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| Author |
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heatherm
Posts:2120
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| 06/01/2007 8:40 PM |
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| The giraffe and the bluebird are both pastel on Wallis paper 2.5"x3.5" C/C |
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Heather
http://www.heatherartist.com |
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bluiiz
Posts:532
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| 06/02/2007 7:21 AM |
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| Heather, Great job again! I especially like the giraffe, you really captured the look, and again, so small, its amazing! |
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Anna |
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vikingwife
Posts:910
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| 06/02/2007 8:20 AM |
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Geeesh!! You're getting more elaborate with the tiny masterpieces I still can't believe you have the patience for this. Looks great! My daughter looked at the computer screen and said...."hey, I like that blue bird!"
Jess |
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heatherm
Posts:2120
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| 06/02/2007 9:28 AM |
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| Thank you Anna and Jess, the originals are only slightly larger than these photos. I am addicted to these tiny paintings, whether in oil or pastel, acrylic doesn't work very well for me - have to practice more with it. Jess, tell your daughter I said thank you for her compliment. I posted these yesterday and already have a bid on the giraffe. Not selling much but having a lot of fun doing it. I am going to be doing some larger paintings now that the portrait of my grandson is finally finished. |
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Heather
http://www.heatherartist.com |
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Jim
Posts:2748
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| 06/02/2007 2:30 PM |
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Two amazing paintings Heather!
You just keep it up girl! I don't see
how you do it. What's the name of the
sharpener you bought? It sounds like a good investment.
Jim
www.paintingsbyjim.com |
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All the best,
Jim
www.paintingsbyjim.com |
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gene
Posts:1246
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| 06/02/2007 3:40 PM |
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| Great work as usual, Heather. I love the eyes on the giraffe! Good luck in selling these.........Gene |
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reisafp
Posts:63
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| 06/04/2007 12:23 PM |
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| I can't beleive you work that small, Heather! You are a master of tiny detail! It would make me insane! They are beautiful! |
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www.reisafp11.com |
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heatherm
Posts:2120
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| 06/05/2007 12:58 AM |
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Jim, thanks for your encouragement, I need it right now. My sharpener is X-Acto School Pro, bought it at Staples, it is really good but if you have favorite pencils like I do it really eats them up.
Gene, thank you for popping in, I received a bid on my giraffe 2 hours after it listed then nothing more so far.
Reisa, thank you for saying so and coming to look at my work. To do these miniatures you need time to concentrate, no interruptions except for breaks to rest the eyes, a magnifying glass is a must. I just bought a new one that stands on the table 10x power and lens is 4 inches in dia. Love it. When I paint them I use the tiniest brushes I can find. So it is just like a larger painting with smaller canvas, smaller brushes and a magnifying glass.
I have been using the ArtSpectrum paper for the oils, saves money instead of buying individual canvases, just cut up the sheets to the correct sizes. Also the paper works out very well for painting, it is all media paper, and cheaper to mail. |
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Heather
http://www.heatherartist.com |
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tequi
Posts:51
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| 06/05/2007 1:10 PM |
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Hi Heather,
My comments to you would be similar to those to Reisa. The giraffee is nicely drawn, but the "black spots" need to be hooked together (regardless of the painting's size) so they aren't just spots. On the next one, try lightening them on the horns and develop a darker shadow on the left side of the neck. Also, try some middle values in the inside ear and soften the dark that articulates the nose.
SL Sorensen |
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heatherm
Posts:2120
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| 06/05/2007 2:30 PM |
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| Thank you SL Sorensen for your comments, much appreciated. If I explained that the photo doesn't pick up all colors/values and the black spots aren't solid black it would sound like I was being defensive and I am not, I appreciate the critique. The nostrils do really pop out don't they? I will tone them down a bit more. Thank you. |
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Heather
http://www.heatherartist.com |
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tequi
Posts:51
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| 06/06/2007 11:38 AM |
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Try this: put your painting in a program where you can desaturate it. It will be almost black and white. Then look at the values and how they connect.
SL Sorensen |
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heatherm
Posts:2120
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| 06/06/2007 12:11 PM |
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| I understand, will do that. But doesn't the camera/photo have to pick up the correct values to start with, to be able to do this? I looked at the horns and ears again in real life, there are middle tones there but probably not strong enough and that's why the camera didn't catch them. Plus I found that if I photograph outside the light washes out the middle tones and blending in a painting, even photographing in the shade. That's what happened to the finished oil portrait I just did, and it is so frustrating! I had said in that posting I would try and photograph farther back and then crop it to see if that helps, haven't done that yet. |
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Heather
http://www.heatherartist.com |
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Diane
Posts:130
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| 06/06/2007 9:04 PM |
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| These are great Heather. You must have the sharpest pastels on the planet. |
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Diane |
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tequi
Posts:51
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| 06/06/2007 11:07 PM |
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"I looked at the horns and ears again in real life, there are middle tones there but probably not strong enough and that's why the camera didn't catch them."
Bingo!
The value on the inside of the left ear especially tends to come forward because the value is too light for the rest of that side of the face coming toward you. We're not looking at big value changes, but subtle ones. Sometimes you have to forget what your reference photo looks like (they are never a good substitute for the real thing) and do what you know works. I desaturate photos of my paintings all the time, and boy do I sometimes get a good lesson, not only in value, but in line and composition.
SL Sorensen |
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Muckleskate
Posts:107
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| 06/07/2007 4:03 AM |
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| Heather, I am so impressed that you can work that small!!! My old eyes and arthritic fingers would never allow me to do that. Just an observation regarding the spots: If the giraffe is a Reticulated Giraffe, the 'spots' would not be hooked together, but would be separated as you show them. The Masai Giraffe has 'spots' that are connected. |
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Sandy
Signatures Gallery
Brookings Harbor, OR
www.signaturesgallery.com |
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gene
Posts:1246
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| 06/09/2007 9:09 AM |
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| Heather, I noticed your comments on photographing your paintings. I agree it is really hard to get the same values, and colors of the painting on the photo. Whenever I view a posting on here or any other website I always try to take that into consideration, and realize I am not seeing the painting as it actually looks.........I'm glad you are having some success on selling your paintings online.............Gene |
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heatherm
Posts:2120
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| 06/10/2007 10:18 PM |
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Thanks everyone for you comments/observations, I am going to make my values a bit stronger so they photograph better, including the middle tones on all my work. And I think it is a good idea to do the "grey tone" thingy on the PhotoShop that I have (older version) on all my paintings. Not just being an artist anymore, I find I have to be a "techy" too - LOL.
I don't know what kind of giraffe it is, my friends went to Africa and took a lot of photos of many things. Now that I am back from family visit/graduation celebration, have to get moving on painting again. |
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Heather
http://www.heatherartist.com |
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