"Wishing it Was His Turn To Go" At this stage, I am adding color to the monotone under painting (see previous blogs). Some artists complete small color studies before they begin their work, but I am figuring out my palette as I go. The teal in the screen door at the right will compliment the with the yellowish bricks on the right. The reddish brown of the upturned picnic table and houses across the street will compliment and play against the greens of the grass and figures t- shirt. Because I didn't have the tonal values properly worked out in the under painting (remember I forgot to stain the panel for my mid tones) adding this light layer of colour did not improve the situation. As well as I painted quickly I have lost a lot of detail - like the birds and fence posts. Not to worry- details are like the cherry on the cake - saved for last, rather than first.
Tomorrow, I will add some more detail to the person- I want to start "connecting" with him by bringing him into more into focus, & making him more real to me (like developing a character when you write). I also want to get that division of dark and light in there. When i squint at the painting the "L" shape (an L on its back) of the deck railing , t-shirt and screen door should be very dark - in shadow. The band of fencing should be lighter- more mid tones. The "L" (and L facing down) of the brick wall and sky should be light. I also want to get the birds placed back in .
"Cat Mysteries- The Visitor" Still in the mood to paint, and should be removing my artist cap for chief cook and bottle washer with four hungry people arriving home expecting their dinner, I quickly dash out the darks and some of the colour for Cat Mysteries. More fun than more serious subject and detailed work, that's for sure!