Thursday, March 22, 2012

"Bowl Of Cherries" - Day Two

So far today I have completed (for now) the shrubbery in back of the deck rail.  I applied several layers of different green colored pencils, indigo blue and black, and some dark brown in a camouflage type pattern; after which I applied mineral spirits with a Q-tip in a dabbing manner.  Once this was finished I added more black to add contrast and a bit more brown to the green, but I was lacking highlights I wanted so I took an exacto knife with a sharp blade and scratched little bits off of the top of the green areas and this provided some dimension to the background without its overpowering the composition of the illustration.

After which I applied a coat of workable fixative so that I would not smear the background area as I begin work on the deck rail.  I also lightly traced around the figure of the boy and the bowl of cherries with the same knife blade and removed the masking paper just from the rail area, leaving the boy protected from smudging as I begin coloring the woodwork.

"Bowl Of Cherries" Background completed


Well, I have now started working on the top of the deck rail and have the slats in the rail blocked in.  With the rail, I am using a burnishing pencil to blend the layers of color, then I used a sharpened pencil to add in detail of the wood grain.  But, I have been working on this so intently that I am too tired to do any more coloring ... so I am calling it quits for the day before I begin making all kinds of mistakes.    The following is the rest of today's progress.


Til tomorrow ... Happy Day!
Karen Anne

PS  These are techniques I am learning and applying from reading and studying the book "Colored Pencil Painting Bible" (Techniques for Achieving Luminous Color and Ultrarealistic Effects) by Alyona Nickelsen.
If you want to learn more about these techniques in depth, I highly encourage you to purchase this book, it is truly amazing!

9 comments:

  1. These techniques you are mastering are giving you an impressive shrubbery; it's lush and the places of darkness make it very lifelike.

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  2. That's great to hear Gloria ... I must be doing something right! Thanks!

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  3. Thanks for all the wonderful and helpful information. Whenever I get the time I'll have to look into these books.

    Happiness to all.

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  4. You are welcome ArtSings! As I keep saying, this book is WELL worth the investment! I literally IS a "Colored Pencil Painting Bible!

    Glad you are enjoying following me along on my learning journey!

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  5. PS What I am sharing is only the tip of the iceberg ... to get the entire iceberg with detailed information and step by step guides, you really do need the book....

    "Colored Pencil Painting Bible" (Techniques for Achieving Luminous Color and Unltrarealistic Effects) by Alyona Nickelsen at BrushAndPencil.com

    http://brushandpencil.com/Book.aspx

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  6. Amazing Karen Anne! I am learning so much through you! I agree with Gloria, your shrubbery looks lifelike!
    And the deck rail looks like real wood! Do you ever get a headache from concentrating so much? Sometimes my eyes go blurry! Big Hugs ;o)

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  7. Hi Stacy! I am so happy to hear that!
    Nope, no headaches ... my arms kinda ache though. LOL! I am really enjoying this slower pace ... I take each section as its own little picture so that I don't become daunted by the entirety of it. Seems to work for me.

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  8. Good ;o) Make sure to rest your arms ;o)

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