Last week's workshop allowed very little painting time. Each day, Uruguay artist, Alvaro Castagnet, painted two demos while we watched, all the while wishing we would be able to paint with as much exuberance and liveliness as he did. My first painting here shows a gondola repair shop that we passed by last year in Venice. It's just a little bluer on my screen than it should be, and although my photo is way darker than the painting, I like the way it turned out overall.
The second painting posted here started off really good, but the composition didn't hold together. I'll recycle the paper by gesso-ing over the surface someday and then eventually create a new painting on the gesso-ed paper. There's a good chance, though, that I'll also redo this same subject soon, developing a better composition before picking up the brush again. That's one problem with workshops. It takes me some time to hatch a painting, and though I put thought into this composition, I was too locked into what the photograph showed. It's a do-over for sure.
Gondola Painting - "REPAIRS NEEDED" Transparent Watercolor on 140#R Arches 22 x 15"
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9 comments:
I am still curious about the "shadowy" and "misty" look you get on these paintings. Are you blotting off surface color as you go? The do-over seems like it might be saved with a crop to me. I am not the best to judge composition but it really seems like it has a lot going for it. Creating anything in a workshop is amazing, as we all know. No matter how many photo references you bring, they just don't always fit with what the teacher is teaching...so I am very impressed with what you are completing!!!
Ginny, The shadowy look is caused by the fluidness of the paint on the paper. Some swiping was done with a paper towel, but not much at all. Yesterday's post with the foggy look was caused by the Chinese White paint over the original painting.
Sandy, that gondola painting is great! I would like to see you carry that dark dark almost black color from the end of the gondola up and over the men in the doorway so that area is really where our eye is captured after flowing into the painting from the front tip of the gondola. Striking image!!!
Thanks Rhonda. I really intended the men to be the focal point, but the gondola took over. Some small jabs of dark in that doorway would capture attention there too. I'll see what I can do.
Sandy,
Venice is my favorite theme in watercolor and you are certainly creating a super Venice series. I like both of these paintings, but the second, of the Doge's Palace, took my breath away - you may not be entirely satisfied with it, but the light,the shadows, the palette are all wonderful.
Wow--beautiful--both of these! I love the second one. I'd be thrilled to have done it!
You all are too nice. Thank you so much for telling me that you liked the paintings. You are great encouragers!
I really like both the paintings - one is dark and mysterious and the other light and airy -- its wonderful that you have achieved two different effects so beautifully.
The gondola one is amazing (al the others are also wonderfull) : the shape of the gondola and the colors fit so well together, perfect technique, bravo !
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