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Steam


"Steam," 9" x 12", acrylics on panel depicting a lovely and powerful Warmblood (horse) galloping in the snow. This painting needs a home - it's only $539, which includes special delivery to your doorstep (inside the contiguous US). Inquiries may come directly to me. In process photos here (thank you for peeking!). 

Is Spring FINALLY Here?

Today's temperature was in the 80s (nearly 40 degrees warmer than a week ago!), so it seemed safe enough to paint some snow. If Michigan gets some freakishly cole weather tonite and tomorrow, I will totally take the blame.
 
This concept appealed to me because of the steam blowing across the dark body. And then, once I started it really really big, I struggled with the extreme value shifts - darkest darks and lightest lights - and couldn't get things to work. I fought with the painting for the better half of Friday and then threw in the towel.
 
I looked at the hot mess of a painting all weekend long, and questioned what my true issue was. I couldn't figure it out, and still believed this morning that the concept had merit.

So I tried it again on a smaller scale. Sort of like a painting thumbnail, instead of a graphite/charcoal one.

And in the process I learned that it was the partly the contrast of extremes with respect to the values, but it was also the contrast in edges - either crisp or soft, nothing in between - that was throwing me for a loop.

Now I'm ready to try this one bigger again and see if I have better luck the second time around!

Thanks, as always, for following along with my artwork!
Warmly, Kim 
ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com
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