Wings Over Winecountry, Colleen's place (1 Viewer)

[timwootton]

Looks fab Colleen - I wonder if a slghtly darker and cooler tone behind the lab's head would enhance this pic some? It's a real cracker.

 

[colleenc]

Good idea Tim, I think that will help, I'll change it.

 

[Suvi]

I like your hunting dog painting - Beautifully captured.

 

[colleenc]

Thanks Suvi

Ok background changed,( thanks a bunch Tim) and I'm calling it done, except for some very minor tweaks in eyes and nose. I think I've had about enough of the dead duck8-P

I actually had to go back in and take out detail, and simplify areas, it was weird some real, some loose didn't set well together

...I got the "bible" of painting so I've heard from some mighty fine artists, Richard Schmid's Alla Prima, Everything I Know About Painting today, I think it's going to really help me as I'm switching gears to more Direct painting, glanced through it briefly, he's amazing and can paint anything, tho it looks loose it's very controlled, not slap dash at all. Keep you posted here, its good for any painter, tho he paints in oils. BTW it was really expensive online at Amazon etc, but direct from him it was $30 less.

edit, after posting, sent this to my friend on her Iphone, and she's completely happy, what a relief.... I can put it to bed!

 

[solitaryVSong]

A fine resolution Colleen. The addition of cooler tone and a bit more detail in background really bring the whole painting together. It now has a nice fresh feel to it and looks like you planned it this way all along.

 

[colleenc]

cleaning off the palette time for a flash, this one ruddy duck 15 min.

 

[nickderry]

dog and duck is a fine portrait, you pulled it off really well. The ruddy's a fine little character - a favourite species of mine.

 

[Woody]

Big fan of the quickies Colleen, such a good way to let the paint do the talking.

Mike

 

[solitaryVSong]

Big fan of the quickies Colleen, such a good way to let the paint do the talking.

Mike

What more can you say?! Keep them up.

 

[timwootton]

Very cocky jamacensis (is that right?) - what better use of time and spare media. Lovely!

 

[buzzard12]

A fine resolution Colleen. The addition of cooler tone and a bit more detail in background really bring the whole painting together. It now has a nice fresh feel to it and looks like you planned it this way all along.

Nice work Collen, a very happy Lab!

A special shout for the wonderful Caspian Tern studies which I missed at the time, just been admiring them. The wing stretching and preening studies are impressive. Been seeing these birds lately here in Sweden and can say these are just cracking...

 

[colleenc]

thanks Alan, I study your flight drawing a lot so hope you see your influence in these....I love the terns, tho I don't often see them in flight they take my breath away...still can't do the flight thing from life, hoping practice will help next time I'm out.

 

[phil baber]

Colleen,

I love your "live" stuff. You work better at capturing moments, than trying to "sculpt" them for a commission IMO.
I'm sorry, the dead Mallard in the dog's mouth was not YOU IMO.
I love your free workings of, and celebration of, birds in life.
It is there you excel IMO.
And you have an unconscious mastery of it!

You truly are a master of capture in living birds! And that's what endears me to your work!

Absolutely amazing!

That fast Ruddy Duck?

Oh boy!

More please!

Best Regards,

phil

 

[colleenc]

Colleen, I'm sorry, the dead Mallard in the dog's mouth was not YOU IMO.
I love your free workings of, and celebration of, birds in life.
It is there you excel IMO.
More please! phil

Couldn't agree more, I'm def not a dead duck hunter type, but this was a request I couldn't turn down from a friend, (it's a long story,)
Absolutely would rather paint and celebrate the live ones, but I do have to remember that some places exist for the birds because hunters saved the marshes, so try to be temperate in my feelings....
the other thing is this dog has never liked me since he was a puppy, always suspicous and most animals like me right off, so I didn't have the connection with him I usually do.....I did my best with the thing, and hope it passes muster with people less perceptive than you Phil:king:

 

[phil baber]

Yeah,

Sorry Colleen!

I could tell there was no enjoyment in that painting from yourself!

Maybe that's my "woman's intuition?"

I do hope so!

But, keep posting the stuff you love! Because...

If YOU don't like it yourself ? ? ?

The dog didn't like you. The duck is dead.

WE LIKE YOU!

Show us what you can do CC!

With the greatest of truth, and respect!

With kind regards,

phil

 

[colleenc]

Thanks Phil I'll try to live up to that:king: I had some enjoyement in it, just pulling it off in some way was a learning and got me to work more without being dependent completely on the photo.

BTW Today for the first time the dog came over and wagged his tail at me....do you suppose he approves of his portrait and has now accepted me?

 

[colleenc]

Last winter I had the great good fortune to get access to a huge and beautiful lagoon. I stayed at a house right on it, and took a kayak out with the seals, and birds, in the distance were some submerged branches the cormorants rested on, I've always wanted to do a painting, it was all misty and still that early morn.

this is a flash painting from sketches and photos 15 min 8x10 I'd like to do about a doz of these. I had trouble with the first one then my brush got warmed up...all drawing is done direct with the brush making the form, nothing is sketched out before hand.

 

[Woody]

Something in this puts me in mind of Chinese willow pattern porcelain. It's a wonderful image, very calm with the birds just getting ready for the day.

These flash pieces are really working for you Colleen. What happens if you give them a little bit longer? Say an hour maybe? Could be worth a go, I'd certainly be interested in the results.

Mike

 

[timwootton]

Lovely little study - look forward to the set.

 

[solitaryVSong]

It's easy to see the Chinese willow pattern similarity. If there'd been DC Cormorants in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco when I lived there I would have said this was completely reminiscent of the Japanese Tea Garden there. Misty, comtemplative, quiet.

I think you've done a wonderful job on this one. Atmospheric but the birds are still instantly identifiable as Cormorants.