I'm returning to this painting of yellow rose in full summer sunlight after a long time of setting it aside. The underpainting on the flower center is truly a test for my patience, and I had to place some guess work into it for how dark the underpainting in each area need to go, and to what color temperature -- that is, how blue or red the purple underpainting needs to be -- which will not be confirmed until several layers of overpainting yellows are applied...
Sun Dance, Watercolor on Arches 140# Cold Press Paper , 8"h x 8"w, WIP 6
This painting is currently at that "ugly stage" that requires perseverance every stroke of the way in my opinion, mainly because there is a stark dis-accordance between the areas which had been painted over with yellow, and the areas that haven't. Yellow is a tricky color to paint in the sense that if applied a little thickly, almost all yellow, including the most transparent ones such as New Gamboge and Aureolin, becomes opaque and chalky, especially when applied as overpaintings on top of dark colors. Several layers of thinly applied glaze carries the best effect, instead of one layer thickly applied paint, which takes quite some time to do. I am taking comfort in the notion that the areas that has received several layers of yellow glazing show a beautiful glowing effect -- hopefully when finished, the entire painting would have this subtle glow that can only be achieved by glazing...
Today I received bad news from a juried show I have entered -- the "Small Waters" show by Illinois Watercolor Society. I have entered "Petal Light II", which I am quite happy with. However, the competition is fierce, and I did not make the cut! Since another painting of mine, "Hide and Seek II" has won an honorable mention in their national juried show this year, I had high hopes for this submission. Alas, another jury, totally different outcome! There are so many wonderful watercolor artists around the country, I guess I just have to learn from the failure and let it go! Tomorrow is another day...
Petal Light II,
Watercolor on Arches 140# Cold Press Paper, 8"h x 10"w, 2012 #34
Bid at My DPW Auction (Starting Bid $100)
Arena, your artwork is amazing and beautiful. You are a talented artist. And my son loves your artwork as well! :) I found you through a Wordless Wednesday post that you commented on. I'm glad I did. I'll be back to watch your work progress!
ReplyDeleteHi Mary, thank you for stopping by and leave the kind words. I've long been a follower of your blog via email, and the "Wordless Wednesday" are constant inspirations. Recently I have started practice the advice you give out on "Photo Tip Friday" -- thanks a lot for sharing!
DeleteI'm so glad "Photo Tip Friday" is helpful for you! :) I look forward to seeing more of your work as well!
DeleteArena, this rose is already looking magnificent! I wish my "ugly stages" looked this good.
ReplyDeleteWhat Studio said!! :) The painting already has such great contrast, and real dimensional pop. Love it.
DeleteArena I have just spent some time catching up on your blog, I really missed a lot! Your paintings are coming along with breath taking beauty, really they are so unlike most floral paintings. Yours are full of drama and an almost 'human' type of emotional feeling. Just beautiful. Bummer about the juried show. :( But chin up, that's just one person's opinion, and an honorable mention in a national show is VERY good!!
ReplyDeleteOh and thank you so much for mentioning me in your previous posts, hope all's going well with Etsy. I'm here anytime you need some help. :)
*hugs*
Hi Arena, I have been following your blog for a few months through Lori's. Your work is stunning and you are a master of color and backgrounds. I have joined your site and thought I would comment.
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, congratulations for the Honorable Mention in the IWS. I checked the website of the IWS and saw the painting among the winners, but they have credited your painting to another artist. I would contact them to have that corrected.
I feel for your disappointment with the rejection. There are quite a number of reasons I believe can result in a rejection, including the subject matter. I've had this happen to me. There wasn't one floral in a major show I was turned down for.
Lastly, your painting Sun Dance is wonderful and you can consider it almost finished. And, yes, yellows can be difficult.
Arena, this is stunning. As for the rejection, please don't pay it much attention. Many years ago I was rejected from a show that meant the world to me, and my self confidence took a nosedive for years- really. Gradually I realized that it is often just one person's opinion, and that you need to enter several shows so you always have some successes to counterbalance the rejections. Also- I no longer enter juried shows- I don't like the way museums and art centers use them to raise money on the backs of artists.
ReplyDeleteOh, and remember your are one of the best :)
ReplyDeleteArena . . . I'm sorry about your rejection but don't pay too much attention to it. Your work is amazing! Like someone else said, it's just one person's opinion. To have even been selected for a national show (not to mention and honorable mention!!) is a huge feather in your cap. I'm still struggling to get juried into local shows for goodness sake. :)
ReplyDeleteI think Sun Dance is incredible! It looks finished to me. I'm in awe at how you well you handle value and color. They are perfect! It's still such a struggle for me. Especially the subtle values like on the white. Those purples are divine and really capture the form. Unbelievable! And I was so interested to hear your take on yellows. So true -- yours look spectacular. So chin up -- onward and upward my friend! :)
Just incredible. Do you use a magnifying glass when you work? Every petal it so intricate and believable. I've noted that your composition is always very solid, but getting those color variations in the yellow is very impressive.
ReplyDelete