Cacti WIP

[kahlanne]

I tried to correct some of the shading as you all suggested from my original sketch. Last night I worked on the painting and either over worked it or something because it was just horrible. Today I decided to give it another shot. It seems that I can get the first wash down and maybe even the second which allows some shading but that is about it. This is where I messed up last night also. I just don't know how to "darken" or "deepen" the image without the drawing appearing choppy instead of fluid. Do I work with the same colors and add more over the top of what I have now? Or do I need to add additional colors? I want the final piece to be bright and a little loose. I am not sure if you can help but I will appreciate any advice you can give. Thanks!

I just wanted to add that the ground isn't quite as grey as the scan reads but more of a greyish green. Sorry I can't describe it well enough.

[artmom]

You have a good start here. What kind of paint are you using, what size is it, and what kind of paper is it on?

Are you waiting for each layer to dry before putting on the next wash (glaze)?

If you use the UPLOADER button above, we can see your image while commenting/critiquing. That makes it easier for us.

[kahlanne]

I used the uploader button and I can see my image in the post. I take it you can't. I will try again to upload it.



As for your other questions, I am using aquafine paints by Daler-Rowney. The paper size is 5"x7" also by aquafine. I was given this kit as a present. There are some symbols at the top of the paper but I am not sure what they stand for. The are A5, 12 with folded paper underneath, 250g/m, and an acid free symbol.

As for waiting for the paint to dry, I have tried. Let's see if I can explain...Let's say I am painting one round cacti...I used watery paint to paint the base layer but before I am finished with the cacti, part of it has dried and therefore shows my brush strokes. Is this wrong? Should I be using much more water? Again I am so sorry that I can't describe this any better.

[Alan Cross]

Good start just keep going you are doing fine...
Alan

[kahlanne]

Alan thank you so much for the reply. Any tips on how to cont. on?

[painterbear]

Hi Kahlanne,

This is really a BIG improvement over your original try at this painting. The composition is much more interesting because the cactus leads the viewer's eyes into the painting toward the lovely sky and mountains.

Looks like the light is coming from the upper right quadrant (facing it on my screen) so you shadows and darker greens should be on the left and lower parts of the cactus pads.

You can add some blue or purple where you want the shadows and darks to be on your cactus, or you can use a deeper shade of green (add some burnt sienna to the green mixture you are presently using).

From your description of painting and getting brush strokes, it sounds as if you are using a small brush with not enough paint to move loosely. Try using more paint and painting the entire cactus as one shape rather than each individual pad. You can do that as you add details.

Gotta go, it is starting to thunder.

[Alan Cross]

Sylvia beat me to it but her advice is good....just keep adding paint till you are happy then repost it...
Alan

[alisoun]

I'm not sure where I read this, and I probably won't explain it with much eloquence, but there's a smart way to fill in a shape to get an even, flat wash. It's just like painting a wall in the house.

You start in one corner and paint a connected 'shape' until you need more paint. Then, you put your brush partway into the wet part of the shape and keep spreading and smoothing the color out from there. If you go back into the more dry part of the shape you get a blot. So, it is really like painting out from the corner of the wall. I know cacti don't have corners, but you have to start on some edge and not get 'behind' yourself into the partially dry paint.

I really like your composition and choice of colors. It's going to be dramatic with the shading you are talking about.

I'm also a newbie watercolorist. Figuring out how differently the paint and paper behave as they start to dry is both facinating and frustrating.


alisoun

[Bill J]

this is an interesting composition. Read paintbears comments again and follow what she said and it should come out good


bill

[al22]

Here are a few suggestions and a visual.....

Your sky is quite strong...warm colors come forward, cooler ones recede. So your sky is trying to get in front of your foreground...



1. lighten the sky and add in some cool colors...
2 add some sky colors to the foreground for added harmony
3 determine a light source and darken the cactus on the off side
4 add some cast shadows to keep the cactus from 'floating...
5 try to wash out the line around the mountains and use color and value to differentiate shapes.....

Suggestions are overemphasized for demonstration...........

Forgive me for messing with your picture..........

It's a good start on a Southwesty pic.....

.........al

[pampe]

Listen to Big Al...^^^ he's a great resouce

I agree...

[SouthernSun]

You are doing fine. Just hang in there. Figuring out how much paint to mix with water is one of the things you can only learn by doing.