Workshop Historic House Dining-room

Historic House Dining-room

Many times I plan to take part in the WDE happenings on wet canvas but it just doesn't work out as   planned. I do however download interesting reference photos for further use. this was the case when Lisilk posted on event for May 2nd.  This is the interior of an historical house Li's description.

 The George Adderley House is a historic house on Marathon Key, Florida. It is best noted for being one of the oldest homes in all of the keys that are located outside Key West. Also known as the Bahamian House, the George Adderley House traces its roots back to the 1890s, when the Adderley family migrated to the United States from the Bahamas. The house was built by the father, George. It is made out of Tabby, which is a concrete-like material that is made of burned conch and other locally collected shell. The house was once a part of an early Bahamian settlement. Today, the George Adderley House is operated as a part of Crane Point as a historic house museum.

 Working again with  oils on pressed cardboard.  I did the whole interior plus a small close up of the table.

Oils on cardboard
37 x 52 cm

Oils on cardboard
30 x 24 cm

My New Table Easel

Invested in a new table easel. On the table some cut cardboard formats, some I have painted backgrounds using some of the paints left over from making my color charts. 

Sketch Marathon June 2014

2014 June Sketch Marathon

Heleni always has surprises up her sleeve to help us out of our creative boxes. Yesterday was no exception.
I usually take group photos of all participants in these challenges but in this time it was impossible because of the time factor.  Heleni collected photographs from various magazines and newspapers which she gave out and we were to do 10 minutes works in any size,format,and materials we wanted. After 10 minutes we passed the photo to our neighbor.  The only stipulation was that the works should be in a finished state.

 After the first round of about 5 sketches we had a break, need coffee and stuff. Then each chose 2 works for a quick general critique. Then we continued on to the next group. The last few were 5 minute sketches. I barely had time to photograph my own work let alone 20 others... These are definitely not works of art but I found this a very good exercise looking at shapes, tones and composition.   Most were photographed with the reference image.

I used mainly charcoal stick with chalk or wax crayons. Paper was regular news print divided into quarter sections 35 x 50 cm.

First Group

Second Group

Project Color Charts

Red Ochre  Maimeri

I have decided that I need to do some color charts.  Every time I start mixing, my intentions to be methodical, I seem to get carried away.  I loose the path and even when I get a really great color I don't know how I got there.  After googling for ideas of a good system I found three that really caught my fancy.

The first was Thomas Baker. He is very amusing and I watched all three videos.  The third was really helpful in how to square out the sections.  I basically used his format for my chart but some other videos also helped me, one by David Grey and another by Pat Fiorello. They are all basically based on the book Alla Prima by Richard Schmid.  A book that will probably remain only in my wish list....

David and Pat  only did 5 values and I ended up with 7 as suggested by Thomas.
So here is my very FIRST serious color chart.  I have done other exercises in color that I am not counting.
I found an old piece of gatorboard and started dividing it to sections.  Used 1/2" masking tape, which I think was a good thing because being not the neatest it kept things relatively clean.

On the left hand side the base color for this chart...... Red Ochre [Maimeri]
On the top the colors for each mixed for that base color. They are not a 50 50 mix because each color has a different staining quality. They mix should tend to be on the side of the base color.
L-R Red Ochre  / yellow ochre lemom yellow/cadmium yellow pale/ultramarine blue/viridian  green/cadmium red/raw umber/crimson alizarin.  All these colors are Daler Rowney Georgian line.  I know these are "student' brand but if I were to use artist brand I wouldn't be painting at all....Total of 9 colors .

Now to make a chart for the other 8 colors.  I found this work very satisfying and very time consuming but well worth the effort. Another plus very therapeutic. .

 Cadmium red

 Ultramarine Blue

 Viridian Green

Yellow Ochre