Saturday, April 11, 2009

more on the waterlily...

Here's the latest on the waterlily. I've been adding some detail to leaves and have been doing a lot of toning down on those yellows. I found I didn't like the yellow leaves at all. I've also worked on the water. I took out some green which I shouldn't have so I might paint some more back in. I also started some shadows around the flower. When (if) I mat this, I'm going to crop out that dark lilypad in the lower left side. I really don't like it - it's too muddy. I'm getting really tired of this one and want to start a watercolour one of the same design. I like painting with paint I know. These fluid acrylics are nice but they dry so fast, my fingers are permanently stained with anthraquinone blue from splattering with a toothbrush, and they are such a mess to clean up off the palette. LOL. All that said and done, I do like some of the effects but I'm longing to get back to some watercolours. And I know that if I set this aside to do watercolour, I won't be going back to it. Decisions, decisions.

I hope everyone is having a great holiday!

9 comments:

RH Carpenter said...

I'm liking the way this is coming together, Deb. I wouldn't crop out the bottom left lily pad - it gives us a nice dark and quiet area in which to enter and go to the white flower :)

Chris Beck said...

Having tried acrylics last year, I know exactly what you mean!! I love me my watercolors!!! I popped over to your website for a look around -- the hydrangeas knocked my socks off!!

Teresa Palomar Lois said...

If you crop that pad won't you take away part of the lilly too Deb? It's looking good as far as I see it, does it look more muddy in real life?

I can see you looking from the corner of the eye to your watercolors lol, but you must finish this one, it's too good not to!!

Deb Léger said...

Hi Rhonda, thanks! In real life though, that one pad looks very muddy and thick and opaque. Unlike the rest of the painting. I still don't know but I'll keep what you said in mind.

Deb Léger said...

Hi Chris, thanks for stopping by!! Nothing beats watercolour, does it? Thanks for the comment on the hydrangeas. I'm going to paint another hydrangea soon. For me since I gave both mine away. I love your sites by the way!

Deb Léger said...

LOL, Teresa. Yes, I keep looking at it. I'm sick again with a re-infection of that last cold I had only this time it's worse. So, sometimes during this long weekend (with the beautiful weather that I barely notice) I sit on the couch watching tv. I prop the painting up on the floor across from me and continuously watch it. It's not talking to me too much though. I keep waiting for something from it but ..........

ROTFLOL.

debwardart said...

Hang in there, it's coming along great.
Use styrofoam plates for your palette and no need to fight it, just throw them away.
Looking forward to the finished product.

Deb Léger said...

Hi Deb,

What an awesome idea! I will definitely try them! I've been using my ceramic palettes and dishes and what a pain to clean dried acrylic from them. I'm definetely going to use this idea! Thanks very much!!!

Sandy Maudlin said...

Deb, For that muddy leaf, give this a try. With a flat 1" brush, amply wet the entire leaf with rubbing alcohol, especially loosening the paint along the edges. Then, lift the paint off with your thirsty 1" brush, cleaning the brush and drying it in between each lift. I usually have to blot gently with a kleenex, not paper towel to remove more color. Not all the color will lift but that's ok. The muddiness will be lessened a lot. Next, add up to 3 colors to create a new effect on the leaf. Tilt the paper slightly while it's wet so the paint moves via gravity, not with your brush strokes. The more it mingles on its own, the fresher it'll be. Allow to dry and soften edges if needed after it's dry, using alcohol on a q-tip.

It might be a good thing to add a bit of a glaze of warm burnt orange or burnt sienna, maybe even some coral, gently within parts of some of several leaf areas, too. The warmth would kiss the painting, which right now is a very cool temperature.

Seems evry painting hits the UGLY stage when I think there's no hope. Preserver. Good luck.