Knowing when to stop

It's difficult to know when to stop painting.  You can keep on going until you obtain photorealism.  This was not my intent.  This is my attempt to produce an Impressionist painting.  Although I used mediums that were not available during that period, I now have more appreciation for Van Gog and his thick application of paint on canvas.  The idea is to capture the mood of the subject and not necessarily the likeness of the subject itself.  At least, that is what I have learned in this exercise.  This week I touched up some details and color/tones, I applied a final varnish and decided that there was no point in adding anything else.  The painting and the "mood" is represented and it is complete as is.

Please let me know what you think. 

Lynn

A la Prima

Another coat of paint.  This week I worked on tone and color.  The cooler colors in the background and the warmer colors in front.  I also changed the surface on which the apples rest so it will fit better with the other paintings of this series.  I am applying the Acrylic paint a la prima to allow me to really establish to colours I want to have and the strong contrasts I desire.

The progression so far is coming along...  I think.

Original Photo Source

First Layers texture and Paint

By next week, I'm hoping to show you the finished painting next to the other 3 paintings of this series.  See you then.

 

(Please view the previous postings to see the progression of this artistic approach.

New Beginning for the group

I began with the background texture that I created from a mixture of Gesso, Plaster, CGC, Black Acrylic paint and some Medium, that I applied on a canvas and with spatulas. I then redrew my subject with a small spatula and a wood stick, within the surface, and I let it dry for 3 days. I recently proceeded in applying the first coat of paint loosely to define highlight and tone.

This is where I'm at for now.

 

I will apply another coat of paint this week. let me know what you think...

New Month, New Year, New Apples

I'm Back!  And i wish all of you a very Happy New Years.  Good Health and Happiness.

We're up to Photo # 4.  Wow has time flown by.

Back to basics of course.  the study this time, I did in Conte on Newsprint, in Black, Grey and White as follows:

A) I first began to study the perspective and spacial relations between the objects. 
B) I outlined the objects to review the forms themselves.
C) I focused on negative spaces
D) I turned my attention to light and shaddows
E) Blending and highlighting, as well as darkening the background.

It took approximately 1 hour to come up with the following results:

 

I know that as I continue to work this month, on this image and composition, I'll be able to correct to define the shapes and volumes even more.

Hope you will continue to follow me this year...  Again, Happy New Year.