May-June Painting with the Masters 2011: Alexandre Cabanel - Page 6

mij · #76 05-09-2011, 07:06 PM

I presumed that these would be done full size..... obviously not....just practising drawing the subject? I'm not that good at this size. I will have to grid it to get anything like the original to transfer to the canvas. I assume (there's that word again) that is what we are after?
I don't have a board big enough so will have to get a bit of ply tomorrow.
Sorry to be limping along back here - just as well there's no hurry - I couldn't do that if I tried.
jim
PS Jessica I eventually got gimp to posterize for me but twiddling the controls wouldn't get me to a grey scale like you produced.

pcj · #77 05-09-2011, 07:15 PM

Hello ArtyRolina,

I like your Venus - and the way you cropped it.
I think it'll be a better composition than the original
with all those low-flying cupids !

Patricia

pcj · #78 05-09-2011, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mij

I presumed that these would be done full size..... obviously not....just practising drawing the subject? I'm not that good at this size. .

Hi mij

Yes - drawing studies of our chosen subject for the first 2 weeks in May.
The actual painting starts next week I think.

I hope I'm right about this because I've peppered this forum with my
sketches !

Re: sketch size - my most detailed sketch was done on 18" X 24" paper
and the others were done on 8.5" X 11" paper.

Patricia

**stapeliad** · #79 05-09-2011, 11:25 PM

sorry all, i'll catch up tomorrow on all the new posts.

mij · #80 05-10-2011, 04:40 AM

Hmmm I'll put up the image I get when posterized in gimp. It wouldn't go less than 5 grades of grey.

I chose this size of grid on the image as it corresponds to approximately 1" on the canvas. By this size I can tell that Samson and Delilah have a different aspect ratio to that of the canvas (30" x 24") and will be fitted to the largest dimension on their image - the vertical aspect. I will need to pad out some 3" on the width - 1.5" each side. I suppose I could chop some off the bottom of their image? Advice here would be appreciated.
jim
PS Please ignore the numbers on the image (it was late)

Marigold · #81 05-10-2011, 07:09 AM

Hello Jim, I had the same problem with aspect ratio, I had to reduce the height a bit as well as extend the dress towards the side. Hate to change a composition, but for a study it is just not worth it to custom-cut a support. With your Delilah, i would not cut off anything on the top or bottom because both the headdress and the hand are essential to the picture and are close to the margins as it is. I would extend the image on the sides - easy to do on the left with Delilahs dress, a bit more difficult perhaps with Samson's body on the right, but he is in shadow so you can get away with minimal detail.

Hello Patricia: wow, so many drawings, you are really dedicated to this study!

Good job on the hand, you got very close and I know now how difficult that is. I started a drawing of the hands for the young woman yesterday night and thought it would be quick, but no. Hands are a beautiful subject to draw, just as expressive as faces, so maybe it should not come as a surprise that they are not easy to draw.

Hello Rolina: you are doing it correctely by putting in the tones of the larger shapes before drawing any details. It will be interesting to see where your study is going: your crop makes a very modern design and it will be interesting to see this combined with classical painting technique.

Susanne

mij · #82 05-10-2011, 07:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marigold

Hello Jim, I had the same problem with aspect ratio, I had to reduce the height a bit as well as extend the dress towards the side. Hate to change a composition, but for a study it is just not worth it to custom-cut a support.

I'm glad I'm not the only one then <grin>

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marigold

With your Delilah, <Snipped> I would extend the image on the sides - easy to do on the left with Delilahs dress, a bit more difficult perhaps with Samson's body on the right, but he is in shadow so you can get away with minimal detail.

Yes I can see that'd make a lotta sense.
I've been up and got a bit of board cut to size and stuck my paper on it. Ok for gridding and drawing now.
jim

lovin art · #83 05-10-2011, 03:41 PM

Hey Everyone excuse me for not commenting on you all , I know everyone is working hard and am sure all works will be grand I appreicate your efforts greatly Jess for hosting you and Dave ~ school and other things are limiting me atm.

.. Im going to try and at least make a start on mine Im looking to do some drawing study of her (Venus) as Im not rushing in so my postings will not be much to start with Im looking to do her on butcher paper to start with in charcoal hopefully Ill have something on by the weekend

ArtyRolina · #84 05-10-2011, 04:40 PM

Thanks Patricia, yes I am glad to lose those cupids and much prefer this crop to putting clouds in, it will be interesting, I agree, Susanne to see how it looks in the end.

Good idea, too, Patricia to do some detail studies, I think I might do that with the face. I think you are right that we are doing this for the next two weeks before starting painting, so Jim, no need to panic just yet, nor you Sandra!

Oh, Jim, my study is 18 x 9", so not too large. The painting will be about double that size. Glad you got your board and I look forward to seeing your drawing.

Marigold · #85 05-10-2011, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TinaC

This is a really excellent thread - I have wanted/needed to do a master study for a while now and so will cease lurking and join you if I may. I mainly hang out in the figure forum but I need to develop some decent painting habits and disciplines and reckon this is the place to be. So I'll get drawing and drop back in again soon.

Hello Tina - I forgot to say welcome! It looks like you have some exciting work over in the figure forum, it will be great to have you paint along with us.

Hello Sandra - aren't you glad we have two months

just look in when you can, I get the impression you are a fast painter so I would not be surprised if you completed your Venus before my own portrait is done.

I attempted to draw just the outlines of the lady's hands. They are still by far not correct, but I got a feeling for what the general gesture is and what the aproximate proportions should be.

Susanne

lovin art · #86 05-10-2011, 05:43 PM

Hey Susanne,

The hands are coming together , I can see your trying to get the basic envelope here- its looking good just keep measuring and re adjusting where you need to ... Im not that fast Susanne

, and this one is actually quite big for me, a BIG canvas Im working on for her and also because I am going to paint her skintones directly on so the values will all need to premixed and I want that part to get down right so will take my time ..its the babies Ill hate doing the most , who wouldnt !!

ArtyRolina · #87 05-11-2011, 03:07 AM

Susanne, the hands are making sense, it is such a good idea to get to understand them before you start the painting. Hopefully, it will help to make the painting that much easier.

Sandra, I am a bit dim (if you hadn't noticed already, lol). Do you mean you are going to do a grisaille and use glazes over the top?

lovin art · #88 05-11-2011, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ArtyRolina

Sandra, I am a bit dim (if you hadn't noticed already, lol). Do you mean you are going to do a grisaille and use glazes over the top?

You are certainly not Dim Rolina , and dont talk that why doll , ever !!

and No Rolina not a grisaille , I will draw her on directly on the canvas , and then start adding her in direct painting of the flesh tones ...my cavas is like 156x 120 something big~ish

Hey Tina , saw you on here , Great to see you girl, us figures girls together

ArtyRolina · #89 05-11-2011, 03:23 PM

Ahhh, I see, thanks Sandra, dying to see how your painting progresses and can hardly wait to get started on mine!

TinaC · #90 05-11-2011, 05:07 PM

Not long into this sketch I realised that I dont want to paint Samson at all so I think I am going to do a crop as was originally suggested. I'm really interested in whats been said on this thread about half tones and light and shadow and that will be my main focus, understanding it and doing it in paint.

So here is my rather poor first sketch (too big and done on my lap in front on the TV - bad me) and afterwards I did a few photoshops to throw into the mix. I usually do this when working from photos but to be honest part of me feels like this is cheating, surely we need to train our eyes to do this? However the more dominant other part of me realises I need all the help I can get

So I will do a square format crop and try and get another more careful drawing done by the weekend.

Patricia, I really love your Monk studies. The shadow on the hand does look a bit strange on the painting but its correct and does work, a case of draw/paint what you see.

Rolina the crop you have chosen for the Venus is a fabulous way of updating the painting, cant wait to see how that turns out.

Susanne thank you for the welcome, there seems to be a huge amount of knowledge on this forum and I look forward to hanging around and taking it all in.

Hi Sandra, yeah figure girls getting oily, what could be better?

Really looking forward to this one now I am happy with my comp, I also like Deliliah's unusual looks.

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