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Subject: Statue in Mourning

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ColorMyVision

Posts:3
06/04/2007 1:47 PM Alert 

Hi!  It looks like I'm the most recent "newbie".   This is my first CP and I'm looking for honest and frank suggestions and criticisms.  I used Primacolor pencils and Canson, 80lb medium tooth paper.

The statue is found in Le Cimetière Du Père-Lachaise (The Cemetery Of The Father lachaise) in Paris.  I used a color photo found in a book.

I "cheated"... I think.  I enlarged the photo on a black and white copy machine.  Put charcoal on the back of the copy, flipped it over and placed it on the Canson paper.  I then traced the outside features for proper proportions.  (Note: I intend to grow beyond this "technique" and work freehand from start to finish.)  This helped me get started and prevented me from getting overly frustrated with proportions and let me work on burnishing and blending. 

Please provide all the candor you can.  I promise not to take it personally!

Kim

 





ColorMyVision

Posts:3
06/04/2007 2:07 PM Alert 
Oops! It looks like I forgot to sign my work. My scanner didn't pick it up. Speaking of signing, does anyone date their work after their signature?
vikingwife

Posts:840
06/04/2007 2:26 PM Alert 
This is really great Kim! Almost looks like a real statue. Welcome to the forum!

Jess
rpartin

Posts:401
06/05/2007 7:53 AM Alert 
Hi Kim,
I think you did an outstanding job on your first CP. Your handling of the shadows is very good and the marble is remarkable. I think I would darken the shadow on the marble where the model is sitting and also at the feet.
I don't think you are cheating if you wanted to create a quick basic drawing to practice your CP techniques.
It's obvious that you have a lot of artistic ability and I'm sure you will develop your drawing skills.
What other mediums do you work in?
Ron
LMB

Posts:445
06/06/2007 11:33 AM Alert 
Hi Kim,
I agree with Ron. I think that you did very well and I don't think that you are cheating. You might research 'Camera Obscura' and I think that you will be surprised to find out how far some of the 'masters' went to get proportions right.
Leon
Http://www.artabus.com/leonbayless/
http://www.catchlightartgallery.com/leonbayless.htm
quand le coeur est dans un bon endroit tout est possible
when the heart is in a good place all is possible
heatherm

Posts:2120
06/06/2007 12:49 PM Alert 
I think you did a beautiful job of capturing the statue. I do agree about the shadows as Ron said. Hard to believe this is your first CP!
Heather

http://www.heatherartist.com
ColorMyVision

Posts:3
06/08/2007 1:05 AM Alert 
Wow! Thanks for all the kind words and great suggestions on the marble shading. I was considering going darker but was a bit afraid. Can I fix this even though I've sprayed the painting with Krylon Matte Finish?

Leon- Thanks for removing the "cheaters' guilt" I was feeling. lol

Jess & Heather- Your positive comments mean more than you may know. thanks!

Ron- I've seen your paintings and I'm flattered to receive a critique from you. This is the 1st drawing I've ever done, aside from some graphite pencil drawings. I'm kind of messing around with all the mediums just to get out the pent-up, self-discoverd, artisic talent I've "crashed" into. You'd think by 42 years old, I would've known this about myself by now! I've never taken any art classes, aside from the adult ed class that helped produce this painting. When I brought out the few pencil drawings I'd done in a small 7x10 sketch pad and 3x3 note pad post-its, I fully expected to be patted on the back for the good effort and taught the "right way" to draw. Who knew! I just used some of what the "Drawing for Dummies" book said about cross-hatching, highlights and shading. What fun!

Now, I'm giving pastels a try. I'm painting from a photo taken in Germany of a quaint, narrow, uphill street with proud, wonderful buildings hugging its' curve as it exits the page behind a beautiful hotel. You just want to stand in it and look around.

I've received a gift of watercolor pencils and am considering an animal as my next adventure. Maybe a bunny with an expressive face and thoughful ears and somber eyes, something with duality. I want to see if I can paint something that is indecisive in mood. You tiger painting is incredible!

Kim
gene
Posts:1232
06/08/2007 8:08 AM Alert 
Kim, this is just great. I love the sheen you captured on the statue. Great drawing ability. Yes, I would darken the shadows beneath the statue as well. This is very nice............Gene
one who sees

Posts:508
06/10/2007 9:45 AM Alert 
greetings and welcome to the site!....
beautiful piece....the statue is gorgeous....your work equal to it!...
an important part of cp is truly knowing how to draw....color is only one of the diffiiculties!

i see a tiny lil area that would help the dimension of the statue...at the joint of of hip, the flesh touching the marble, just there and slightly above a bit more work to round her out, my eye seemed to go to it, and think it was a bit tilted and flat....the ONLY spot i found in this beautifully executed piece....mmmm
any burnt sienna in those shadows of the figure?
~I am always doing what I cannot do yet, in order to learn how to do it~
Vincent Van Gogh

www.bettyannlemist.com
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Forums > Gallery/Topic by Medium > Colored Pencil > Statue in Mourning


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