I bought this black and white photo at Swirl. I like to paint from black and white and all my photos are in the storage unit. I was attracted by the turkeys. Have wanted to paint turkeys for awhile.
I didn't have enough stretchers for a new canvas so I broke down a bought a pre-stretched canvas at a local frame shop that has a few art supplies. This is the first draft. I sketched in the shapes with charcoal so when I painted with a thin layer of paint I got a lot of smudging. That's okay. It will disappear later. And gives a nice outline. My paintings usually begin messy like this.
The second day I worked a bit more on the colors and forms. The turkey to the front looks like a goose. Only one of the mom's legs showed in the photo so I need to add one for the painting as it now is.
Colleen Browning in her book about painting suggests using a canvas much larger than the anticipated final painting will be so that you can make the painting larger and smaller at will as you paint. Thus you do what the painting needs rather than just buy into the edges presented by the frame. It's an interesting idea but I didn't do that here. I want to try it soon though.
13 comments:
Oh My! these are so beautiful. Even the first version is so cute. It doesn't look messy at all... It is energetic and livlely!
Waiting to see more of this painting.
I love watching a work in progress like this. Though not a "bird person", I was doing some quick sketches of geese and ducks in a park just a few days ago, noticing their lovely shapes. Gesture drawings, really, since they refused to hold still.
Oh Suki. this is wonderful already.
In the photo the boys legs are closer together so her leg doesnt show. but she could have it back some. I love paintings like this. old fashion looking. Cant wait to see how it progresses. Thanks for inpsiring me.
ps. so glad to know I am not the only one whose comments disappear sometimes when trying to post them. thanks for redoing the comment on my blog this morning.
i can't even begin to tell you how much i love this painting! you go, girl!
This is cute.
I love your choice of colours :-)
Suki, this is wonderful. I love the colours, and the way you enlargened things. The colours are precious! This is really an inspiration. and you have your own Suki painting style, very personal. Have a wonderful day
Andrea
You have such an eye for composition Suki! Really, all your paintings are in perfect harmony. Just lovely!
these are truly wonderful, i really like the colours, would be good done in greys and whites like the photo too (what do i know, i just dabble).
thank you all for the comments. I feel excited about this painting. Landscapes are not something i often do. People I like to do.
Yes it might be interesting in black and white and or sepia. There is a painter either on the cape or the vineyard who paints old fashioned swimmers in sepia and blacks. I love her paintings. Very large.
Suki, came back to look at this a bit more. I just love your colours:) They are warm, earthy, comforting.
Andrea
PS thanks for all your comments on my blogs, I love them
I agree with everyone, the colors are beautiful and the composition is lovely. I love the way you are taking a black and white picture and adding color, and interpretation. It's beautiful.
I love how you have captured the feeling from the photo of the mother and child (or grandma and child?) with the turkeys in your painting. It's fun to see it evolve too. Thanks for blogging it as you go.
Post a Comment