New Year’s Day. Really the only day we have any kind of ritual. Mimosas wherein we consume a whole bottle of champagne with brunch. And then take naps.
I’m glad to see this year end even though it means come April I will be another year older. My sister’s sudden death at the end of the year before had a profound effect on me in ’24 which manifested in a summer of medical procedures, some necessary, some unnecessary as it turns out. So yeah, not bemoaning ’24. And while the country is going to be immersed in a shitstorm politically, I don’t think it will affect me much personally, being an old white woman, unless they succeed in cutting social security which I don’t think they will be able to do.
I decided yesterday that I was done with my painting after working on the green background following several suggestions from commenters. I could continue to dick around with it but I don’t think I could really make any significant improvements and I think I’m as satisfied as I’m going to be. So this morning I removed all the blue tape securing it to the canvas board, looked at the photo I was working from, and then decided I would do one more thing, very minor and subtle, but now, yes, It’s done. I also played around with the exposure function on my camera which my granddaughter Autumn alerted me to to see if I could get a photo that more accurately depicted the values and then played around with it in preview but don’t seem able to get an accurate depiction of the actual intensity of the colors in the green and yellow background which are ‘softer’ and less defined in the actual painting, although this is fairly close. And thanks for all the suggestions for rescuing the green and yellow. 5 3/4" x 8".
Also, here’s the photo I was working from.
I’ve been checking the weather predictions every day for the arctic vortex. Yesterday the two nights in the 20s were one night at 29˚ and today one night at 32˚. If this keeps up I won’t have to bring anything in.
No SHARE tomorrow so I’m thinking my regular routine won’t asset itself until next Monday. And I’ll have to decide if I want to start another painting and if so what, though I have an idea or two, while the paints are out or a new drawing or put it all away in favor of the sewing machine.
I just filled the bird feeder this morning and it’s already more than half empty.
Codex: Turned out well. I would add some finishing touches but that's me. How did you achieve the marbling in the bottom left?
ReplyDeleteAre you using camera on your phone?
Thanks. Just out of curiosity, what finishing touches would you have added?
DeleteI lifted some of the pigment in the green with small drops of water and a paper towel and then did the gray blue mix you suggested using a sponge, used a brush to add bits of the different greens here and there. Bottom of the green on the right is actually a little darker than shows in the photo, more like the middle.
Yes, my phone. The only camera I have.
Ah. Phones are not good at color separation so don't drive yourself nuts. Even graphic designers with 10000 dollar Macs have that problem.
DeleteI like the effect. I'd add a little in the other corner too.
If it was mine: I would continue with background washes until the background recedes. Unless the image is flipped. Light source is from the left. So I'd give the trunks a little paynes gray on the right side to make them look round. Once completely dry and almost done I would add some more dead stems randomly as you already have. I would also grey (light wash) the birch in the back completely. If you squint at the photo you'll see what I mean.
It's good. I like.;)
Codex
Thanks! Perhaps I'll come back to it at some point but right now I'm ready to move on. And thank you so much for all your freely offered critiques and specific suggestions. I really appreciate it.
DeleteI can't fault the meteorologists when they get forecasts wrong a week or more in advance. I mean, there is a LOT of data involved, some of which is going to show up right before. Sure would be nice if you didn't have to bring your plants in.
ReplyDeleteYou've reminded me that I need to feed our birds. Glen usually does it but he's not here and the feeders are empty. I have to use my grabber stick thing to get the feed on the little platform because he's got it so high. Of course HE can reach it.
The forecast is changing constantly. Back to having one night at 29˚. Most the plants are easy enough for me to bring in if wieldy but the four biggest I need help with, and then there's covering the ponytail.Fingers crossed I won't have to but probably will start tomorrow. don't want to have to do them all at the last minute.
DeleteI mean next week, not tomorrow.
DeleteHa! Turns out it is tomorrow.
DeleteI think your painting turned out great. Looks a bit 3 dimensional to me with those trees.
ReplyDeleteYes, we turn 75 this year, Ellen! I wonder how I got so old so quickly! Especially the recent years just seem to fly by.
Thanks Ellen. I know what you mean. I keep wondering who that wrinkled old lady is in the mirror.
DeleteYou did it! I think the painting's just right, now. Those little branches reaching up into the yellow foliage were the right touch. Somehow, I made the best blackeyed peas and ham I've ever concocted, so that was the meal of the day. I'll have a bit of salad tonight to add the greens, and that should take care of luck and money for 2025. I neglected the ritual last year, so now I've done my part to make it a good year.
ReplyDeleteThanks! I'm pleased with it and ready to move on. We had black eyed peas with dinner but no greens unless you count the cream cheese stuffed bacon wrapped jalapenos we had for lunch. They're green, right?
DeleteI love your work, you are so talented! I hate the cold weather that is keeping me inside. My son postponed his visit, but will be here tomorrow. He has asked me not to put anything on my blog about it. His ex-wife is stalking me again and will tell their daughters that he is spending the child support money on plane tickets! she gets $3000 a month from him but tells the girls he is not giving her anything. So, I will cut off her info about him. I do not know why she reads my blog. I want nothing to do with her. She is a money grubbing bitch and I can't stand her. She keeps telling people she is part of my family!
ReplyDeleteI think the painting is wonderful, and I've really enjoyed Codex's suggestions. I can see what happens, even if I don't understand it.
ReplyDeleteI agree. And thank you. Takes decades to be good at it. Ellen is naturally talented and open to suggestions to learn the techniques until it becomes second nature.
DeleteThanks Joanne. I feel fortunate that Codex has been willing to coach me along. She (?) helped me considerably.
DeleteWater colors are a mystery to me. It's amazing what you can do with paint. Here's hoping the weather doesn't kill the plants.
ReplyDeleteI like watercolors because they aren't messy like oils or acrylics and clean up so much easier.
DeleteI'm beginning to think my banana trees will never bloom again with these dips into the 20s every winter.
stunning very cool painting! The trees are so real -would not be surprised if you find fallen leaves on the floor beneath it . Nice work there, Ms. Ellen.
ReplyDeleteOur bird feeders are empty by four o'clock in the afternoon, lately, hungry little finches.
Thank you Linda Sue. It certainly helped to have someone give me specific remedies. The white wing doves are greedy bastards cleaning me out.
DeleteNot knowing anything about the creative process of painting, nor the intricate refinements available from a camera, I think your painting has turned out very well. If it hung on my wall I’d be happy to point it out to people. I wonder how many old masters finished their work and said, effectively, “That’s it. I’m not screwing around with it any more! “ Who knows, maybe Van Gogh said, “The sky doesn’t look quite right, but I’m done with it!”
ReplyDeleteI think that's a big issue, not knowing when to stop. Is it finished or am I tired of working on it.
DeleteHappy New Year, Ellen, here's to a good 2025 in spite of all the other ghastly stuff going on. My two-penny worth on the painting is that your yellow pigment is too uniform. In the photo the tops are a bright yellow, capturing the sunlight .
ReplyDeleteI find some colours impossible to depict accurately on camera or to alter later, blues, purple and some greens seem especially tricky.
Thank you for your suggestion. I'm not sure I can make the yellow brighter at the top at this point but I'll remember your observation for next time. Hope your new year holds all good things for you.
DeleteI'm so glad you feel it's finished. And taking off the tape, as well as camera settings, has made it look probably closer to what you see. Of course it has your own touch, much different from the original photo. That's what paintings are all about!
ReplyDeleteIt was a hurdle at the beginning realizing I didn't have to make it look exactly like the picture. Sort of freeing really.
DeleteThat painting turned out so amazing!
ReplyDeleteAlso, happy new year, excellent way to start it, especially napping - which is not appreciated enough.
Since I have mentioned the idea of origami whenever I had a chance, my brother finally handed over a stack of thick-ish Japanese paper meant to be the stuff for it. Now I feel challenged.
Thank you Sabine. I think it turned out well too with all the help I got and I'm my worst critic. I had two packages of origami paper left over from when my grandkids were kids and still interested in it. I gave them to Kate who taught the workshop. Had I known I would have sent them to you.
DeleteThe painting looks great. This photo looks like it shows the colors much more faithfully than your previous pictures. Glad your polar vortex isn't wreaking havoc! We're down to 29 degrees tonight and we have several sub-freezing nights coming next week, but nothing TOO cold or snowy. (Yet!)
ReplyDeleteThanks Steve. Forecast changes daily Four nights now below freezing but at least no week or two of temps in the 20s like the previous winters.
DeleteLosing a Family Member always makes for a sorrowful Year in retrospect. Your Painting is so good! Happy New Year, I think 2025 will have a lot to unpack and process.
ReplyDeleteIt certainly threw me for a loop, really the first time I have ever grieved a death, not even my parents really. Happy New Year to you. It's going to be a horrible two years while they try and destroy all the progress Biden made but hopefully their incompetence will hamstring them and we'll have more power after the midterms.
DeleteThe painting is excellent! I've been enjoying the back & forth between you and Codex even though I don't understand a word of it. Now if you need crochet advice...
ReplyDeleteThank you! She (?) was very generous with her coaching.
DeleteCodex: Flattered by the she...but curious why you thought so.
DeleteFirst, I will say, I have no skill or training in watercolor painting. Disclaimer alert!
ReplyDeleteFor me, I'd like touches of dark green on the ground and the yellow background trees would be more prominent if they had thin black trunks reaching for the sky. These two steps would add more definition and contrast to the painting.
I definitely love woodland scenes. Thank you for sharing your painting.