I've been working on this oil painting for weeks now, but really only once a week, mostly. The light is bouncing around a bit in the photo, and the canvas is on a bit of an angle on the easel.It's getting there! I think I need to work more on the leaves. I have been increasing their complexity, improving them from first efforts. I'd like to keep the darks as much as possible. The background is slightly greener than this image shows (just terre verte and white). I think I will use a transparent dark brown glaze over most of it once I feel happy with it. It's 4'X4' ... large for me, but I have found that fun and quite liberating, as little details don't matter so much.
I'd appreciate criticism!
8 comments:
Ooooo! This is gorgeous!! So exciting to finally see it. Well done, VP. What beautiful shapes, like a design one may see on fabric for drapes or wallpaper. The dark of the tulips and light of the background, stems + leaves make a wonderful contrast. The white middle of the central tulip really stands out, possibly more so because of the computer presentation. I like it and I bet the white in real life was striking. (I had a potted flower with rich bold red + white petals. I was thinking about painting it but Olive shredded the beauty, then naughty squirrels dug in the pot doing more damage!) I have no idea what advice to give you, the progression so far is amazing - you know what you're doing!
Wow - this is so exciting! - it's such a dramatic painting with those deep dark reds and that electric spark around the pistil. I love how the leaves snake around behind the flowers, and the round and jagged big statement flowers.
Um, criticism... I feel singularly unqualified. It's looking like an amazing design I think, right now, with what looks like a fairly constant light background, and the flower and leaf shapes so stark against it - perhaps it (the background) could have some variation, maybe darker behind the top very dark bloom, emphasising further the light focal point? But your dark brown glaze will soften the relationship between back- and fore-grounds, so that will make a difference. I think it's going to be wonderful, and great that it's on such a big scale - it deserves it!
Oh Snap, GP! -posted comments at the same moment!!
It is looking just perfect - love the idea of the unifying glaze, it only needs to be subtle I think, but will make a difference.
Great work (wow 4 x 4'!).
Thanks for your comments. I still feel very sheepish about putting things up for 'view'. Start with gusto, then lose confidence in it once it's done. Silly, I know as I love the process. I should borrow Olive for shredding purposes, Gin. What a sweetie. I can picture her savaging your pots. Our old dog could never resist them.
I did not have 'your actual' black parrots to do these ..just some treasured photos I took at the amazing visit to the Chelsea Flower show, and some more humble tulips in a vase for the leaves.
Thanks for your thoughts Cath. I will try that background variation.. you have confirmed my intention.
And Kari .. I so appreciate your comment, as I love your watercolours - the compostion,and use of colour is superb.
Really beautiful, Vivienne--impactful, is the (awkward) word that springs to mind: the shapes, the colors, the lines ... It's just a feast!!
Oo-er Thanks, Laura! A friend borrowed the unfinished painting yesterday, to dress up a blank wall for a party!
What an astute friend! Must have made the party really festive...
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