Well, it's finished! And there's so much to say, starting with Ken's maxim that it's not done until it's overdone. Seriously, this is one of those paintings where I'm happy...and then I go one step too far. In this case, I used gouache to lighten some of the moss and instead, it went all dead and chalky. Lesson 1: Don't rely on gouache to save your values!
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| Spanish Moss (before removing mask outlines) 9"x12" |
And here's Lesson 2: Don't leave mask on for months and months. I started the sketch and the mask a while ago and just found the sheet of paper and decided to paint it. Well, that mask did NOT want to come off. I may have rubbed my actual fingerprints off in the process! Here's the final result.
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| Spanish Moss 9"x12" |
And Lesson 3: If you're sketching with mask, don't put in a horizon line--I think that's what it is--especially if you don't use it!
I'm not sure of the chronology here. I get that the bottom one is with the mask and top without it, but where does last week's painting fit in on that timeline? Nice airy scene, a lot of motion in the trees, but the pond looks like glass.
ReplyDeleteLast week's painting was the first layer. Then I did another few sessions where it reached the level of the top painting (already a layer or two too many!). Then, I let it dry and removed the mask to reveal the bottom painting. You're right. The water is too still, compared with the trees and air.
DeleteI like the water.
ReplyDelete