This is a value study in Payne's Gray.My first attempt,to be honest.I have read so much about the importance of value study but never really did it.This weekend I loaned
Charles Reid's " Watercolor Solutions".Now I loaned this book about an year ago, too.But at that time it did not inspire me as much as it did this time.So whats the good news here? I am progressing!...Charles has a great style and I would love to be able to paint in the same loose, uninhabited way,some day.The most important thing that I need to learn right now is how to lose some edges and how to find some!There are not going to be any lines and boundaries in these studies, just the mass,the value! I will be doing more tomorrow, keep watching!
It's awesome! Wow! I'm so impressed with your skills, Arti, you are such a conscientious artist and always pushing yourself to learn more and more, even though you're already so good!
ReplyDeleteHello Katherine, thank you so much for your kind comment.I believe that we all are seeking knowledge.Being self taught is tough, one doesn't have a mentor who points out mistakes or gives tips...I have to be my own critic, all the time, find my own faults and try to be better than I am right now.
DeleteThis is indeed beautiful. I love the way you have captured the gaze of the child on the right.
ReplyDeleteBest wishes,
Thank you Vinayak, there are so many things I still have to learn, but the good thing is, I have started my journey...
DeleteI painted the child on the left first but was not satisfied with it so I added another one on the right and tried to rectify previous mistakes.It seems that I managed to do better second time :)
Excellent value study, Arti!! I love the expression on the boy on the right.. Looking forward to your next one..
ReplyDeleteThe boy on the right was painted second.I like him better,too .But I kept them together because it shows the stages of improvement!Thank you for showing interest.
DeleteThe study is very good. I love how the light shows through.
ReplyDeleteThank you Tony.What I learnt here was that its good to lose the lines; makes a portrait look more alive.
DeleteOh these are lovely, the light on their lips, the expression in their eyes. You've captured so much character there.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Julie.I keep trying. I am sorry I have not visited much of my friends' blogs lately,including yours,being busy with shopping for my upcoming visit to India next week ;)But I promise to be good when I return from my vacation, in early September!
DeleteWhat gorgeous little boys! I love the one color portraits so much. I'm not sure why but they are just magical.
ReplyDeleteThanks Sherry,I loved doing this fast paced study and soon I will be posting a self portrait in same style...
DeleteThanks Sherry,I loved doing this fast paced study and soon I will be posting a self portrait in same style...
DeleteThanks Sherry,I loved doing this fast paced study and soon I will be posting a self portrait in same style...
DeleteThis is absolutely gorgeous! I LOVE it!
ReplyDeleteAnd value really is so important!
I learned never to be afraid of the darks and really go for it, because the darker your darks, the lighter your lights will appear!
Another trick when you are working with colour - If you are unsure if your values are right, upload it to your computer and change it to black and white. If it still works it means your values are just fine. If it doesn't work, you can easily see the problem areas :0)
We're all learning as we go - I just thought I'd share some of the things that have helped me along the way :0)
Thanks Sandra, its so good to be able to share our experiences as we go about our journeys...I think thats the whole point of blogging! I will try this,surely.
DeleteIn order to have meaning, everything must come in good time. At least that's what I believe, especially because I'm autodidact.
ReplyDeleteYou have a gorgeous painting there Arti! Enjoy the study :)
Warm regards.
I too believe in this,Konstantina.All good things take time and I am happy to give it time!
DeleteHi Arti. Your words rang so true when I was reading them. I'm not a portrait artist like yourself but my goal is to incorporate some looseness in my work too. Where and how to add those lost edges needs to be learnt over time and I think we learn things in stages. If we aren't ready it doesn't matter how much we try, things just won't go in. So you are not alone in your endeavours to learn to be looser with watercolour. I also think we need to learn to paint things tighter first to then be able to learn how to paint them looser maybe. A great little tonal study btw. Take care. xx
ReplyDeleteLaura,so true! That is why I worked on countless portraits in tight style.I even studied a lot of artists who paint photo realistic portraits.After a lot of practice,now I am confident that I can paint a neat, realistic portrait if I want.Now I am pursuing what my heart really desires, something loose, something magical....
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