New location

So here in New England we apparently now have a 'rainy season', go figure.  for the last week it has rained once a day, sometimes very hard.  The forecast calls for rain for another week at least.  Today we have a flood warning.  Soooo painting outside, even under a tent is not the greatest plan.   Here is plan B.  The porch.  A little cramped, but with the help of a fan a little dryer.  Did I mention the humidity?  70%!!!  This IS New England right?  Enough complaining, it is still more fun to paint on a rainy day than not to paint on a sunny one!  :)  

What you are looking at is the under-painting, if your not familure with the term look up the postings for November 2008 where I show the steps from composing to finished painting.  The colors will change, for the most part my underpainting are the deepest tones or the shadows of the true colors.  This will be most evident in the base that will be lightly colored sand when it is done.  I'll update the progress - later.

Fun summer project

So I'm back in my dad's driveway painting another fiberglass public art project.  This time it's a turtle that will soon be 'Swimming' all the way to Florida!  The design is not my own, each artist was given a design to execute based on a theme.  Mine is Mardi Gras and the design is very graphic with bold colors and a geometric look, tricky on a 3D object.  I think it's going well and it's always fun to have a nice big thing to paint.  Check in later, I will put up more pictures as the project progresses.

IT'S FINISHED !!!

ALL DONE !!!

I could not have done it without my hubby, he started by getting the idea to use my father's garage as a studio, de-spidered the garage, built a wheeled thing to move the giant shoe around, helped with research, took the photos of my progress, and finally encouraged me to keep going, or back off as needed.

painting, painting, PAINTING!

Layer 5 is all blocked in and ready for details. I can see the end and while it is exciting, it has been so fun that I almost do not want it to end. I plan on being finished this Sunday, I think it is do-able. So here is the latest progress. The detail is amazing, at least that's what everyone is telling me, the funny thing is - I wanted to add more detail, but the sneakers were late so I had to scale down my plan! I'm pleased and happy with how it looks, I hope it is well recieved.

Painting Like Mad!

Real progress going on now, The levels are shaping up. Blocked in and details are making it come together. Everyone who has seen it have been so pleased, it encourages me. I have had lots of visits from family while I am working. It's always nice to take a break and hear their words of support.

it's all in the details

Light reflecting off the hand holding the 'painting' even some reflections on the staples and texture on the painted 'canvas edge' are added. Then the fence posts addressed, by begining to define them with shadows on the edges of the posts. rocks and other sand detail is painted in.
The potters hands are detailed and more texture is given to the surrounding sand. Each tine a layer of paint is added the depth is built up with the combination of tone and tint.
Now for the lighthouse and the hand holding it. While I wanted the hans doing the creating to look more ghostly, when comparing them to the one holding the painting, I wanted to add some warmth. The house itself needed to be defined by adding shadow under roof and porch. The tower gets darker edges blended in to create a round look.

adding details

The rest of the painting is done! I know it took longer than thought, but I have been crazy busy and not feeling my best. So with out more excuses - These may look the same but now it's all in the details. The top shows some color added to the hands added depth by putting down some darker shadows. More details in the water and sand and overall touches of tone to create shadow.
In the bottom I detailed the boats, paintbrush and the lighthouse before placing highlights on the hands. I know what your thinking, I shadowed them only to lighten them up? - well, yes. This is what creates depth and interest.