Comments on: a night in Spout Cave

By: swatch

swatch — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 08:28:11 +0000

Yep – that’s the secret – thanks hey

By: lookingforbeauty

lookingforbeauty — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 23:37:28 +0000

Stunning light in this one – and a few others, above. I sense your style is changing. Practice, practice, practice.
K

By: swatch

swatch — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 18:06:19 +0000

In one of the books I read the artist looked at his paintings through a lens or something to get new perspective. We are so lucky with digital – it costs nothing – once you are set up – to photograph and view a piece differently. I hope you get a chance to paint this weekend.

By: lesliepaints

lesliepaints — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 12:51:22 +0000

Sorry I read your question incorrectly about the photo thing. Yes, there is a glow on the computer that seems to light up the piece.

By: swatch

swatch — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 09:03:03 +0000

Hi Leslie – Aha nice insights – yes – I like the process you describe about using photos. I guess if I did more thorough value sketches I could work some of the process into the planning. As it happens I did two little colour sketches but that was more to test the colours to see if they produced a glow. My comment about photos was too vague. What I find is that I can appreciate my paintings more when I see the photos of the paintings on the blog. I wonder if that is like seeing something new.
I am replanning the painting with more of a bridge between the snow bank and the cave – it seems cut off. I like what you said about the diagonals and will keep that movement in.
Thank you for your input – this is such a great learning experience here. You have a real coaching nature to your input.

Stephen

By: lesliepaints

lesliepaints — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 00:35:23 +0000

I try to paint a scene differently than I see the photo. I try to record the best of what I get from a scene. Sometimes I crop it for a better composition. I re-evaluate throughout. So, when I appreciate the photo more than the painting I know that I’m not done. My photos are never a work of art as I am a poor photographer. I use them purely as reference and try to whap a painting with something of myself. Does that make sense to explain it that way? I love the diagonals that are created in this in the foreground leading the eye to the light. The band at the top leads my eye back down to the light.

By: swatch

swatch — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 06:43:01 +0000

Thanks Leslie – yes this is a good project. The big painting is also a challenge even if it is because everything takes so long – no 10 minute sketches.
As I look at it now there are some changes I would like to make. I think the glow works. It is strange though that it seems to be easier to appreciate this looking at the photos than looking at the actual painting. Do you get that? I would like to break up the lower band of rock. It is actually a tumble of rocks down the gully with a band of rock below the entrance to the cave. I also want to darken the area on the right, under the rock wall. And sort out the snow and the plants (mmm – yuck) – I would like to create a sense of rock face above the cave but am not sure how I will do that.
I realised last night as I worked on my other painting that creating darks requires LOTS of colour. I don’t use black, prefering to mix darks from Alizarin Crimson with Winsor Green or Ultramarine.
The painting is 15 x 22 inches so it is not that much area to cover.
I am hoping to have some time to work today.

By: lesliepaints

lesliepaints — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 21:56:52 +0000

No ideas unless you want to define the rocks more and darken certain areas to cause the opening to be even brighter. Maybe Keith can share with us how many layers he may use to build up his darks. You are using heavier paper so it may take more to achieve his strength of darks. Don’tknow. I like it, though. Are you feeling more challenged, in studio, now?