This is going a little slower than I had hoped. I'm at the hard part now where I'm trying to get a transparent effect through the mist on the right, so I would say I'm officialy in a ugly stage right now until I get the values smoothed out. I will continue to add gradient glazes near the base of the falls so there is not as much of a value difference between the upper and lower mist. You might be able to see that I used yellow masking fluid on the lower right. That is to protect the whitest part of the flowing water below the falls. The mist behind it will be slight darker and to keep it from bleeding into the white water, I need to protect it with a mask. I've continued to define and adjust values in the rocks and greenery, but still haven't begun to shade the falls. I will do the greenery in front and to the right side of the falls last, so that I can continue to add the mist layers with a wide brush, without worrying about the green from the leaves bleeding into damp glazes. I'm going to be away overnight so won't be able to get an early start on this tomorrow - so looks like I'll to move the finish date up at least a day, but most likely it will be two. Hopefully I can post the finished painting by wednesday. It's been motivating for me to post here, otherwise I don't think I'd be this far along by now, so thanks for your support!
Saturday, January 20, 2007
Cascade Falls demo part 2
This is going a little slower than I had hoped. I'm at the hard part now where I'm trying to get a transparent effect through the mist on the right, so I would say I'm officialy in a ugly stage right now until I get the values smoothed out. I will continue to add gradient glazes near the base of the falls so there is not as much of a value difference between the upper and lower mist. You might be able to see that I used yellow masking fluid on the lower right. That is to protect the whitest part of the flowing water below the falls. The mist behind it will be slight darker and to keep it from bleeding into the white water, I need to protect it with a mask. I've continued to define and adjust values in the rocks and greenery, but still haven't begun to shade the falls. I will do the greenery in front and to the right side of the falls last, so that I can continue to add the mist layers with a wide brush, without worrying about the green from the leaves bleeding into damp glazes. I'm going to be away overnight so won't be able to get an early start on this tomorrow - so looks like I'll to move the finish date up at least a day, but most likely it will be two. Hopefully I can post the finished painting by wednesday. It's been motivating for me to post here, otherwise I don't think I'd be this far along by now, so thanks for your support!
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8 comments:
Great job! When I first saw the picture I thought it was a photograph!
Marilyn this is such an exciting piece and I am so glad we get to watch over your shoulder! That is so neat! I am also so glad you joined because the support here really does boost ones productivity and also when you are in a slump and everyone else is talking about what they are doing it pushes one to get a move on again!!! So having these web friends really is a wonderful asset I think! This is just gorgeous...is the size posted or did I forget?
Hi Marilyn:
The misty side is coming along very well. I like the effect that you have produced. I can see the rocks through the mist as I would in real life. Thanks for sharing.
Ellie
Yes Marilyn...like Ellie said...the mist is incredible! I love the rainbow effect you've captured here -it's so soft and wet! Can you tell us how you managed to achieve this look? Blotting? Spray bottle? I'd love to know but will understand if it's a trade secret! I'm having more fun looking over yours and Janie's shoulders! I'm learning new things and becoming inspired once again! Thanks!
Hi Marilyn ... this is just beautiful and so much fun watching it come to life. I looked but didn't see where you said what ground you paint on? Is this on a heavy watercolor board? Can you share that with us. Also, I have a question about drying times. Do you let it dry naturally over night between layers or do you dry it with a hair dryer? I can't wait to see your next image. Nita
Janie I forgot to mention the size of the painting - it's 21" x 15". I'm still afraid to work much larger than that. Vernita I let the layers dry naturally because I heard somewhere that the colors don't dry as bright if they are dried with a hair dryer - so I just work on another part of the painting while the damp part is drying. I'm using Arches 300lb coldpress, which I've found is the perfect texture for landscapes. It's smooth enough for detail yet has enough "tooth" to it for drybrushing texture into the rocks. Also it takes multiple glazes well and can take a lot of lifting and scrubbing without tearing. Mary for the mist area I first wet the area with a large 2 inch nylon brush until the paper is wet enough to shine, then brush in a pale layer of color (in this case the first layer was raw sienna)with a soft "hake" brush, keeping the 2 inch brush wet with clear water to blend clear water up into the painted area to create a smooth gradient. I let it dry completely, then repeat this step with 2 more layers of pale color - first alizirin crimson, then french ultramarine. The secret is to keep these colors very light. You can see the results in step 1 - the three colors layered on top of each other create a gray that glows. To make the shadows in the mist, I again wet the paper quickly with the large brush, then quickly dab in with a hake and/or a large round brush varying values of gray mixed from the same trio of colors that made the initial layers. I mix the gray with more raw sienna and french ultramarine for the greener grays closer to the falls, and the grays on the outer edges of the mist are more purple, so alizirin and french ultramarine are the dominate colors in that mix, but all the grays include at least some of each of those three colors. After that is completely dry, I study which part of the mist needs more color and rewet the paper and add the colors one layer at a time as a glaze over the grays. This is what creates the rainbow effect, as I don't cover the entire mist area with each color, but add it lightly in the areas that need it.For example one part may need to look bluer, so I only add the light glaze of blue to that part and glaze the rest of the mist with clear water. I repeat this process until I fill the mist is the right value and color. I hope this makes sense.
Hmm, My last comment didn't show up...Marilyn, thank you for taking the time to explain your process so thoroughly! I'm learning so much from your posts! I hope you don't mind but I've printed your text for future perusal...I forget things so easily! I am hungrily awaiting the next post of your amazing waterfall!
Marilyn,
Your painting will be an absolute beauty when finished it is already.. You are such a jem for posting all of this.. I am learning so much and getting way motivated to continu watercolor.
Thank you and I sincerely can't wait for the end.
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