buy some patience... Guess a good idea would be to have several paintings going on at the same time.

Rob, oh dear, a tiger eye! You'll do fabulously with it, they are basically just striped very densely, sort of, type. I'm dreading painting an ordinary grey rock, probably granite, the colourful ones seem so much easier.

Charlie

[artastic]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66983

Clear Quartz 2
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/70184/tn_ClearQuartz2.jpg

you have truly captured the light coming through

[artastic]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=67007

Lapis Lazuli Marble
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/117343/tn_OPLapisLazuli.jpg

of course it should be no surprise that you have mastered OPs as well as soft pastels
wonderful tone and shape

[Pat Isaac]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66983

Clear Quartz 2
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/70184/tn_ClearQuartz2.jpg

Beautifully done, robert and I like all those little hints of color. nice reflected light.

Pat

[Colorix]

Bonnie, gosh, thank you so much, but I'm just learning to use the stuff. Sandpaper (Fisher 400, very similar to Wallis pro) worked much better for me, as I only have about 50 OP and must layer and blend.

Rob, gorgous use of values to get the glow!

Charlie

[Colorix]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66771

Zebra Rock
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/81317/zebrarockoilpastel24010.jpg

Bluefrog, what a cool stone, looks like candy!

Charlie

[robertsloan2]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=67037

Dark gray pebble with stripe, possibly mediterranean, or black sea
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/117343/tn_OPgreywstripemm7.jpg

Charlie, you may have tried to knock this down from blue to its dark gray, but taken as itself it's so beautiful in blue that I'm not sure I'd want to! The shadow is lovely with those colorful transitions. Three dimensional roundedness gives every dimple of its shape and a nice clean stripe. Lovely work again. Thanks for adding a second beautiful stone to our project!

You could always keep doing the gray ones in heightened color turning them into little jewels.

We're now up to 52 final entries, only 48 to go!

[Pat Isaac]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=67037

Dark gray pebble with stripe, possibly mediterranean, or black sea
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/117343/tn_OPgreywstripemm7.jpg

Nice bold color, Charlie and nice modeling. I do feel the chroma of the shadow is a little too intense. Maybe graying it just a little.

Pat

[Colorix]

Rob, Pat, thank you! IRL, it is less bright, for example there are oranges in the blue-grey. Well, it is still on the too brightish side. The real challenge will be a bigger 'craggy' piece of speckled grey rock... how to tone that down? I will try to dissolve the goo and mix, and let it sink into tooth, and make *grey* out of chromatics. Good For Me challenge, thanks Rob for starting this project!

Charlie

[artastic]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=67037

Dark gray pebble with stripe, possibly mediterranean, or black sea
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/117343/tn_OPgreywstripemm7.jpg

terrific shadows and highlights, I love your gray

[Pat Isaac]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=67058

Peacock Pyrite
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/70184/tn_PeacockPyrite.jpg

Look at all those shiny bits, Robert. Wonderful colors.

Pat

[robertsloan2]

Thanks! I love the two golds in the Erengi set, especially the bright gold that is actually more like gold than bronze.

[artastic]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=67058

Peacock Pyrite
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/70184/tn_PeacockPyrite.jpg

unbelievable ! incredible stone and painting!!!

[Pine Cone]

I hope it is okay to post my comments in a block, so that I can express my admiration for each of the stones posted since my last comments.

Robert - Nifty new stones! I really like the quartz on the wood grain. Plenty of color in the quartz, but still clear. Great shadow. Interesting chert as well. But the 2nd clear quartz is my new fav. Wow - you've done so well capturing the stone, the elusive colors, and the light. Absolutely fantastic!!! The Peacock Pyrite is vibrant and lovely as well.

Scarecrowfish - The colors, planes and lines of this second worked chert are cheerful and charming.

Charlie - Zowie - gorgeous lapis. Love the deep royal blues, and the flecks of color. And your interpretation of the gray pebble is amazing. Terrific abstraction and personalization of the stone in front of you. Both your backgrouonds are perfect for their stones, and the shadows sing!

[artastic]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=67076

Moonstone Sketch
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/61535/tn_PCMoonstoneSketch.jpg
this is beautifully rendered!

[Pine Cone]

You are kind Bonnie - thanks for commenting. I think it looks like it's having a bad hair day and hay, I can relate!!!!! Oh well, nothing ventured nothing, well, goofed up :lol: All the more reason to save up for those Holbeins I've been coveting..... :D

[robertsloan2]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=67076

Moonstone Sketch
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/61535/tn_PCMoonstoneSketch.jpg

I think you captured the shimmer beautifully. Save it from the bin! Jot the date on the corner and stash it with studies and sketches, you never know when you'll find it handy for reference even if you don't like it. I think it has beautiful color and that it does have the moonstone sheen.

You might try a small set of Neopastels for something for realism and detail. I found them a little better than Holbein for getting good mixing and shading and they're firmer than Holbein without being so firm they're crumbly. All these good brands play well with others it seems. Senneliers wouldn't be my choice for realism in small object still lifes other than as final details but you've handled them masterfully.

[Pat Isaac]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=67076

Moonstone Sketch
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/61535/tn_PCMoonstoneSketch.jpg

I certainly wouldn't put this in the bin....it is well modeled and the soft peachy color is very nice.

Pat

[Pine Cone]

Thanks so much for your encouragement Robert and Pat. I'll check into the Neopastels - that might be an option. Still, I tend to be a very loyal person and I LOVE my Holbein watercolors, gouache, and soft pastels. So I do hope to get a set of Holbein oilies eventually, even if I get the Neos first. It is really neat to be able to learn about the different brands from you who are more practiced in the art of oil pastels. Thank you for being so generous with your experiences and the pros and cons of each brand!!!!!

Maybe you can also help me with three other oil pastel questions???.....

1. -------> Although this Moonstone is in pastel heaven now, I do have one I like that I just painted for the Scavenger Hunt. How do I protect it from smudging? I can't afford to frame it. Don't really have anywhere to put it that it won't eventually be covered in dust. This particular one was painted on a little wood block - you know: the little 3D blocks of artists' panel.

2. -------> I have the same question for oil pastels on paper such as Wallis or Colourfix. If one can't afford to frame, how does one protect?

3. -------> How can you add an oil pastel to a sketchbook - won't it just smear? I put the sketches I keep in a Circa sketchbook that I make as I go. I use the Circa punch to put holes in whatever paper I've used for the sketch, and add it to the Circa sketchbook. But the oil pastels would just smear, and probably the oil would leak through to the pages on top. I have no idea how to handle the situation.

Thanks for any help you guys can provide. My work has been virtual for years (to protect my cats from toxins), so I'm a tad behind the times in the non-virtual details :eek: now that I'm trying out some non-virtual brands.

[Pat Isaac]

I cover my unframed OPs with wax paper. They keep fine in a pile under my table. You can also use glassine.
Pat

[robertsloan2]

I bought ten sheets of Glassine from Blick ages ago, finally got around to that to protect soft pastels. They are great! Giant sheets, big as a full size matboard, humongous -- light, thin and delicate. Glassine is the stuff the post office used to send stamps in when they used to be the kind you lick. It's very good for archival preservation. It's lightweight and translucent like tracing paper.

Cut a piece to go over the art and stack it flat, or tape it over the art (tape over the back if the art goes right to the edge of the page). That protects OP from smearing or soft pastels from smearing.

I also bought a whole lot of cheap document frames from Blick in November because I thought I'd be hanging 20 or more pieces in an Affordable Art show, turned out there were only three pieces per artist. So I wound up with lots of these cheap frames. I treat them as temporary frames. I mat the art, skip the backboard except for a thin piece of paper and hang them on the wall.

Then when I take down one, I take it out of the mat and store it under glassine in a black cardboard archival art storage box (under $10 for the 9 x 12" size, I got it ages ago) or put it in a presentation book.

Yet another alternative -- takes cutting mats though. Cut temporary mats so that nothing's touching the surface of the art. Cut clear plastic from packaging to the size of the art plus the mat. Glue or clip the cheap plastic to the front of the mat.

This is cheesy framing but good enough to protect a study stuck on the wall from being damaged. It's especially handy for small studies, since I can just put push pins through both the plastic and the mat to hold it together. Those sideless poster frames work on that principle too.

If you don't have a lot of recyclable plastic around you can get sheets of thin acetate from Blick or an art store and cut them to fit. Or mat them and put them into an archival photo bag, then pin to the wall or put them in storage. The mat is important in the photo bags to keep the plastic from touching the surface, but they're clear enough to work like framing.

On a little 3D block of artist's panel, that's tricky. Maybe you could build a shadowbox with different size pigeonholes and put a sheet of acetate in front of it to keep dust off. Homemade shadowboxes, you could groove it so the acetate slides in and out when you want to put in something new.

[Pine Cone]

Thanks Pat and Robert.

Robert, thanks for all the info about interleaving sheets. I just ordered some glassine sheets like you described. That should be a good start. Framing and hanging, however cheap, wouldn't work for me at this point.

But back to the interleaving glassine sheets, I'm still not sure how it will help with my oil pastels.

1. ---> It seems like anything touching the surface will flatten and ruin the little ridges that become part of the texture of the piece.

2. ---> All the more worrisome if one is stacking. You guys really stack your papers with oil pastels and they remain the same as when you painted them?

3. ---> And I can't imagine that stacking the little wood blocks wouldn't severely damage the ones beneath. For example, this little one is already getting dusty, but I can't believe that glassine and/or stacking wouldn't ruin it.......

http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/showpost.php?p=7601898&postcount=4

.......partly because it is basically painted on a wood block sort of like this (only mine is a different brand and has an even thicker cradle).......

http://cdn.dickblick.com/items/149/25/14925-1013-1-3ww-l.jpg

Do you by any chance have any photos of your stacks of oil pastels showing how you keep the integrity of the individual paintings in the stacks?

Sorry to be so clueless..... :confused:

.....EDIT..... I just saw the last paragraph of your post which addresses the wood box thing. I missed it earlier. But I don't have any way to build anything like that. I think that I'll just not use oil pastels. There doesn't seem to be any way to protect them that is within my current means and ability. I appreciate your help though, and will print the info you offered for future reference, when circumstances permit more lavish measures, such as those you describe.

[Pat Isaac]

All my unframed OPs are on paper and stacked. It is probably fine as there is nothing heavy on them. They are all fine and I have as many as 15 together. I have some large OPs standing in a portfolio and covered with wax paper. The unframed OPs that I have on masonite are laid out on one of my studio walls. I will take some pics when I go there tomorrow.

Pat

[Pine Cone]

Thanks Pat - I'll check tomorrow to see how you store everything. I'm grateful for your help :)

[artastic]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=67125

Rose Quartz Study
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/70184/tn_IMG0001.jpg

:clap::clap: my oh my, this is my favorite one so far, I LOVE rose quartz! and yours is astounding!

[sundiver]

I think that I'll just not use oil pastels. There doesn't seem to be any way to protect them that is within my current means and ability.
[/i]


Oil pastels aren't all that fragile, especially compared to soft pastels.If I'm transporting mine I usually mat them and keep them in the plastic envelope the mats came in. Otherwise they sit in a drawer, stacked. If it ocurrs to me I put sheets of cheap tracing paper between them. But I've left them sitting on a worktable and the cat has napped on them, and other than maybe having to pick off a hair or two they haven't suffered.

[Pine Cone]

Oil pastels aren't all that fragile...<snip>But I've left them sitting on a worktable and the cat has napped on them, and other than maybe having to pick off a hair or two they haven't suffered.My oil pastel on a wood block (link in post #236) is already collecting dust. I can't imagine that different sizes of these wood blocks stacked on each other wouldn't damage the oil pastel beneath. Perhaps it is because I'm using Sennelier (a/k/a to goop) and perhaps you're using some other brand. If my :heart:cats:heart:were still alive and napped on a Sennelier oil pastel, they would end up completely covered with goop. It comes off at the drop of a pin. When my finger accidentally barely touched an area that was already painted, I had to re-paint it. Sob.

[Pat Isaac]

The wood block pictured in your other posts appears to be sunken or is this the backside of the wood. I still think if you let them sit awhile or "gas off" then put wax paper on them they will be fine.

Pat

[Pine Cone]

No they won't be fine. In fact, they don't even dry. They do, however, collect dust. The slightest touch of anything, including a finger, wax paper, glassine, etc., changes it and/or smudges it. So piling wood blocks on top of each other with the cradle on the back for hanging like mine, pressing lines into the one(s) below, or even without a cradle, simply won't work for me, since I don't want the paint changed and since it never dries. I'll chalk this up to a learning experience.

[robertsloan2]

Hmm. The wood blocks do make it a challenge. I think that you can sometimes get clear plastic boxes that are relatively flat, for gift boxes and things -- cheaper than framing but could be mounted right over the wood block artworks.

Thanks for the tip about surfaces and OP. While I may experiment with wood panels and Pastelbord and other surfaces, I think after your experience I might avoid anything with gallery mount cradling because that would make storage tough. If you left a little border to the edge of the panel it could be possible to put spacers and glue an inexpensive acetate sheet across them -- wood spacers, cut from narrow square molding or something. I think you can get basswood strips to any width you want, like 1/4" or 3/8" and if you mitered those and glued them on the front of the board you'd have your support for the acetate glazing.

Doing one square or rectangular mitered layer for the spacer and another glued on over the acetate would in effect be framing. That would make it necessary to build up flush with the gallery cradling though, or it wouldn't work structurally -- unless you got thin molding that was wide, about 1/4" deeper than the cradling.

Glue that onto the cradling on the side so that it sticks out with a flat surface on the top, then glue the acetate to it and put a thin layer of boxwood mitered over that to hold it down and you've homebuilt a custom frame for a painting done on gallery mounted wood.

It's an interesting engineering question. I know so far I haven't even tried wood yet, but if I do I'll want to have some way to keep it safe from dust. I have a Dremel tool and small saw available so the mitering shouldn't be that hard.

[Pat Isaac]

I work mostly on gessoed masonite now, but the wood is not cradled. I still stack these finished works with wax paper between them. I do let them dry for a week or so.

You have some interesting solutions there, Robert.

Pat

[Pine Cone]

Thanks Robert - those sound like good ideas. Since these wood blocks are a great surface, I hope that you'll try them, and then also try your plan to preserve them. In my opinion, the quality of the wood block that I used (a different brand than in the pic link I posted) is worth the effort, and so are the goopy never-drying Senneliers. It was truly a joy to use them together that first time. So I urge you to go forward if you're at all inclined.

For myself, I'm not in a situation to do anything like what you suggested, but perhaps my life and health situations will improve in the future, and I will hold onto your valuable comments in hopes that day will come.

Thank you again so much for your helpfulness here and elsewhere. Your generous spirit, kind heart and thoughtful approach are more meaningful to me than you can ever know. My heart goes out to you, with gratitude.

.....EDIT..... For those interested in trying the blocks with oil pastel.....

Here is a direct link to the exact brand (but larger size) as the brand I had so much fun painting on with Sennelier oil pastels:

http://www.utrechtart.com/dsp_view_product.cfm?Item=36848&classID=1316&SubclassID=131611

The reason I used the other link to the other brand in an earlier post was because it showed a semi-similar back, and Utrecht doesn't show a photo of their backs. I should re-mention that this brand seems to have a thicker cradle even on the small 3"x5", than the other brand in the link on the earlier post.

Although I didn't search thoroughly, it looks as though perhaps the Utrecht website only has a few sizes, near as I could tell, but if you want other sizes, you could probably call and get them. I bought it at my local Utrecht and they had gobs of different sizes - gobs and gobs!

[robertsloan2]

Oh those are interesting! Yes, I will have to try one someday -- and have my basswood bits handy for gluing when I do to make that spacer on the sides. I have some but would definitely need to get some longer strips as well so that I could do both layers on the self-framing idea. That and tape off my edges before beginning to paint so I'm not trying to glue through oil pastels.

Wood glue alone ought to be able to do it really. That or epoxy to hold the glazing over the art, though that's awful permanent if anything did get inside. Might have to experiment or ask my son in law the carpenter/anthropologist about that, whether wood glue holds plastic or glass in place.

[Pine Cone]

Hay Robert, if you do end up trying these, and if this project is still going when you do, maybe you could work a little tutorial on your method of preserving that you're cooking up here!!!!!!! hint hint :lol: :evil: :wink2:

[Scattykat]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66983

Clear Quartz 2
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/70184/tn_ClearQuartz2.jpg

...this is beautifully drawn, love the light pooling at the bottom of the stone, and it's reflects...:thumbsup:

Rose Quartz Study
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/70184/tn_IMG0001.jpg

...this is gorgeous, great light work in it again. The colours in the shadow are tops too, and like the surface texture, fab stuff...:wave:

[Scattykat]

Regarding this entry --> http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=view_image&entry_id=66726

Peridotite xenolith
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/51042/tn_olivine.jpg

this little volcanic pebble looks good enuf to eat...

Cleaved Fluorite
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/lib/1226/completed/51042/tn_fluorite.jpg

great colours in this mineral, guess it's in its natural cuboid shape, great highlights and glassy texture, reckon it's ready to wear...