Hydrangea Bench

[aureliof]

I am trying to paint mostly portraits and figures lately, but had a chance to make this 8 x 10 tonight. It's in water color and gouache (is it Kosher to mix?). The scene's from a friend's house near the water in Massachusetts. Is is worth framing for a gift? C&C appreciated.


http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/26-Nov-2010/115206-Nikko_Blues,_Westport,_MA.jpg

[brookstream]

I think it's definitely worth framing for a gift. It's good work. Don't know if the mixing of those two media is ok, but the painting is fine IMHO.

[Wayne Gaudon]

it's very jolly: bright and light. Only you and or your friend can answer your question.

[Ella Ann]

Lovely summery feel you have captured here, beautiful light. I would love to receive it as a gift, go for it! :thumbsup:

[JohnHealey]

Hi Aureliof,

I like your painting very much. Beautiful color work on the flowers. I'm sure your friend will be very pleased with the gift!

John

[Esmeralinda]

I also think your friend will be delighted....if not, send it here :D
Very beautiful Hydrangeas !

[winecountry]

I am trying to paint mostly portraits and figures lately, but had a chance to make this 8 x 10 tonight. It's in water color and gouache (is it Kosher to mix?). The scene's from a friend's house near the water in Massachusetts. Is is worth framing for a gift? C&C appreciated.


Done all the time, sometimes by top notch artists, only caveat is if you enter some shows, they may have a transparent watercolor only rule....it's nice as is, has a lovely feel to it...... if you were going to work more, you might want to make a bit more color changes with some small glazes in the empty upper right quadrant,

I did a few things in PS, which you might consider, I did only what I thought might help and in a way that doesn't call for a lot of reworking, mostly adding a transparent glaze, and lifting off some areas

1 Cool off this area with a cool glaze after you gently lift off that strong red
( use a natural sponge, lift don't rub)

2. In a few places put in some crisp edges on the flowers they are the focal point, do this mainly on the ones on the left corner of the bench, not on the far end.

3 In this area lift off some of that dark, and glaze a very milky transparent wash of a warm blue over it, it's so dark it's getting too much attention, this will give more depth too.

4. lift off dark and soften the edge here, again to send it back and near here add a few small greenish blue glazes here and there to break up the land from the sky.

5. lift off a bit of the dark and glaze with the milky transparent blue


All of this has one goal to give you more arial perspective, and let the flowers be the focal point. Your darkest darks and lightest lights meeting belong to the focal point So where ever else that is happening( like that right quadrant) needs adjusting for value.

[aureliof]

Brookstream, Wayne, Ella Ann and John, thank you so much for your comments. Much appreciated. Linda, i think it would be fair for WC moderators and guides to claim one or two pieces in exchange for your good service and guidance. Can i get an amen? :clap: Colleen, thank you so very much for the lesson contained in your reply. Watercolor is new to me and I hadn't thought of atmosphere. Ironically,it's exactly what i am trying to express -- the summer evening light, the golden heart of it that lingers and seeps into the shadows. Hopefully this reflects some of your good thoughts. Many thanks -- Aurelio

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/28-Nov-2010/115206-Hydrangea_Bench_2.jpg

[Esmeralinda]

Aurelio, you are a sweetheart :heart:
I think the atmospheric perspective is better with this last version but I did like your darker blue and harder edged shadows following the trunks !!
My personal taste :rolleyes:

I think you will do just fine with watercolours :thumbsup:

[winecountry]

very nice work for beginning watercolor, and I think greatly improved for light, it may be the photo, but the darker lines you added are a bit spotty, I'd take a small stiff brush wet it and soften them a little more, and I maybe forgot to mention, I added a bit of shadow under the flowers to knock back that corner of the bench from taking so much attention

like this, very minor a wash or two that's it.
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/28-Nov-2010/103030-bench-Hydrangea_Bench_2.jpg

The trouble with gifts is they tend to stay around, so always give your best work...I'm still looking at a family group portrait I did as a young artist, which I was quite proud of at the time, and every time I visit my brother, I'm faced with looking at all the mistakes I made!:lol: