Arabian Nights

I recently completed a new portfolio piece, based on The Arabian Nights. This was part of an exercise for my watercolor class. I painted the scene three times, making tweaks and adjustments along the way. It wasn't easy, but I am so happy with the results!

My first version used a limited palatte, and while I liked it, I wanted it to have more movement and darker values. I also wanted the bird and the tree to stand out a bit more. 

I tweaked colors and composition, but the result wasn't working. The foreground stands out more, but the colors look off and the window scene still feels too distant.

Finally I changed the perspective a bit, and shifted things around. I had fun with the sweeping water, too. And I arrived at the final piece! 

 

I never put much stock in re-doing things before. But being forced through this exercise really opened my eyes to the value of making subtle tweaks and approaching the same scene from new angles.  I think it was a valuable lesson!

Painting the Costumed Model

I've been away from blog-town for way too long! That's not for a lack of artwork, however... I'm currently enrolled in four art classes, so I'm doing TONS of painting, and I'm excited to share with you.

"Painting the Costumed Model" is first on my list to share. Models dress in comfortable or interesting clothes and sit in a single pose for three hours.  This gives artists so much time to refine drawings and paintings! I know it isn't easy to sit stone-still for three hours... I'm so grateful to these amazing models for their perseverance.

I'm sharing 8 paintings, beginning with my first week in the class and ending with the most recent. In a few weeks, I'm planning to post a tutorial on how I complete these paintings step-by-step, so stay tuned.