Backgrounds!! My Ruination... - Finished

[RWSewell]

I'm with Candle. Only recently have I begun to treat the background with any great thought and while I recognize its importance the background still isn't where my enthusiam lies. If I'm working on a portrait it's the little girl's phiz that captures my attention, not the park bench she's sitting on, so I do the background first to, in the broadest sense, get it out of the way.

If you remember to draw what you see and not what you think you see this will be a winner.

Rob

[marieUK]

First of all I wanted to say I think your flowers are beautiful and your background is off to a good start. I'm one of those that has made myself love doing the background. I try to look at the whole thing and put a lot of effort into the right background and work on the connections between each element in my work. A good background can lift a good painting to a great painting. If I work it all out in the beginning I don't have to worry about ruining what I've done.....well not anymore than I do anyway Good luck, I'm sure it'll be fine

[Northern Lass]

Thank you Douglass, salemskye, candle, Rob and MarieUK!! I've taken on board all you guy's have suggested. NEXT project, I'll force myself to tackle the background first. I'll also make a point to NOT USE GRAPHITE for the first outlines!! Even though I used a very light touch, I have STILL found it's marked the paper. It's one hell of a job to get any colour in the ridge it's left. I'll use the colour pencil relevant for the line next time.

I think I'll also use a darker green, and will post the piece so far tomorrow.

G'night all,

Ange
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[Etoiledusoir]

Ange, the flower is beautiful so far and your background already in place seems to work well with it! I think, as others have said before me, you could go on, strengthening the colors of the flower and by continuing a blurred background still light touch. The background often seem boring to do, after a few setbacks I reversed the process starting with that. Now, I integrates as I go, around the drawing to better see the colors that go with the motif by creating a harmony.

[moolane]

Originally Posted by Northern Lass

Hi Michelle, many thanks. Yes, I can push the darks a bit more maybe. NOT on that background though. It's such a horrible day here in Lincolnshire, drizzly rain all day so far - but boy, do we need it!! Officially in drought conditions, with a ban on using a hose pipe to water garden/wash vehicles etc. STILL, my gain, this weather..... I CAN carry on colouring without feeling GUILTY!!!

Ange
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Send some of that rain our way! We are currently on high alert for fires since we had such a mild winter (very little snow) and hardly any rain this spring. When the weather is bad, I definitely don't feel as guilty staying inside working on my art! However, I get really grumpy on days that I can't spend time in my studio.

[Northern Lass]

Well, been plodding on today, got a bit more done. Also added to background, bottom left of picture. Don't know whether to just darken it up a bit.

Ange
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[jumpmaster]

Originally Posted by RWSewell

If you remember to draw what you see and not what you think you see this will be a winner.

Rob

I say this to myself all the time. Excellent advise as it relates to backgrounds. But just excellent advise in general.

[RWSewell]

What a gorgeous piece. The colors on the petals are so delicate.

Rob

[marieUK]

Excellent flowers and I think the background is coming on well too

[ocmd123]

I like the purple you've got in the upper corner. You're really doing a very nice job with the mottled/blurred background.

[Jazz]

Hi! Neighbour ,

I think this is turning into a lovely flower piece -Keep going! Don't let your fear get the better of you it can be paralysing - I know I've been there.

I love the softness of this and I really love your water droplets and also the colours you have used in the underside of the petals -it works beautifully As for the background, I really think the colours you are using are complimenting the flower colours really well.

Just keep doing what your doing -its working .

I am looking forward to seeing the finished piece -no pressure

Ali

[Northern Lass]

Following my thread some days ago about backgrounds, I did as was suggested by some and it's finished. I've used a LITTLE zest-it as I'm very new to this type of blending. I know the background is **busy** and probably ruins it a bit, but not got the courage to 'zest-it' all of it Anyway, here it is. Quite pleased, after a 4-year break the very first thing I've done.

Thank you for looking,

Ange
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[clydeine]

very pretty! I dont think the background is busy. I agree it is very intimidating to do something new like use a solvent on something you have put hours and hours into getting it this far. Anyway, very nice piece!

[bib]

Very nice, lovely and soft. I like the background. Beautiful!
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Angela

[George924]

Regardless if the background is busy or not, it is the manner of the flow of the design you have achieved. It is pleasing to the eye and helps direct your vision throughout the piece. Me personally, I like the darker start at the upper left corner. I think it would have made the piece fulminate and really made the piece stand out.