Florida Series Painting #3 - WIP (Need help with name)

[C_Line]

Okay, I decided since I had taken break from flowers for the last few paintings, and I knew I wanted to paint this one, I'd go ahead and start this as my 3rd in the Florida series. I'm not sure what the name of this plant is, but it's in the tropical / orchid building at the Marie Selby Botanical Garden in Sarasota, Florida. I couldn't find the label anywhere, so Howard, or anyone...if you know the name of this specimen, please let me know!

I decided to approach this as a "grisaille" effort and so I printed my photo in greyscale, sketched in with pencil on the 16" x 20" canvas as shown below and started my greyscale painting tonight - really just blocking in values and establishing the layout a bit. I'll continue to work this up to a "completed" stage in greyscale before layering in colors.

Here's my reference photo:



Here's a photo of the sketched stage:



Here's as far as I got tonight with start of grisaille:

[linda28]

I know this is gonna be a gorgeous painting.This is the one i hoped you pick! Cant wait to see it.

[*Violet*]

ooooo ... nice ... i wanna see how this one goes too ...

[rmc]

fab graiseillle - perfect subject for one and I'm delighted to see that you've kept it relatively loose using big brushes - looking forward to updates!!!!!!!

[Anthony Dunphy]

Wow...a grisaille Tell my Celeste...is there anything you cannot paint? Beautifull!!!

[C_Line]

Well I hope not to let all down! As values are fundamentally so important to a well-executed painting, I thought this to be the perfect painting in which to demonstrate seeing the different values.

[jan409]

I like the start, am anxious to see it completed. Jan

[swampborn]

Oh, I'm going to enjoy watching the progress on this one. I don't know what the flower is but it is beautiful. I would call it "In the Pink." I really learn a lot from ya'll when you do these WIP's. Thanks.
Gail

[dribear]

YAY! A WIP. I learn so much from them. It looks wonderful so far.

Question: Is a grisaille just a black and white painting with the correct values rendered?

[debsn2paintn]

Can't wait!

[C_Line]

Hi all...glad you're excited about this one and I hope it will be helpful. Yes, Dr. Ibear that's exactly what a grisaille is. I suppose you could just mix black & white...I actually made my greys...I started with Winsor blue and burnt sienna & white - it was too brownish...ended up mixing all sorts of things to get a neutral (can't remember all the colors...you know what happens though when you mix all the colors on the color wheel...mud...so I got a "mud" I liked). Then I just added white to lighten as necessary or black to darken.

Once I get this well established and through to a completed painting, I'll start glazing in colors.

BTW - I did NOT seal my pencil sketch before painting & it's fine. Working in layers precludes the need to seal I think.

When you work from a black and white photo at first, it really allows you to see your values more clearly even if you don't do a grisaille. You need to stand back and squint a lot to make sure you're getting it right and to check the composition too.

Probably won't get to paint tonight as we're taking a high-school graduate out for dinner for a celebration!

[Viuhti]

OMG Celeste! Are you allways this productive? Yu just keep the paintings coming. One fabulous one after another... I have only ever painted a few weeks in a row and then have to take a break for a lot longer.
This will be great too!!!

[Assaf]

Hi Celeste, the painting looks awesome so far. Also, I recommend umber paints for grisalle (the new pale umber I bought seems amazingly muddy... I think it's perfect for this type of thing).

And for the name I suggest Pink Missiles. :-)

[C_Line]

Pirjo - I'm addicted. I've painted all my life but never so steadily since last Fall. I used to paint more in watercolor, but swung pretty much full time to acrylics. A local contest win increased my confidence to a new level and so I started painting more. The more I painted, the more practice, the better I felt about the results. Someday I hope to paint full time and so to that end I try to paint something 3-4 days a week. Practice has increased my speed and stamina. I love to learn and try new things - everyone here has taught me SO much! (P.S. I also have no children and a very supportive, non-demanding husband who loves to see me paint...so that helps me indulge my "habit").

Assaf...in fact raw umber was thrown in the mix! Thanks for the tip.

Okay I have two names "In the Pink" "Pink Missiles"...both very good! Thanks...I'm still looking for the botanical name...anyone know?

[Tazart]

Hi Celeste
Beautiful subject, you have a great eye & photography skills - this is definitely going to be another stunner, I can't wait to see how it progresses (been away/super busy for awhile & currently working backwards to check out your others in the series & about a million other posts !!!)