204 - W.I.P Update

This still needs some finishing touches but other than that, I think I've taken it as far as I can at my current skill level.

204 - W.I.P

I've been sitting on this painting, metaphorically speaking, for the last 2 weeks. I painted it over a couple of days and then went back to work and sort of lost momentum, so I'm posting it as a work in progress in the hope that it will motivate me to finish it off. I think it's just the fear of going back into the painting and not messing it up that has put me off. I just need to dive back in! Alas it isn't my own design, but a copy of a painting by the artist Brian Keeler. He has several tutorials on the Artist's Network and I just loved the colours in this picture and decided to give it a go, following along with his video.

202 - Sky, trees and mountains

This started off as a single exercise in painting clouds in acrylic following one of Jerry Yarnell's videos. I continued with further tutorials on trees and mountains using the same board and ended up with this painting. 

I photographed the painting and took the colour out using the computer. This was interesting because as you can see in the picture below, what I've managed to create is a painting largely in the mid-tone range.

In this final picture I've tried to add more of a tonal range by changing the values using software. Whilst the painting is just a series of exercises, seeing it in black and white is a great way to highlight the values and see where you are going wrong. 

On a personal note, I can't believe it's been nearly 4 months since my last post, it's so easy to get out of the habit. In my defence, I have been working on a couple of projects including learning modelling techniques in Maya and putting together a book or some might say, a glorified photo album for our 25th wedding anniversary which was in April. And did I mention I had a cold for a whole month! Any-who, I definitely have the painting bug at the minute and the sun is shining so it's time to 'make hay'.

197 - Clumps of Grass & pebbles

Another Jerry Yarnell exercise.

196 - Fencepost revisited

Decided to go back and add the flowers as well as trying to improve on the grass.

196 - Fence-post

An exercise from Jerry Yarnell's book, 'Landscape Painting Secrets'.

192-195

A series of studies/exercises using acrylics shown from the bottom in the order they were painted. It's a new medium for me so it's early days but I'm really keen to practice and improve. Whilst I like the idea of tackling small 'manageable' subjects, things that don't take too long but give the opportunity to learn and explore, I am desperate to have a go at a 'proper' picture. Judging by my early attempts its probably best that I carry on with the studies for the moment.