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Sunday, October 03, 2010

Peacock Orchids~WIP 1

I've done all my shadows with fluid acrylic, then started glazing over that with watercolor, in this case Daler/Rowney's Vivid Green. The actual blooms are still protected by frisket film. I'll be tackling those last.

It seems like ages since I updated my blog, probably because I was locked into what I call analysis paralysis ie. over thinking. I'm also not the type of artist to have several projects going at once. If I have a piece that's not completed pushed to the side it tends to haunt me to distraction. This is also my first full sheet piece. It may not be a big deal to some but it's huge to me. I'm loathe to waste anything, especially paper so the thought of ruining a full sheet was rather numbing and counterproductive soooo.....I've been 'pecking' away at this for a few weeks. I'm not crazy about Arches #140 HP paper either. I've had problems in the past removing masking fluid and frisket film from the surface which tends to rough up very easily and I'm having the same issues with this recent batch. I should've ordered Fabriano. :(

As my reference for this piece, I used one of the photos I took last month in my Moon garden. I used frisket film to protect the flowers and foliage, masking fluid to protect areas of smaller growth at the bottom. I chose to pour my background using Da Vinci fluid acrylics. I took the whole painting, board and all into the bath tub and did my pouring there. Worked like a charm..no muss, no fuss. I washed the excess paint down the drain with my detachable shower head. I may do all my pours in the tub from now on.

10 comments:

Vera Dennen said...

I know feeling Billie, get busy and seems I neglect updating blog myself. Love this piece btw, wonderful work here!

Billie Crain said...

Thanks, Vera.:) I wasn't all that busy. I think I was procrastinating. I wasn't sure how to approach this subject(what techniques would work best)so I left it to sit for quite awhile before jumping in.

Dhiraj Deka (D.D) said...

Wonderful painting. The details are captured so nicely.

Billie Crain said...

Thank you and welcome to my blog, D.D.:) I just visited yours and love your painting 'Early Morning'!

Jeanette Jobson said...

Sometimes its good to just let things percolate til the idea comes to the surface.

These irises look really good Billie. They have amazing depth to them.

Billie Crain said...

Thanks, Jeanette. I got a bit lost with all those shadows but they managed to wind up in the right spots so they make sense. What a shock! lol

Diana said...

Very nice painting. How did you do the pour. Did you frisket everything first? I've always wanted to try fluid acrylics. I just don't know what I'd use them for and then what colors?

maggie said...

For a piece of "tub art", I'd say it's coming along beautifully...;)

Billie Crain said...

Thanks, Diane.:) Yes, I applied frisket film to everything but the lower growth. Nick Simmons peaked my interest in fluid acrylics so I bought a half dozen basic colors. Da Vinci fluid acrylics are matched to their watercolors so it was easy to pick and choose. I bought colors I use the most from my usual palette...indigo, phthalo blue, etc. The only thing I forgot to buy was a red unfortunately. I dilute them with water and use them like watercolors so I get a lot of bang for my buck as they come in 4 oz. bottles.

Billie Crain said...

Ha! They had bath tub gin. Why not bath tub art? Thanks, Maggie.:D