The Wonders

"The Wonders" 9 x 12 oil on canvas panel  $125

This painting was for another challenge on Different Strokes for Different Folks. I added the child, and her wonder at the light making a great wheel on the floor, and accentuated the preoccupation of the other family members with the wonder of their i-phones. Even with the reference photo provided this was a tough challenge to paint these figures from above, plus making one up (including her shadow), but once again I struggled most with the values. As you will see from the progress below, I realized mid-painting that where I wanted the focus was not going to have the most value contrast.

 

The choice of a red underpainting was pretty random, other than I thought it would make a nice vibe behind the gray-greens.

 

 

Oops! Here's where I realize the focus is on the man, not the child.

 

Bad exposure on the photo, but the contrast is where I need it. What's with the kid? Not working!

 I'm laying on the couch taking a quick snooze with my face in the sun when I realize the child needs to be looking at the source of the light way up there! Turned the canvas upside down to paint her face- amazing how I can forget this is an option. Also decided to crop the canvas- which is also an option with canvas board.

Harvesting Pumpkins

"Harvesting Pumpkins" 11' x 15" watercolor on cotton rag paper

Late in the game I ran into another challenge on the 'net: this one was on Facebook and called The First Annual Autumn Arts Painting Challenge and Competition.
If you have the time to browse through nearly a thousand paintings take a look. I don't think the creators of this challenge had any idea they would get that kind of response! Needless to say you have to sift a lot to find the good ones but they are in there.
My hasty submission was a reprise of the pumpkins I did last year in oils; I was curious to see what I could do with watercolors which are quite the mystery for me. But, isn't it all?