Step by Step...a Heron

Sometimes you know exactly what

you want a painting to look like when done;

sometimes you just go with the flow

and see what happens...

And while the subject of this painting (or the object) was to be a white and grey heron slightly off center, I was much more interested in seeing how the surrounding foliage and foreground waters were going to take shape.  Here's the step by step, over the course of several days and one vacation!

blocking out the lights & darks

establishing some texture & motion

playing with the colors

stating the direction of energies

pushing the "hole" back further 

placing the bird

establishing the patterns of reflections

Sacred Space, 16 x 12, 

oil on canvas

finished

detail of texture and color

This is a rather large "test tile" for me as I usually try to do experiments on an 8 x 10 canvas.  However I am finding that with a large, flat brush it is much easier to work on a larger size support...there is much more real estate to play with and for me that means more color gradations which is what the experiment is all about.  (Now what will I do with all those 8 x 10's I have stacked up and ready to go? hmmmmm)

SPLASHING AROUND,

Cindy

p.s.  I am making too many experiments to frame them all.  Someday I will get the best ones loaded up onto my website for purchase "as is."  Meanwhile if you find one that rings your chimes let me know; the "test tiles" are an inexpensive way to enjoy original art.  email: art@cindymichaud.com

Halloween Remorse

I really wish I had carved a knock-out jack o'lantern for you for today.  I just haven't really had time to even think goblins and ghosts.  And ever since our darling neighbors grew up we haven't had many kids brave enough to walk through the dark dead end street and up a long driveway to trick or treat at our house.  Kinda takes the "oomph" out of the holiday!  Sorry, no pumpkin, no witches, no nothing orange and black!  sigh...

But...progress.  A short share of a large piece that is one critique away from being done.

Everglades Sentinel, 30 x 24, oil on canvas

I say "one critique away" as I do like to spend a bit of time away from the piece before declaring it final.  That way, with fresh eyes, I can give a last critique and make corrections if needed.   I captured this fellow on a camping trip in the Everglades last spring on a crisp and sunny day.

There is a lot of texture in this piece when you come in close.  Layers of light and shadow dancing off the mangroves that framed this regal bird.  He barely moved but you could see that his eyes were taking in everything.

Here is a detail of part of the heron.  Not too much farther along we found another heron looking just as stoic and poised as an alligator swam right past him.  I was thinking either the gator didn't fancy to heron meat or the heron knew it was not meal time?!

Meanwhile I am back to another piece trying to get the tree to grow into the ground, not on top of it.

Hope your Halloween is filled with costumed gremlins at your door....this year I'm not falling for my husband's trick of insisting we load up on candy bars "just in case."

Enjoy your weekend of blue skies,

Color Fully Yours,

Cindy

Day #11: The Heron

Whew!  Just under the wire with this one.  It was no use trying to get an early start.  At one point today I was sketching with morning coffee (in p.j.s still) and looked up to see the Orkin man traipsing through the studio followed by my husband who was letting in the handyman who was being barked at by the dog who was inside because the lawn was being mowed!  And they all wanted to ask me a question at some point...not the ideal way to work.

So this Heron was stopped and started many times...even after I photographed him I returned to brighten his beady little eye a bit.  Oh well, I made it to day #11, over one third of the way to goal.  It is very time consuming but extremely educational learning to paint with my non-dominate hand.

I photographed this heron during a camping trip to the Florida Everglades.  He was very cooperative and let me take several shots of him in different poses.  Those tiny flowing feathers posed a challenge for me as they needed a brush about the size of an eye lash.  I also discovered the reason behind my criticism of most watercolor.  I love the depth that rich dark colors add to a painting and W/C requires layer upon layer to achieve this.  And it must completely dry between layers...so many painters quit before they ever get to that deep tone I find so lovely.  I suppose that with a few more days I could have gotten there myself.

The white is a gouche - some water-colorists refuse to use it staying pure to watercolor.  But I had no time for the alternative (nor supplies nor facility!)  This is a detail; the original piece is only 5" x 5".

 I have matted this piece to an overall size of 12" x 9" and, in keeping with the 30 in 30 theme of the month, am offering it for only $30.00 plus shipping.  You will find it on my etsy store by clicking here.

I am also learning that to complete 30 paintings in 30 days (with either hand) there can be no hesitation.  One cannot waste time looking for the perfect anything...it's burning valuable time to putz around with the brush second guessing yourself.  Be bold, be confident, don't over-think it.  And while the failures will be evident, so will, we all hope, the progress.