Paint by Number experiment

mtnrunner · #1 10-20-2011, 03:45 AM

I've started doing small daily paintings to hopefully push me in a new direction. Today's effort was an experiment in laying down color like our old paint by number kits. No blending, just spots of color next to each other. Really makes you pay attention to value and temperature!! These are all small, only 5x7, and I used a #4 and a #6 flat, but i could still get pretty small dots of color. I'd like to try this on a larger size - was kinda fun. (the background is just done regular, in case anybody was wondering).

gfxwiz · #2 10-20-2011, 07:52 AM

I really like this Deb and I mean that. You must have been having fun cuz the time stamp on your post is in the wee hours (at least by my standards). This has a sketchy kind of feel but still very cohesive. It has good contrast and plenty of light. I think your experiment worked quite well. ~Don

mtnrunner · #3 10-20-2011, 09:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gfxwiz

I really like this Deb and I mean that. You must have been having fun cuz the time stamp on your post is in the wee hours (at least by my standards). This has a sketchy kind of feel but still very cohesive. It has good contrast and plenty of light. I think your experiment worked quite well. ~Don

Yep, wee hours for sure. I made the commitment to do these daily, and sometimes I don't get started till after the evening news! I try to limit them to an hour. The hope is that doing this will lead me to made more intentional, well-judged brushstrokes on "real" paintings, and eventually be able to do this with good edges too. But I hate working this small....

**Catherine1** · #4 10-20-2011, 09:41 AM

Deb.. Very impressionistic! Way, way cool!

**jennaboo88** · #5 10-20-2011, 12:44 PM

Now that sounds like a fun project! I can imagine it really forces you to pay close attention to every brushstroke and color you lay down. The result is very pleasing to the eye. If I were to try the paint-by-number effect, it would probably look like the ones I did when I was 9 years old: stripey, poor color choices, and wobbly little lines where I thought too hard about where to put the paint.

I love this! Do you do a sketch first, or just go straight to paint?

scatdaddy · #6 10-20-2011, 07:03 PM

Deb, this is one of those rare experiments where things went right! It'll really be interesting, if and when you decide to step up the size, what comes out. My bet will be even better results.

evartpat · #7 10-20-2011, 08:10 PM

Very nice! Great loose feel and wonderful light...

max nelson · #8 10-20-2011, 11:19 PM

Deb..I admire your goals of constant progress and I believe that this is a good way to 'knock them out' fast and furious. I am constantly reminded to not worry one to death and start another.

The paint by number experiment made a local artist a lot of money. Jack Wahl was either the head or owner of two paint by number companies for over 25 years. One of them was the largest in the country. But don't let the 'paint by number' fool you...he is an excellent artist. Here is his website if you are interested.
http://www.wix.com/jswahl/-creations

Basically, painting this way is much the way good artist start some paintings with broad applications of the values/tones and then blending them.

Max

mtnrunner · #9 10-21-2011, 12:24 AM

Thanks all... gonna do some more of these I think....
Max, you are a wealth of information... I checked out the site. Very interesting...
Really, when you think of it, paint by number method is what we need to do!!!

mollerman · #10 10-21-2011, 02:34 AM

This sure seems to work well. As long as you are happy with the end results, I don't think it really matters how one gets there?

Lisa M · #11 10-21-2011, 01:55 PM

It's a nice looking bay--a stallion I'm guessing? You really did his (her?) face well considering the one-shot approach. I couldn't get it right like that with ten layers.

Salute to our Partners