My first real painting in nearly 10 years...
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My first real painting in nearly 10 years...
I volunteered to do a portrait of my brother with a big rabbit for the play "Harvey" he is starring in down in Virginia.
Needless to say not having the ability to "undo" mistakes is scary... very frightening.
Took about two weeks, although I didn't get into the "zone" until the end of the second week.
Click the image for a HUGE version.
-vern
Needless to say not having the ability to "undo" mistakes is scary... very frightening.
Took about two weeks, although I didn't get into the "zone" until the end of the second week.
Click the image for a HUGE version.
-vern
- Captain Jack
- Posts: 37
- Joined: Tue Feb 06, 2007 2:11 pm
- Location: Indianapolis, IN
- Contact:
- Captain Jack
- Posts: 37
- Joined: Tue Feb 06, 2007 2:11 pm
- Location: Indianapolis, IN
- Contact:
I tried oils years and years ago, but I didn't have the patience for it. I had a little more luck with acrylics, but I never really found a home for my creative expression until I was able to use computers for my art work. As you say, not being able to make changes is a real problem, at least for me.
Vern, you're a man of many skills. I'm impressed.
I've always wanted to play the role of Harvey myself. But only if he's actually invisible throughout the play. Well, I did play the role of Mr Ogilby in some play I can't remember the name of, who was invisible until the 3rd act (I wasn't actually on stage until then).
I've always wanted to play the role of Harvey myself. But only if he's actually invisible throughout the play. Well, I did play the role of Mr Ogilby in some play I can't remember the name of, who was invisible until the 3rd act (I wasn't actually on stage until then).
- Captain Jack
- Posts: 37
- Joined: Tue Feb 06, 2007 2:11 pm
- Location: Indianapolis, IN
- Contact:
I would like to keep painting but it's so hard.
For instance, I have the photo of this painting in Photoshop and couldn't resist shifting the color of the background.
I came up with a gorgeous purple/red that worked better than the blue. Then I tweaked the flesh tones... etc etc. (this photo is "untouched")
That is what the computer has done. It has let the genie out of the bottle. Once you have that kind of power and control it is very hard to go back. Before, when it wasn't possible to do that type of color shifting it wasn't a problem. Now that you know what is possible it becomes almost a frustrating annoyance in the back of your head: "If this were on the computer I could fix the skin tone with a few clicks of the mouse."
Ultimately though... the final product has to be enough satisfaction. The other scary thing is "letting it go". That painting is gone now. Off on it's voyage miles and miles away. I have a photo of it but I don't have the physical painting anymore. Kind of sad for me in a strange way...
... okay... it isn't just sad... it kind of freaked me out at first.
By the way here is an updated photo. I did some final tweaks (shirt, suit and signature) of the painting Saturday before it left my possession on Sunday morning. I didn't have an opportunity to photograph it properly (the first photo was shot outdoors in bright sunlight. This one was shot inside with not such great lighting so the colors shifted and it's slightly "blurry" from a slower shutter speed.)
-vern
For instance, I have the photo of this painting in Photoshop and couldn't resist shifting the color of the background.
I came up with a gorgeous purple/red that worked better than the blue. Then I tweaked the flesh tones... etc etc. (this photo is "untouched")
That is what the computer has done. It has let the genie out of the bottle. Once you have that kind of power and control it is very hard to go back. Before, when it wasn't possible to do that type of color shifting it wasn't a problem. Now that you know what is possible it becomes almost a frustrating annoyance in the back of your head: "If this were on the computer I could fix the skin tone with a few clicks of the mouse."
Ultimately though... the final product has to be enough satisfaction. The other scary thing is "letting it go". That painting is gone now. Off on it's voyage miles and miles away. I have a photo of it but I don't have the physical painting anymore. Kind of sad for me in a strange way...
... okay... it isn't just sad... it kind of freaked me out at first.
By the way here is an updated photo. I did some final tweaks (shirt, suit and signature) of the painting Saturday before it left my possession on Sunday morning. I didn't have an opportunity to photograph it properly (the first photo was shot outdoors in bright sunlight. This one was shot inside with not such great lighting so the colors shifted and it's slightly "blurry" from a slower shutter speed.)
-vern
Vern, definitely you are an artist.
My father went to Barcelona when he was young (I'm talking about 1950 more or less) and there he learned painting art. There he was a pupil of a famous artist of the epoque (you know, during those years the art activity of Spain was very productive). He has mantained his activity painting until his phisical capacity let him to do it. I have a portrait of my self when I was 11 years old (perhaps I'll take a photo and share with you). He always have told me that the most difficult painting thecnique is the watercolor. Once you do a brush touch you cannot correct it. With oils you can always paint avobe the last paint stroke, with watercolor not. You cannot light a color with watercolor it always gets darker. In fact the light is taken from the white of the paper. He always told me that watercolor is the most difficult painting thecnique. He mainly used oils for his paints.
Regards
Genete
PD: By the way, I haven't inherited any drawing skills from him...
My father went to Barcelona when he was young (I'm talking about 1950 more or less) and there he learned painting art. There he was a pupil of a famous artist of the epoque (you know, during those years the art activity of Spain was very productive). He has mantained his activity painting until his phisical capacity let him to do it. I have a portrait of my self when I was 11 years old (perhaps I'll take a photo and share with you). He always have told me that the most difficult painting thecnique is the watercolor. Once you do a brush touch you cannot correct it. With oils you can always paint avobe the last paint stroke, with watercolor not. You cannot light a color with watercolor it always gets darker. In fact the light is taken from the white of the paper. He always told me that watercolor is the most difficult painting thecnique. He mainly used oils for his paints.
Regards
Genete
PD: By the way, I haven't inherited any drawing skills from him...
Genete, that's a great story. And I agree with your Pop. Back in the day when I used natural media, I found watercolor to be very difficult so I can sympathize with his frustration. Kinda cool that artists 50+ years later still share the same issues.Genete wrote:My father went to Barcelona when he was young (I'm talking about 1950 more or less) and there he learned painting art.
Best!