This is a 30 minute sketch, 9 x 12 inches, on the re-used paper. I was pleased that I could make some color choices without too much thinking. I'm getting ready and practicing for the paint out in New Mexico in July.
Critique:
If I was to make a finished painting I would:
- Look to change the tree shapes. The trees are pretty much Christmas tree shapes. It would be more interesting with a variety of shapes.
- Use a warmer yellow and green in the front plane (bottom) to push back the rest of the painting and make the flowers more into flowers.
- The walking bridge and the tree in front of it are almost in the center of the painting. Moving that to the right would help the story.
https://jocastilloartblog.blogspot.com/2008/05/elements-of-good-painting-pastel-demo.html
9 comments:
Love all these variations of green, we are sooo green around here right now. I think greens are always challenging for an artist to mix, of course you’re working with pastels so I guess you choose your greens. I rarely use any tube greens, I like mixing my own,
Green does get a little boring if there is too much of it. Nice job on this!
Barbara, thanks, I like mixing greens, too. With pastels you use a light touch and scumble (brush lightly) with one color over the other. Even with all the pastels it is hard to find the right one. I use a minimum palette with oils and acrylics. Haven't used watercolor that much but seem to mix my own there, too. Isn't painting fun?
Joan, thanks. Enid Wood, artist friend, says to always use orange in green and Richard McKinley says to use purple to have the greens be more natural. I always put a bit of red in pine trees. So much to know and learn.
Love your brilliant greens, Jo! Your after-painting reflections are helpful and instructive. Thank you. I also appreciate the link to your excellent "Elements of a good painting" post and will refer back to it again--you captured a number of important factors in good art.
Great points you make there, Jo. I still remember so much I’ve learned from painting together!
I really dislike painting greens. That last paint in the park was so green - boring! Or maybe I'm just not good at it. You did well. I like the pinks and purples.
Mary, thank you so much. Your post on perspective was so good. Always good to help each other!
Regina, thanks. We have learned and had fun painting together. We even painted on the same painting. Fun!
Bag Blog, painting green is hard. I am trying to get some ideas for Angel Fire. Lots of green there!
blogger ate my comment :/
grr
but yes you are right, green can be boring to paint, but you have some yellow here which helps :)
Jennifer Rose, always irritating to have do overs in comments. I never think the same and .... Thanks for the comment. Yellow flowers help. There is more color when you get into details but the first look is, "Yikes, it all green!"
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