This is the last of the series of strawberry paintings, I had a lot of fun playing with their arrangements and seeing how far I can push it. Their intense colors is also another reason why I wanted to continue painting them, their reds are just so strong and when you add details on top of that it just changes the dynamic of the chroma's. Strawberries are tricky to paint because of their textures they have an alignment with their dots that can get confusing from one to the other, each of them have their subtle differences. The best part of the whole experience is being able to eat them afterwards, when you add chocolate to the mix then its just icing on the cake.
I am doing a demo at Dick Blick in Edina, MN on February 9, I was going to do it from 12-3p.m. but due to prior engagements I have to change the time from 11-2 or 10:30- 2p.m.
You can still sign up for "Pink Roses" alla prima lesson, check out the trailer above.
I wanted to continue with the play of composition with these strawberries, I enjoy painting their deep reds and even more eating them. It's fun playing around with subject you paint and try to compose them differently each time, you never know what you'll end up with unless you just try. The weather finally came around it started to drop as of yesterday to the teens, I have to admit I do miss the 50 degrees we had a couple days ago. It is nice though to stay indoors and paint when its this cold, hopefully we won't see negative 40 degrees any time soon it truly is unbearable.
I wanted to let everyone know that lives in Minneapolis I'll be giving a live painting demo at the Dick Blick in Edina on Feb. 9th from 12-3 pm. Come out and heckle me would love to meet you guys.
I also found out my oil painting class at the Bloomington Art Center will be on for this session, I'm extremely excited to teach it along with figure drawing and see the talent that comes out of there. You guys can still sign up here's the link.
Sign up for "Pink Roses"Alla Prima online lesson, check out the trailer above.
I started with the usual dry brush approach using a bit of raw umber on the brush and no mediums. After the drawing is complete I laid in a general color for the strawberries and also stated the background. I usually do not use any mediums with these smaller alla prima's, i've gotten used to not using any and just using the paints straight out of the tube.
Then I stated the darker values and their specific forms and did the same with the lighter values and highlights.
After the strawberries were complete I then started on the leaves and started with a general color for the drawing in stage. In this stage I am just drawing in the shapes and trying to place them in the right areas. Once the shapes are correct I then state the darker values and their specific forms.
Then I state the lighter values and their specific forms. Once the strawberries are completed I then move onto the base and add the general colors with some details already filled in.
I then go back and add the finishing touches on the strawberries and base, doing this brings the whole painting to a finish. I noticed with this painting I did not apply my usual big and small form modeling and could see the difference. It's something that is really important with my paintings and can tell right away if I forgot to implement it. I do like the results though and still kept in mind on how the form turns with the light. There is a difference though when you go through the process and actually do it step by step rather than jumping ahead and putting in all the information at once. I hope you guys enjoyed this one, thanks for stopping by.
The weather here in Minneapolis is crazy today it hit 50 degrees, I cannot believe that its fifty degrees in the middle of January it's usually five below at this time of year. It's pretty hard to stay indoors and paint when it's so nice outside but I must paint and get back to the easel vacation time is over. I haven't painted strawberries in a while I miss painting their unique textures and beautiful colors. I wanted to arrange them with this silver serving cup, I've used this cup in several of my paintings and like the reflections it creates. It was fun arranging this composition and getting back to the grind of making these alla prima's.
I started with the usual dry brush approach for the drawing stage, once the drawing stage is complete I stated the background by using ultramarine blue, naples yellow and titanium white.
After the background is complete I start on the three strawberries at the same time by stating the general colors. After the general colors are stated I start stating the darker values and their specific forms.
Then I stated the lighter values and highlights, I work on all the strawberries at the same time to keep the quality the same. Once the strawberries are complete I start on the green leafs on the strawberries by first stating the general colors, then laying down the darker values and after putting the lighter values
Then I start on the silver cup by laying in the general colors, I like to keep this stage abstract and also keeping the edges soft. Then I state the lighter values and start bringing the two sections to a finish.
Then I move onto the base and first state the general colors, at this stage I have already starting to indicate the darker and lighter values. Then I state the darker darks and bring the painting to a finish.
I was at a local coffee shop next to my house, this place is great to go relax and just enjoy a good cup of cappuccino or coffee. I especially like going with my sketchbook and draw the people around me, its great capturing the moment with a simple gesture. When I was done and ready to leave I saw they had these delicious angel cakes and was just drawn to them, not only was I wanting to eat them but really wanted to paint them. It's always fun running into your next subject your gonna paint when you least expect it.
I started with my usual dry brush approach using no mediums and a bit of raw umber. After the drawing's complete I start filling in the strawberries with middle values using ivory black, cad. red deep, and cad. red light. On this stage I like to get the forms turning and getting a sense of the overall light, which is also called bigger form modeling. I am also keeping the paints fairly thin at this stage never going to thick.
Then I start to add the darker values and put in the smaller form modeling or details, I do the same with the lighter values. Having the bigger form modeling first stated is so important for the smaller forms to work so well with the overall form, ninety percent of the painting is done in the bigger form modeling stage.
Then I start on the body by just modeling the lights first and making sure the form is turning with the general colors. I only paint the middle values first, when those are working well then I start to add the darker values in which I can state them with details.
When the darker values are completed I then add the lighter values and take the body to a finish. Then I add the background by just using ultramarine blue and titanium white.
After the background is completed I move onto the base by adding the general colors, and the movement of light. When that stage is working well I then add the details and take the whole painting to a finish. This painting was so much fun to do from beginning to end, needless to say I enjoyed the days hard work with a delicious treat and a cappuccino. Thanks for stopping by and viewing, hope you enjoyed.
