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| Lady Slipper 3 Gouache on 6x6" Fluid Watercolor Cold Press |
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| Lady Slipper 2 5.5 x 8.25" Premium Sketchbook Epsilon Series, Stillman & Birn |
Here's an earlier version, which I considered a quick watercolor-and-ink value study for the finished product above.
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| Lady Slipper 1 5.5 x 8.25" Premium Sketchbook Epislon Series, Stillman & Birn |
And here's last year's version.
Each of the three versions has its strengths and drawbacks. What I learned from "Lady Slipper 1" is the value of simplifying the background even more in "Lady Slipper 2" and "3."
What I learned from both the watercolors (1 and 2) is how icky I feel sometimes after adding that black ink, especially if I'm using the ink as just a short-hand way of representing something because I don't know how else to do it. Of course ink and watercolor sketches do have their appeal at times, but I still want to be able to get by without that ink if I'm going to call myself a painter. For that reason, the top image (3) is my favorite -- even though in time I might like the other two more.
Or not. That's the value of beginning to paint more regularly. These individual paintings don't have to be so precious. I can do them, learn from them, and move on.
I really love three. It feels alive. You've got the sheen on the petals just right- fading away but still white in the middle. The shadows are perfect. The background is interesting but steps back and doesn't distract. Great to see the steps you took to get this fat!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Andrea! There’s something kind of limiting composition-wise about the triangular shape with the 2 narrow legs, but those tiny little slippers are just so darned sweet, I had to give it my best shot.
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