January Challenge

I was just looking over the photos and trying to think of what to do with the flowers, decided to take a break and check in here.... and there they are!
I'm glad you had fun with it, it worked out well. The bits of lighter, brighter red on the flowers (and yellow in the white flowers) is a nice touch, as is the warmer reddish colors in the upper left. I really like the way the paint moves and swirls around the flowers.
Looking forward to seeing what you do next!

Thank you Callie! I didn't acheive the satuaration levels I was going for but I know what went wrong. Next I'll try out those apples again trying for loose and intense colors. Thank you again for this challenge it's helping break out of too stiff a style which I was falling into and not enjoying.

I like the way you did the flowers. I wqs looking at them, but didn't quite figure out how to do them. I'm getting ready to start the landscape.

Judy

Thank you Judy! Looking forward to seeing your landscape!

Nice job on the flowers, Janet. I really like the loose style - it works well for post impressionism.

Thank you Sofie!

Well here is my disastrous try at being a post-impressionistic landscape artists. This one is definitely headed for the Down the Drain or most likely the trash bin instead because I am too embarrassed to post it twice. I've called it Lily Pond Maybe???



Judy

But wasn't it fun to paint with wild abandon? Or maybe that's the problem - not wild enough! The bottom left corner is nice with the lily pads and reflection. If it really bothers you, maybe you could use it as an underpainting and keep going with more details and refinements.
Do not post this in the Down the Drain section!!!! Give it a chance!

I agree with Callie. the lily pads look good and the tree reflected in the water works very well.

I just haven't figured out what those two dark lumps on the right. maybe I should go back and look at the unfiltered pictue, but then I'll probably ge losty in detail again.

Judy

Judy, I think you did a great job with the post-impressionistic look. Very nice brushwork. If I filter a reference I usually go back to the original toward the end for the finishing touches.

I think they're reflections of rocks. But you could make them trees, or even leave them out.

Thanks Callie and Janet,

I don't think I want to work on it any further. I'm getting ready to start a mill and waterfalls that I've wanted to do for a long time. It's going to be 24 x 30 and it is from a photo a friend of mine took. I will not be sharing the photo since he sells prints of his photography, and this is one of his best sellers.

I will share the progress in WIP once I start it.

Judy

Got started on the girl's portrait today. Here's the beginning sketch and then some colors scrubbed on:



12 x 12 in. stretched canvas

Looks good. I'm curious to see how your colors turn out. You are definitely braver than I.
Judy

Oh this is going to be so interesting to watch. I was wondering about starting with an underpainting with bright colors. Now I can watch you paint first and see how it works. Great start!

I wore eye makeup like that back in the late 60s!

Nice start, Callie. Looking forward to seeing where you take this!

Sofie - maybe that's why I'm drawn to these wild color combinations - they remind me of all the Mary Quant eyeshadows we used to wear (with out fits to match)

I think I'm channelling Matisse for this one!

Callie, Your painting does look very Matisse already. The channelling is going well obviously.

Thanks! I slapped some more paint on it today, but no photo yet. Might do some more tomorrow. I want to finish it soon so I can start one of the others.

Marathon painting... so much fun. I'll do the apples tomorrow. I'm going to begin the underpainting in full saturation with acrylics and then add the shadows and tones after and go over the fully saturated areas with WSOs.

Wow look at you guys go ! I have not even started a single one! maybe today!!!!

Sounds like a good plan, Janet. I really enjoyed painting the apples, so I'm looking forward to seeing your version.

Dawn, I hope you find time to join in!

Dawn, I'm looking forward to seeing your painting!

Finished the apples. I'm really having problems with keeping my colors clean when using the canvas that comes in pads. It appears to be too slippery. I'll try a few more with it and ditch it if I can't get use to it. I used the Walnut Alkyd Medium and I'm not too sure how if I like it yet because of the issues I'm having with the ground that I'm using. 9X12