"Three Pumpkins"

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"Three Pumpkins"

8 x 10 in

Oil on Canvas Panel

I wanted to continue the pumpkin serious by painting three of them at one time.  It was challenging to say the least trying to capture the subtle cools in the orang colored pumpkin surface.  It was also neat studying the surface of these little guys, trying to emulate their textures was beyond fun.

I started with the usual dry brush approach using no mediums and a bit of raw umber on the brush.  After the drawing is complete I stated the general colors of the pumpkins, the colors I used were cad. orange, and cad. yellow light.  I also stated the background by using cobalt blue, naples yellow, and titanium white.

I started on the first pumpkin when the background is complete, I concentrated on the middle to darker values.  Then I stated the lighter values with their specific values.  The colors I used were raw umber, cobalt blue, ultramarine blue, and titanium white.  When taking the pumpkin to completion I also take the stem to a finish.

I repeat the same process with the second pumpkin by first concentrating on the darker values with their specific forms.

I do the same with the third pumpkin by first concentrating on the darker values and finishing off with the lighter values and their specific forms.  When stating the darker values with the pumpkins I'm also stating the wooden base to give more range in values, it shows me how far I need to push the overall values.

After the pumpkins are complete I stated the wooden base by using raw umber, ivory black, and cobalt blue.  I state the darker values with their specific forms first and concentrate in getting that section to a close finish.  Then I add the lighter values with their specific forms and take the painting to a finish.  

Picture of my setup.  Today was an overcast day which is perfect to paint in.