2nd ever WIP - grapevine

[EwetopiaNZ]

Hi all,

Here is my second ever WIP
I was working from Sandy1's online class http://www.countrycottagestudio.home...CLASSROOM.html
Initially I just drew in the leaves then added the grapes as an afterthought
As this was just supposed to be a test painting and not a "real" one, I now don't know if I should/could add some sort of background.
My husband thinks it's nice ( not that he is biased or anything ) and that I should "finish" it.

I still have some work to do on the leaves and a lot to do on the grapes, it's just the background that I would like some help with. The yellowish dots on the grapes are WN maskling fluid.
Not a great photo, a bit washed out and blurry and the colours on the leaves look a bit patchy too hmmmm ... I will try take a better one later.

Many thanks for all C & C's

[EwetopiaNZ]

Hmm I think this is a better (also more recent!) pic. Not sure why I was not able to edit my previous post, so had to make a new one ?

[madmum]

You only have one hour to edit a post

Very nice grapes! Backgrounds are tricky, if this was mine I would make it a vignette, with a little background using the same colours you used already (more green/gold behind the grapes, more purple behind the leaves).

Ruth

[bluegenes]

Good advice from Ruth. Keep going, you are doing well!

Patty

[EwetopiaNZ]

Hi Ruth and Patty,

Many thanks for the input. A vignette sounds like a good idea. Many thanks!

The grapes are a bit scary....As a newbie I am still "afraid of the darks"
I know I need to go darker to have more realistic grapes At the moment they look like rainbow grapes..pretty but not very realistic lol

Cheers
Terry

[laudesan]

Pulling up a chair next to Patty..

[D.J.]

Wonderful, Terry!

[EwetopiaNZ]

Hi all,
Sorry to keep you waiting

Here is the next installment of the WIP... I have added some darks to the grapes, the vine itself and ummm...yeah..some other fiddly bits!



Still some work to do but it's getting there... I am still debating the vignette idea, I am terrified of messing the whole thing up

Let me know what you think!

Cheers
Terry

[laudesan]

Terry those leaves are beautiful and those grapes oh yum!! I might be inclined to drop a little red into those grapes to give them more glow..

Isn't Sandy's work awesome!!

[Ms. Gee]

Terry,

I just gotta throw in my dos pesos. This is really nice. I especially like the leaves and the veins.

On the background, I'd just do something very light. Paint with water only and then drop in some light areas of color. I'd be sure to add some purple in the bottom left to balance out the grapes being so dominantly on the right. Drop in some of the green you've used in the leaves and a touch of whatever other colors you might have used. This will give it a more completed look.

Just my opinion -- I've always got one to give away!

Good luck! Don't worry, you won't mess it up if you just do a little color at a time!
Grace

[Ken W]

Hi Terry,

Looks great so far!

I am terrified of messing the whole thing up

I found that when I stopped letting any part of a painting become precious and felt free to mess up my anxiety decreased and enjoyment increased. Another benefit of knowing that if you did something you liked once you can do it again is that creativity and looseness are more likely to happen then...I apologize if I'm starting to sound preachy--just wanted to share what was a helpful realization for me and which I still have to remind myself of from time to time.

I'm looking forward to seeing how this develops and what you decide to do with it!

Cordially,

Ken

[southernOhio]

Thank you for taking the time to share this...It is great... & I would love to see how you do the vignette.

[EwetopiaNZ]

Hi all,

Well I think this is finshed... getting nervous about fiddling too much

Birds took a couple of the grapes and a bug ate a hole in one of the leaves, but other than that ( ), all is as good as it's going to get!
Unfortunately one of my many mistakes has become very obvious in the photograph, though not as noticable on the painting, thank goodness.
I have much to learn but I have learned much with this painting.

Things this has taught me:
Tape your paper down while painting, even if the paper has been stretched.
Don't mess with damp paper/paint
Don't make highlights too large, better to make smaller initial highlights then "scrape" more in at the end if necessary.
Too much of a good thing is not that good

As a second ever painting I think it turned out ok. I just need to keep practicing and get my hands on the same wavelength as my brain!

Thanks for all the great help and support!
So here it is....even signed it like a real artist! lol

[Ms. Gee]

Great finish! Matt and frame this wonderful painting! We never stop learning, do we!

Grace

[mimitabby]

nice work! second painting!!! i love the soft background and the front leaf.