"old Mexican House"

[dsimons]

Step # 1 Toned the panel with burnt sienna. Quickly (while squinting )rendered
the dark shapes or pattens with burnt sienna and ivory black. Wiped out with mineral spirits and a paper towel the bright shapes or notes. Used a
Q - tip to wipe or map out smaller notes , since this is a very complicated value pattern. Seems almost too busy , but i likes tha lacey light and shadow patterns. Now the value study is complete.
Step #2 Im starting to introduce color into the larger notes, adding some
variation, being careful not to loose the values in each area.

Will send more pics as work progresses, not sure i can finish today, would like to though.

[dsimons]

Step #3 an d #4 I introduce more color and variantions , working from the large shapes and then within those shapes.
Step #5 Touch ups and finished piece.

I will also show some brushwork and the photo that i worked from

[dsimons]

Here are some pics showing closeups of the brushwork.

[SusanEleven]

Thank you for posting this, David. It is so revealing and a joy to behold! I am learning so much from your WIPs and this one in particular. It's great to see the original photo as that gives me a little glimmer of insight into your thought process.
I love the burnt sienna toning of the canvas - it works spectacularly in this scene and makes the whole painting shimmer. The upclose and pesonal photos of the brush work are awesome - they capture your intense sense of freedom, confidence and joy.
This shows me that you consistently "see beyond the usual" and capture it so well.
I am saving this to my favorites to savour again and again and try to learn from your approach. Thank you a million for your generosity in showing this to us!

[SusanEleven]

Ooops-forgot to ask the colors on your palette...............

[dsimons]

The colors, that i used were: burnt sienna , cobalt blue, yellow ochre, naples yellow, arzilian crimson, white and black.
Thanks for your comments Susan

[SusanEleven]

David, since watching you paint, I have added Naples Yellow to my palette and have taken to it like a bee to honey. It's a wonderful understated color and mixes well with other colors. I also am beginnng to experiement with just a tiny touch of black. I have been using raw umber for my darkest darks until now but will try black. I just hope I don't get carried away with it. You seem to have it so well controlled and use quite effectively.

[dsimons]

naples yellow is such a wonderfull color, i see alot of it in the natural landscape

[dsimons]

Thanks so much Susan for all the time you spend commenting and critiqing my work. Very much appreciated. I'm so happy that your now trying naples yellow. Its such a cool color by itself and for lightening other colors.

[LynnDigby]

David, this is really such a gift! I appreciate so much the time you take to do the step by step WIPs. They are truly helpful and inspiring. The thing that i find interesting is that your art is your art - distinctive to you - whether your ref is from life or from a photo, which I think is freeing. You can interpret and overlay your response to color and value and light.

Man, you paint fast too.

You are a rare breed, an accomplished painter who is also a teacher at heart. Thank you for your generosity.

[dsimons]

Thank you Lynn for your kind thoughts about my work, very encouraging.

[LynnDigby]

You talk about encouraging, you ought to see the collection of work my kids did the last couple days. We tried your method, and it is just really amazing what they made! I'd say none of the works took longer than 2 hours, most far less, and they are established, working pieces....detail only needed now.

Thanks. I can't say that enough!

[shirleyq]

I have voted to give this thread an excellent rating. Thank you for posting it.

[ujwala]

Found this link through Lynn. Your painting is fabulous! And I would like to try a painting following your technique. I'm a newbie and so the question I have for you is pretty basic. I hope you dont mind.

dsimons: Step #2 Im starting to introduce color into the larger notes, adding some variation, being careful not to loose the values in each area.

When you reach the coloring in stage and are filling it in do you follow something like 3 values for each object? I've read about something like that in Charles Sovek's book but as yet the meaning of it hasnt actually sunk in. or do you follow the pattern that you'd layed in initially?

Thank you

[tremblad]

Inspiring. Will try that. The result is awesome! Please, post more WIP ...