Kahless (Pastel on Suede, Dog, In Process)

Roan · #1 03-10-2001, 09:46 PM

This is a painting I'm currently working on and I could really, really use some suggestions on that background. The dog is coming along fine, but the background is making me cringe. Should I crop it? Blast that blue pine tree out by the roots?

Pastel on Suede, approx 13" x 13"

This is a cropped version of what I had up here originally. I cropped out most of the background, which was competing with the dog. Still want some suggestions, please.

<IMG SRC="http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/10-Mar-2001/k3c.jpg" border=0>

You know, I would KILL for a GOOD range of brown ochre. Not gold, or yellow or whatever ochre, but a brown ochre that's not too yellow, not too red -- animal ochre. I have my Schmincke set but the range is rather limited. The colors are so close together. Sigh.

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Roan
Call caraid tadhal tric, 's call caraid tadhal ainmig.
-- Friends are lost by calling often, and by calling seldom.
RoanStudio.com <-- pastel open stock vendor sources & reviews!

[This message has been edited by Roan (edited March 10, 2001).]

Shari · #2 03-10-2001, 10:21 PM

Roan,

He's so cute I just want to hug him! What a great pic. Is the background your backyard? Nice deck and stream. Where do you live? Looks beautiful. I agree the background is busy, because the dog is the picture.

Shari

Roan · #3 03-10-2001, 10:27 PM

Shari:

Aw, thank you. Kahless would LOVE you to hug him, he's that kind of dog. Very affectionate, very sensitive. My little boy :P

That was our backyard in Michigan, in 1999. We owned that house for approximately 8 months, then moved to Virginia. Two moves in one year!

Ack, stream? Help! That's a patio brick type wall. Guess I need to work on that one :P

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Roan
Cuir a-mach an Sasannach, thoir a-staigh an cù, 's tog an teine gu math . .*. bidh oidhche fhuar ann a-nochd.
-- Put out the Englisman, bring in the dog, and stoke the fire well . . . it will be a cold night tonight.
RoanStudio.com <--- supply resources for pastelists!

gmc · #4 03-11-2001, 06:32 AM

Roan, Very nice collie!!! I wish I could help with background except if it were me I would take out the fence, tree and deck. Actually, what am I talking about. At the moment I am up to my neck in "noses" and can't see anything except nostrils!!!!!!gloria

Shari · #5 03-11-2001, 10:14 AM

Aw, thank you. Kahless would LOVE you to hug him:

Is his name Kahless as in something Irish, or as in a Clingon warrior?

Shari

Roan · #6 03-11-2001, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Shari:
Is his name Kahless as in something Irish, or as in a Clingon warrior?

*moan* The Klingon. I did not name him!

See, we originally got Gaelan, our oldest collie, for me. He was supposed to be my dog -- and he was. For a while. However, he became jealous of my cat, Adrian, and started treating everyone the same.

Anyhow, my husband decided HE wanted his own collie. We brought home the little white guy and he decided he wanted a name that was big and strong and warrior-like. Thus, Kahless. Within a month, Kahless totally bonded to me and not my husband. Gaelan decided my husband was king and bonded to him.

So, we are bonded with the "wrong" dogs and are each stuck with dog names we don't care for at all :P Kahless is a misnomer for this dog if I ever heard one.

We want to get a blue merle in the spring and we both think we'll just name him "Blue" :P

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Roan
Cuir a-mach an Sasannach, thoir a-staigh an cù, 's tog an teine gu math . .*. bidh oidhche fhuar ann a-nochd.
-- Put out the Englisman, bring in the dog, and stoke the fire well . . . it will be a cold night tonight.
RoanStudio.com <--- supply resources for pastelists!

Roan · #7 03-11-2001, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by gloria777a:
Roan, Very nice collie!!! I wish I could help with background except if it were me I would take out the fence, tree and deck. Actually, what am I talking about. At the moment I am up to my neck in "noses" and can't see anything except nostrils!!!!!!gloria

Heh, noses

Yep, I'm probably gonna take out the deck et al and just fill it with the grass.

Thanks!

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Roan
Cuir a-mach an Sasannach, thoir a-staigh an cù, 's tog an teine gu math . .*. bidh oidhche fhuar ann a-nochd.
-- Put out the Englisman, bring in the dog, and stoke the fire well . . . it will be a cold night tonight.
RoanStudio.com <--- supply resources for pastelists!

dmartellart · #8 03-11-2001, 10:22 PM

Roan, have you tried mixing colors together to get that perfect ochre? I think I know the color you mean. I had to paint a rooster that had a breast of that beautiful reddish gold. It was a monster mixing the colors. I kept playing with a dark brown, red, and cad yellow. (There may have been some dark blue in there too, but you have to be careful that it doesn't go green.)
For the background, you could go more fuzzy-abstract, and bring up more blues behind his head. It will really pop those orange-browns.

What a handsome boy! Donna

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My favorite thing about pastel: you have to color over the lines!

Roan · #9 03-11-2001, 10:38 PM

Oh, definitely, Donna :P

Thing is this is the third dog I've done lately that is this color or very close to it. It would just make life a lot easier if I had a basis to start with instead of constantly fiddling with colors trying to get the right mix.

Thanks for the comments on Kahless! He most certainly is a handsome dog :P

Oh, if you want to look, I've revised the background and reposted under a different thread here.

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Roan
Cuir a-mach an Sasannach, thoir a-staigh an cù, 's tog an teine gu math . .*. bidh oidhche fhuar ann a-nochd.
-- Put out the Englisman, bring in the dog, and stoke the fire well . . . it will be a cold night tonight.
RoanStudio.com <--- supply resources for pastelists!

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