Okay, it isn't really challenge 1,000,006, but it feels like I'm that far behind. I'd decided that I needed to get back into the habit of doing the Everyday Matters weekly challenges, and when Karen announced that this week's subject was "sky" it suited me fine!
This is from a photo taken during our most recent trip to Florida -- the cloud was forming and rising in the otherwise clear blue sky, and I took several photos of it with the idea that it might work into a painting. I'd already picked up a 24 x 12" canvas to try this on, thinking it would also be good practice with acrylic. I guess that means this meets two challenges for me -- the EDM "sky" challenge and my own personal "acrylic" challenge!
The bottom part isn't nearly finished, and I'm actually not sure the cloud part is done. Acrylics dry so darned fast that they're hard to blend, so I went and picked up some retarding medium today. Anybody know how well this stuff works, or have any suggestions for smoother blending? There are NO good acrylic books out there, at least not that I can find!
On a side note -- The show last night went great -- it was a lot of fun to see friends' work framed and hanging, and it was especially nice to meet several VERY talented artists from east Tennessee's Tri-Cities area. Scott, the manager from our local Jerry's Artarama, was at the show and Jerry's very kindly donated some FREE samples of art supplies AND a great door prize. (Hmmm.... I just realized I probably picked up a little free bottle of acrylic retarder at the show, yet I still went to Jerry's and bought a big bottle , stopping at the same time to say hi to Scott -- I guess that means that his marketing plan worked like a charm!)
25 comments:
GORGEOUS GORGEOUS!! That plume of a cloud is mouth-dropping!! LOVE LOVE LOVE IT, Linda!
Lovely, linda, and I'm glad your show went well.
As far as acrylics go, I'm just getting started with them myself but adding some medium can help, think - otherwise try glazing for blending rather than blending wet into wet.
Have a look at my "Let's Play" and the Duck/Ducklings on my blog, as two of my few recent acrylic pieces. Most of that was done painting wet over dry rather than wet into wet. Have you tried looking at wet canvas' forums yet? I might do that, too. They have a lot of good info over there.
Karen
http://www.karensblog.com
Linda this is wonderful.
As for blending, I use plain old water to blend my acrylics, aswell as dry brushing, glazing and wet in wet.
Karen gives good advice re: wet canvas but you are off to such a great start I am sure you will work through any problems you feel you have in good time and find your own resolve.
This painting appears problem free to me so far, beautiful work on those clouds.
What a wonderful cloud formation! It must have been neat to see it live. I think this is a fabulous painting! Can't wait to see it finished!
Wow, those are gorgeous clouds! You did a beautiful job capturing their fluffiness. : )
Absolutely Awesome!!! I love the proportions of the canvas and all those CLOUDS!!! Beautiful!!!
OMG!! this sky is a beauty!!! I thought it was a photo as it started downloading. Just gorgeous!!!!!
Fabulouso, mi hermana! That cloud is luscious! I got your message while is was down south...you rock, girl...what - was it there even a day???
Hey - if you knew someone who painted with acrylics that lived in the same town and was ultra cool, you could ask her if you could paint together sometime :-D. And listen to Rusted Root at the same time ;-)
Oh, thank you all so much! Lin -- "plume" was the word I was looking for -- you are always so sweet with your comments! Karen - your new site is awesome and I'm loving your work in oils. Thanks for the advice about glazing and wet canvas. Anita, I did find that using a damp brush really helped blend, I just wasn't sure that was "allowed" or not! Bonny, Julie, Tami, & Teri -- Thanks for your very encouraging words! Diahn, mi hermana muy cool, I thought you were still out of town, and OF COURSE had planned on picking your brain.
;-D Thanks to you all!
I always feel like I'm at a feast when I come visit your blog! Today that blue just dazzles....what a beautiful skyscape you've treated us with!
Oh wow, wow! This is GREAT! I love the format...so perfect for the subject. Just wonderful!
wonderful work Linda! Love your "Serendipipaint"..it is just absolutely gorgeous!
And I love your Sky too, I think it is beautiful with that cloud.. Ronell
It does look gorgeous! I love the proportions, the way you laid out the horizon line in the lower third of the canvas, with so much of the sky looming above.
That's just stunning! The color of the sky is beautiful.
So glad the show went well and this looks like it's coming along very well to me.
Wonderful clouds.
It is looking really nice! I really like it!
This is a lovely sky and a beautiful cloud - totally finished for me, I wouldn't add anything else!
Wonderful cloud/acrylic challange!! I love the colors and you make me feel the wind and the heat!
I did a cloud one too, but since I have not been hanging out at EDM much lately I had no idea I was in on a challange!!!
I'm doing oil pastels over acyrlic and I LOVE THIS COMBO!!! Its the best of both worlds. I hate how quickly acrylics dry but ops never really dry out completely so you hve a long open time.
wonderful clouds and great composition. i used to use a lot of acrylics earlier and never used the mediums or retarders even though i bought some. would love to hear how it works out for you.
Sometimes a painting's at its best when you think it's not quite done yet. I'm not sure whether that is the case here, but this is SUCH a beautiful painting. It took my breath away.
Thanks again to all the rest! I am thinking that I quite like this piece as it stands, so I'm going to leave it be for a while before doing anything else. It's good to hear that some of you think the same!
;-)
I adore this painting. And to me, the foreground is perfect as it is. I love the way it keeps the focus on the sky.
Oh my! Breathtaking! Beautiful! You did a great, awesome job on this.
I am just going through all the old posts and finally got around to see your VERY nice drawing. I do not have any experience with acrylics, so I cannot give you any advice, but I have to say it's a very realistic looking painting.
Greetings from France!
Meinhild (inselfan54)
http://meinhildscreativemoments.blogspot.com
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