Skip to main content

Gray (Stanley's Profile)


 

"Gray (Stanley's Profile)," 6" square, done in acrylics on a museum quality panel, one of two paintings starring this sweet little muse (the other one was shared yesterday). Inquiries may come to me.
 

 

I wanted to point out that while the nature of my subject matter dictates that I primarily work from reference photos, I make certain to also use artistic liberties to create a piece that is entirely new.

 
For instance, the background in the photo for "Gray" was dark and flat like the picture in the sidebar. Softening that background allows the viewer to notice all the other edges inside the painting, not just the profile edge. It also turns the eye into the focal point (since the eye now contains the largest area of the darkes dark).

 
I also relied on my visual memory to add details to the painting that were not present in the photograph. Hints of color inside the iris, a wash of pink underneath the lighter fur to warm up and refer to Stanley's skin, and a richer array of middle tones to five the fur density and interest, just to name a few.

 
In my book, there's far more to using reference photos than being able to copy them, hair for hair.

 
Off to a journalling class!
Toodle-loo,
Kim

 
PS My client has a couple days to make up her mind, so if you are interested in either of the Stanley paintings (yesterday's or today's) please let me know and I'll keep you in the loop. Thanks!!
 



 
What Makes a Good Reference Photo?
Part II

 
I shared a few tips yesterday, and want to continue that thread today.

 
The animal does not have to be looking at the camera. Have a friend dangle a treat just outside the picture frame, and snap some shots.

 
Butt shots are entirely ok. Wagging tails or dogs trotting off translate to nice paintings.

 
Photograph black dogs in the shade on a sunny day - give it a try and you'll be delighted at the results!!.

 
Photos taken outside in the early morning and late evening have extra drama.

 
Don't place the animal between you and a light source unless you WANT a silhouetted shot.

 
And remember to turn off your flash!!
 
 
 
 
Labels:

Comments

  1. martinealison3:17 AM

    Une belle peinture avec gray ...
    Gros bisous

    ReplyDelete
  2. Kimberly Kelly Santini9:12 PM

    Many thanks, Martine. Many, many thanks!!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

“Katie’s Moustache,” 6x12, pet portrait in acrylic on canvasboard, $90. Inquiries to ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com . One glimpse of Katie’s face, and I was hooked. Not only did she fall into my beloved “black & white” category, but she came with a full moustache and doe-like eyes. I first covered the canvas with a variety of blues and purples, using a (mixed) light green and pink for the highlights. (Right now my palette has been expanded to include the following: pthalo blue red, azurite hue, cad red dark, alizarine crimson, cad yellow dark, and then for graying/hazing out I use light green yellow and ultramarine purple.) I lighten with titanium white and darken with one of the blues and a touch of one of the reds. As a side note, at this time last year I was really struggling with my limited palette (I went from about 60 pots of paint to 3), but I have lived the benefits – I am so much more familiar with what I can mix given just this handful of colors. My paintings are also m...
Post a Comment
Read more

Dear Copyright Thieves

Dear Copyright Thieves,   Just because it's on the internet doesn't mean it's free for the taking. So let's just stop pretending the internet is a free-for-all.   Don't play the card that you didn't know - that's insulting. And don't also tell me that you meant to follow up and get permission but never got a chance to. That's insulting too. And by the way, don't you have a copyright protection notice on your own site?   And don't even try and point the finger at a third party who commissioned you to make a copy of my painting - again, an insult - you and I both know the difference between a reference photo and a painting.   And don't tell me that I asked for it because I share my artwork on the internet. I share my paintings and ideas and the stories behind them so as to encourage others to pursue  their own passions . I do not share so that those lacking integrity and morals can copy and market the images as their own...
33 comments
Read more

Golden Open Acrylics

I get all sorts of process oriented questions. Most recently I've been getting asked a lot about my paints and palette, which made me realize what a nice blog topic this would make! I use a Masterson Sta-Wet Premier palette box . This is comprised of a box (think Tupperware) with a sponge liner and a slice of palette paper that work together to keep my paints wet. This setup allows me to work with the same palette for about a full week, having the box open for multiple hours every day. You can see what the palette looks like at the beginning of a new session above - below the exact same palette after this week's work. For the last 25 years I have used Golden brand acrylics, mediums, and varnish. I love the overall quality of these paints and the fact that, when I have a question, their customer service department is made up of artists who actually use the products. Until last year, I used their Heavy Body paints exclusively. They have a buttery consistency, a little loose...
11 comments
Read more