Sunday, January 22, 2012

Small Study


This small study was done in about two hours.  I dropped it and scratched it when I was carrying it, and I am too fed up to work on it any more.  So I took a picture, scratch and all.

I still am having a difficult time laying in my dark values dark enough initially.  I keep having to go back and darken and correct.  I hope it comes with time.  Thanks for looking!




18 comments:

  1. Virginia . . . I just got finished reading your workshop posts -- excellent! And I think this painting is very nice (what scratch?!) I know what you mean about values -- I am constantly struggling with them -- my darks are never dark enough, until I get them too dark! Yikes! I think your work in the class looks wonderful. Keep up the good work!

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  2. Nous n'avons jamais fini d'apprendre et de souffrir avec la peinture...
    Une belle composition.
    Gros bisous

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    1. Martine said: "We never stop learning and suffering with painting...A beautiful composition. Big kisses.

      Virginia says: Thanks Martine! Big kisses to you, too!

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  3. I love this still life, Virginia! Especially that reflection of the lemon in the cup...Beautifully painted!!!

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    1. Thank you, Hilda. I liked the reflection too. It was the shadow side of the cup behind the lemon that was giving me fits.

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  4. So good to see that you're back and hard at work! Really enjoyed reading your workshop posts and your egg study is wonderful! So subtle and perfect values. Even when you get values down perfectly, it's so hard to do it the next time but you've done well with this little painting. I saw Carol's post of her "kids" and there you were!

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    1. Oh, Lorraine, so happy to see you! I was hoping no one would recognize me in the photo. I desperately needed a haircut.

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  5. you showed up and painted and that's what counts!!
    You made me laugh with your post though!

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    1. Thanks, Mary. We have to be able to laugh about it.

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  6. Well done Virginia! It's amazing just how dark you have to always paint those white tones......

    Martine is certainly right!

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  7. Very nice job.
    I do the same thing. I never get my darks dark enough in the beginning. I always go back to darken them and it doesn't always work.

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    1. Karen, I always love your beautiful paintings. It's encouraging to learn that I'm not the only one who has to do this.

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  8. Hi Virginia, I know what you mean on the frustration of values. Once that white is on there, it can be difficult to overcome. it's amazing how powerful it is! Ever tried a transparent stain underneath and then your more opaque mixes on top? Just a thought..

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    1. Not like you do, Mary. I use transparent yellow and brown for an underpainting, but it looks more like a very sketchy sepia painting. It doesn't look like your underpainting of flowers in "Harbor Flowers". I was looking at that and wondering how you did it. I didn't realize that you were using transparent colors for the underpainting. Very nice.

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  9. Virginia, I am glad that you posted it even with the scratch. I love your grapes and the lemon too.... I would like to tell you that I love your profile pic. You look so happy and make me want to smile a little more today. Thanks...

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    1. Angela, you are just toooo kind! That photo is a few years old and I'm thinking I need to update it. Keep smiling!

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