I wanted to see if I could capture light coming through very thin orange slices. This represents close to eight hours of transferring the image onto the watercolor paper with a graphite pencil; then adding color from a pallette that has been sitting silent for about 3 years...drying.The painting, I think, is acceptable in this small format, but when magnified to larger, or original size, the massive amount of overworking I did shows quickly.
I think with fresh paints, I would have been able to achieve the dark background without the many layers this one required. Also, I wanted the foreground in a light, sap green with reflections coming off the slices. It didn't work out too well when I realized the shadows had to be as dark as they are. Overall, here, it looks ok. I'll post it and see what falls out.
Thanks to Wagner Compelo at Flickr.com for granting me permission to paint his photo.
graphite and watercolor on 140# arches sketchbook 8x10
This is an absolutely beautiful perspective on orange slices!
ReplyDeleteNice work, Jim, it really glows!
ReplyDeleteJim,
ReplyDeleteYour orange slices turned out very well! You sure captured the light through
them.
Nice work. Your pears are great looking too. Looks like you can pick them
right off the plate and take a bite!
Donn
It doesn't look bad at all. I think you managed to capture the effect you were after. On the smaller reproduction it has almost the look of oil paint, and this could perhaps be because of the overworking you talk about, but in that case, you overworked it well!
ReplyDeleteOne thing that does strike me though: with such thing slices, I would expect light to some extent to shine through the slices and end up in the shadow area. But your shadows are entirely dark. well, I wasn't there so I didn't see the scene as you saw it. So just a thought about how a bit more sparkle could possibly be added to such a painting.
But overall, a very attractive piece, and surely much better than anything I could come up with at this stage!
-Brian, from EDM group.
How beautiful! Those darks are very difficult to get (for me), and the slices really glow.
ReplyDeleteI'm loving that we get to enjoy the size of painting that is clearly, glowingly working well! Brian's comments are astute and kind advice so I'm going to jump on his trolley and second all of that. Excellent return of the remoistened paints!
ReplyDeleteWhat an interesting study.
ReplyDeleteIncredible painting, you really captured that light well.
ReplyDeleteThese slices are great! You really captured the transparency of the orange. The light and dark works nicely. I enjoy your blog!!
ReplyDeleteI think this is great...just beautiful.
ReplyDeletesandy
Jim,
ReplyDeleteYour orange slices have worked briliantly. The darkness of the background and
shadows brings out their translucency - a powerful marmaladey quality.
Great work
Menekse
This is great! The darks you achieved are very rich and set off the orange slices beautifully.
ReplyDeleteI think it turned out beautifully! Those orange slices just glow against the rich darks.
ReplyDeleteGreat concept! I love the way the light is coming through the slices. Looks great on here!
ReplyDeleteNice painting. Glad you are painting again.
ReplyDeleteGlowing oranges, how beautiful! I think it's amazing.
ReplyDeleteI am facinated by this painting. I cannot imagine how you got the oranges to look transparent and the light to shine through! Amazing. I have just discovered your art/your blog and am in love!
ReplyDeleteLisa