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More Painting

I have been working on learning how to paint with acrylics and trying to complete at least one small canvas each evening. I bought several 6x9 canvases and have really been going to town.

As a way of practicing brush work and color mixing, I have tried to copy some stock photography I borrowed from Corbis. Here is the first photo:

And here is my copy:


Photo number 2 had too many flowers for me to worry about. Photo:

and copy—had a little trouble finding the blue/green background color,
and then had a little trouble not overdoing the pink in the flowers:

And here is the last one. I have lost the photo, but I kind of made this one up anyway.

I really should start working on my own compositions, but those never work out quite right. What is it they say about accomplished potters and the percentage of pots they throw out because of mistakes? Something like 15 duds for every keeper. I'm making that up, but I'll try not to be discouraged by the canvases that end up in the trash.

Comments

dive said…
Practice makes perfect, Robyn and you're really going at it! I've never seen anyone produce so many paintings in such a short time. And all the time your technique is improving.
Excellent!
7:52 AM
Scout said…
Thanks, Dive! Keep in mind these are tiny pictures. I'm not creating murals, yet.
8:10 AM
Gina said…
I think they look great! I could never do as well, even with a bunch of practice.
12:46 PM
Cheltenhamdailyphoto said…
Thing is, with acrylic, don't throw them in the trash; paint over. Just do a whole canvas of white and start again. the texture underneath only adds to the interest. I like the flower ones, especially the pink, and am particularly impressed by your shadowing. Yay!
1:18 PM
Scout said…
Gina, if you start with a good outline, it's like coloring in the lines.

Lynn, thanks. I won't throw out the bad'ns then. I have set them aside, but I'll retrieve them and start over.
5:10 PM
Shazza said…
Looks like fun!
5:15 PM
Alifan said…
Lovely Robyn.... by the way the poppies on the surprise cake are on my blog now......try them next they are lovely to paint....also Iris.. I painted one when I was 11 and it got me on a day release to Art School all through my school days, maybe that is where the boys got their skill from.....You have made me get my paints out again by the way.....
4:35 AM
Cheltenhamdailyphoto said…
You could always look at my art site too Robyn for ideas. You have my permission to copy anything you like - but not for resale! he he. I started by copying.
7:24 AM
DearestDragonfly said…
Your nephew would say that painting over old canvases (like the great self-portrait he did for his mom but secretly wants to obliterate and I still protest) produces interesting and invaluable texture. And you can do it over and over and over again and in the end charge a lot more money for it.

Oh. Now I've read the other comments and I see I'm not the first to bring this up. Oh well...

You are adventuresome...and talented at everything!
12:03 AM
Neponset River Bridge Dig said…
so how do you like acrylics Robyn? I like how easy they are to go over mistakes and clean up is great. I don't kow If i could do oil again.
8:18 AM
Neponset River Bridge Dig said…
BTW I think you paintings are pretty good. Keep up the good work. You've been doing much more than I recently.
8:19 AM
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