In my last post I mentioned the current large piece I've been working on representing Springtime in full-force. My plan was to use two main colors, lemongrass & bluebell, to set off the striking details of the trees and finish with fluttering 24 k gold leaf here and there. Late spring is my favorite time of year, so I splurged a bit on materials.
I planned this painting out on paper prior to diving in with paint brushes in both hands like a madwoman. I simplify my plan based on what I want to focus on [the detail of the trees] and how I want to achieve it [by bringing these complementary colors together at the horizon like a visual cymbal-crashing of a breaking wave]. Dynamic.
Once I get the general horizon in, this gives me a starting point to spring off from.
Just a little background color to start.
For added warmth peeking through the faraway bluebells that start to fade cool as it gets closer to the future foreground/bottom of the painting, I added a turquoise green.
Again, this is just the background- somewhere to start from.
I was fine with the color combos, but my trees were looking kind of swamp-like. I ended up thickening up the tops and thinning out the bottoms a bit until it felt like the trees were reaching up to the sun and not simply growing where they happened to find themselves.
[In my head, there is a difference, and this makes more sense for some reason.]
The cat is indifferent...about the painted trees, me, and everything.
Never take criticism too seriously, that's the real lesson here- thank you, Yona.
I did, however, decide to continue working on the trees- my own decision mind you. I added some serious Black 3.0 for added depth to help anchor the painting just in time to fly away with gold leafing the foliage and grass. This stuff flakes off and really does fly away from you, your brush, and your painting. ...It would be just a little more fun if it wasn't so expensive... Yona rolled around in a little bit that had accumulated under my easel, then walked away in triumph; she's pretty fancy.
Bluebells Lá Bealtaine
30" x 48" on canvas
Here is the finished look, complete with 24 karat gold making up leaves and sunlit grass. Can you see what else I've added?
This painting is pretty big, bigger than the remaining wall space at home will allow, so I brought it into work to decorate my office for the time being. This one is on sale along with my others on Etsy while it awaits the next art festival 2021 brings my way!
Covid altered capacities but I'm still hopeful- I can't wait to release this one into the wild.
Thank you for reading,
Bonnie