|
Post by Tami Durbin on Mar 9, 2010 22:52:47 GMT -6
Dear Celeste, OHHHHH I wish that I was in your class at Caz!!! Your grapes are some of the very best!!! for sharing your art with us!!! Tami
|
|
|
Post by Kaye Hurn on Mar 10, 2010 1:51:26 GMT -6
Pam . . . . your grapes are looking good, and I LOVE that plate. Where did you get it?
|
|
|
Post by Pam Millspaw on Mar 10, 2010 6:24:03 GMT -6
Kaye, The plate is from Rynne CFS-6607. It is 8 inches. I accidently dumped my Mother of Pearl and I had a dozen of these plates that I quickly put the MOP on the scroll design border and prayed that I didn't contaminate the whole lot. As you can see, they came out beautifully! (My first experience with MOP) Pam
|
|
|
Post by Cynthia A Pinnell on Mar 10, 2010 10:56:46 GMT -6
Celeste, Amazing colors!
Pam, love the monochrome grapes.
|
|
|
Post by Pam Millspaw on Mar 10, 2010 12:58:38 GMT -6
Hi, all. I am working on the second fire on two grape dishes that I have painted with red grape in monochrome. I was not sure where to start, so I am doing them and posting for critiques. The paint is still wet, critique away!! Thank you for your advice. First plate- Purple grapes I am not sure what to do with the top of the plate. The red grape paint that is showing is from the first fire. And what about all that white? Is that OK Second dish- Red grapes On this dish, I think the paint under the leaf might be too much. What do you think?
|
|
|
Post by Celeste McCall on Mar 10, 2010 14:23:04 GMT -6
Dear Pam, When I do the color wash for the second fire, I paint over anything that was fired the first fire. In a flat wash everything is applied over the whole design (not on the white area....but go PAST every outlined item on the plate. Then after you get all of your color pretty....then wipe the edges off of anything touching the white background. Then wipe out highlights and fire. Also for stems that are left white the first fire....they can't be brown or any color which has a dark/middle value. They have to be a light color such as yellows/greens, etc. Otherwise the darker brown color will fade into the background and match the value. Notice in mine where I have left them white. These will be painted a yellow green later on....but maybe even do that this time. One the leaves use yellow green, blue green also since you already have green on there. Save the white areas for the yellow green. You second piece is looking great. I'd fire it and then wash the whole thing with yellows, oranges and spark it up in tiny areas with some light blue green or yellow green. Just some suggestions above though. Do them as you want to. Looking good so far.
|
|
|
Post by Pam Millspaw on Mar 10, 2010 21:02:42 GMT -6
Let's see if I understand you correctly. Painting # 1. I want to wipe off and start again. It seemed that ALL the values were the same. Not very interesting. I should do a flat wash. What colors would I use? This should be in a more intense colors, right? To go past all edges means that I should have color extending past the grapes hanging down to the bottom and off to the sides, too? To wipe off the edges that touch the white do you mean to use a wipe out tool to get close to the design and then use a paper towel or ? to get all of the color off of the white areas? I will remove the browns and leave the stems white. I understand wiping out the highlights. Painting # 2 I will fire it and then paint it in the colors you suggested and be back for more advice. Thank you so much for your time! It is hard to learn without a teacher to actually show you how.
|
|
|
Post by Celeste McCall on Mar 10, 2010 21:56:51 GMT -6
Dear Pam, I hope that this will make more sense. Don't wipe off what you have on there....just use that paint but add maybe some more and go past the grapes so that all the paint is flat. Here is an example (I'm painting on top of plastic sleeve...so it won't be as bright looking as it should be): Paint the color washes on. (any colors are good but don't mix them too much. paint flat and smooth - again....not oily...oil is your enemy in this method). Next wipe off the color around the grapes back to white china for the white background area OR use some of your color washes you just applied to be turned into shadows leaves. Either is good. Your choice. Next you will wipe out highlights (I have only wiped out a few on here so you would wipe out a lot more but not tooo many or you will be back to fire #1 again. These lights are light platinum and diamonds...so each one you add you are taking away from your pocketbook...so be thrifty but not too frugal). FIRE: Then on the last fire you add the darkest darks (again...I'm painting on a plastic sleeve so I can't smooth it. You will smooth these and also sprinkle them about but think in shapes. The larges cluster will get papa size CONNECTED darks. The others will get some too but watch painting these darks all over or the painting will be spotty looking). Remember, either a painting is about darks (a whole lotta darks) or it is about lights (a whole lotta light). The opposite value is the diamonds and platinum and costs you lots of moola out of your pocket. Spend too much...and you'll go broke. So be on a budget with the opposite values. I hope that this helps you get the picture of what I'm telling about. I hope that this will help everyone who is doing this project. All of you honor me by doing so. Thank you all so much. HUGS and
|
|
|
Post by Pam Millspaw on Mar 11, 2010 6:49:08 GMT -6
Celeste, The last post was too late! I had already wiped off down to the first fire. That is OK. I will use your demo to improve! Thank you so much. I am excited to start again. I did remove some of the grapes before the first first as you suggested, so here is a new picture of the plate with the first painting fired on. (Note: Click on this image to enlarge). I was surprised at how many beautiful colors you added to my plate! I guess I am a bit shy about that. I will be reposting before I fire when I get the second painting on for your critique. Thanks! Pam
|
|
|
Post by Pam Millspaw on Mar 11, 2010 15:31:55 GMT -6
Here is the second painting with colors. I am thinking that before I fire it, I need to do something with the bottom half. It seems so plain compared to the top half. More advice, please!! Pam I have re-sized you photo so that we can see it more easily. Tami
|
|
|
Post by Celeste McCall on Mar 11, 2010 17:17:27 GMT -6
You might integrate the colors more. They almost seem to be divided in half....all the blue grapes and blue green on the leaves on one side and the red and yellows on the other side. So, integrate and weave them together. Put a tad of yellow over on the left side of that main leaf, for instance. And drag the blue paint down further on the main cluster of grapes. You are a very fast learner by the way.
|
|
|
Post by Amy Enright Medina on Mar 12, 2010 0:35:55 GMT -6
|
|
|
Post by Pam Millspaw on Mar 12, 2010 6:13:27 GMT -6
Amy, I especially love your leaves. Mine look big and flat compared to yours. When I fire again, I will see if I can get mine to look more realistic as your do. Your scrolling adds so much, too. I only tried it one time with success. for posting your work. Pam
|
|
|
Post by Celeste McCall on Mar 12, 2010 11:08:10 GMT -6
Dear Amy, On your main leaf, intermingle the yellow from the right side to the left side (up where you already have a light highlight area would be great to put that gold color on (I'm talking about the bottom part of that leaf (left side). Also, echo some of the blue/purple grapes onto the left hand cluster of red grapes. Though we often see paintings with 2 different colored grapes, it will break up the overall unity of the painting if we do so. Unless, we intermingle both colors onto both clusters. Just my opinion though....so whatever is okay of course.
|
|
|
Post by Amy Enright Medina on Mar 12, 2010 16:36:16 GMT -6
|
|
|
Post by Amy Enright Medina on Mar 12, 2010 16:39:37 GMT -6
Hi! Pam! Thankyou ! This has been a learning project for me too, which I'v thouroghly enjoied! ;D ;D ;D I have a scrolling lesson in my teaching corner, don't know if you saw it, but I have broken down scrolling step by step that some people have found helpful. Let me know if you have any questions!
|
|
|
Post by Amy Enright Medina on Mar 12, 2010 16:55:23 GMT -6
Celeste, I just re- read you instuctions, I totally get it now! Your instructions are very clear, but my brain isn't these days! Sorry! I'm gonna try it now!
|
|
|
Post by Cherryl Meggs on Mar 12, 2010 17:50:06 GMT -6
What Celeste is saying, that don't divide color, take it across the street. Nothing should be isolated. Cherryl
|
|
|
Post by Priscilla Cipolletti on Mar 12, 2010 22:18:11 GMT -6
Amy and Pam, your grapes are coming along beautifully. Celeste, thanks for all the instruction on painting grapes. I've found this study to be so helpful. Somehow, I missed the last few posts. Everyone is so ahead of me! Will try to get color on my grape painting and post soon. Priscilla
|
|
kdee
New Member
Posts: 67
|
Post by kdee on Mar 13, 2010 22:33:11 GMT -6
celeste, I love the grapes, do yu have a tracing or study topurchase? and can the grapes be done with violet of iron? Oh, and buy the way I found your step by step roses,I have no clue where I've been... lol kdee
|
|
|
Post by Jole Nash on Mar 14, 2010 2:54:38 GMT -6
Hi Amy & Pam.. Interesting to see your take on the grapes... & really interesting to read Celestes critiques.. they are so helpful for all of us who read them.. not only for you two.. will be watching to see how you both finish up... Thanks for your postings I love doing grapes.. but have to be in a good mood.. otherwise things go pear shape in a hurry.. hows that for mixing metaphors... I'm off jole
|
|
|
Post by Celeste McCall on Mar 14, 2010 9:21:35 GMT -6
Dear Kdee, I will have a study for purchase in June for sure. It will be for a punchbowl and will feature 6 line drawings of grape clusters. Plus color studies for each with instructions. However, this isn't finished yet...so I'm still working on it. I will be doing 2 of these patterns in different colors and designs (but both on punchbowls). Actually, this may be a whole booklet on grapes with patterns. I need to do a book on grapes someday anyway. OR a cd with a pdf pattern on it.... for people to print out on their own printers.
|
|
|
Post by Alan Berry on Mar 14, 2010 11:03:08 GMT -6
Celeste, Mark me down to purchase the study in whatever form you choose. A DVD would be another GREAT option. You are the best and would love whatever you produce. Alan ;D ;D ;D
|
|
|
Post by Priscilla Cipolletti on Mar 14, 2010 21:34:20 GMT -6
|
|
|
Post by Tami Durbin on Mar 16, 2010 9:37:15 GMT -6
Dear Celeste,I am also interested in purchasing your grape study book or study, which ever it is Thank you for making is available to us for purchase Tami
|
|
|
Post by Pam Millspaw on Mar 16, 2010 15:04:12 GMT -6
I am getting ready to do a third fire on the two "punchy" grape dishes. As you can see, I went crazy with color on the one (it is really punchy ) and conservative on the other. Anything else I should fix before I fire?
|
|
|
Post by Celeste McCall on Mar 16, 2010 15:44:41 GMT -6
Dear Pam, You did put some nice colors on this for sure. Here are some of my thoughts: It looks blue on the on the lower right and yellow on the lower left on that second one. Could you carve into that blue and leave leaf shapes so that you can make leaf looking shadows with that blue? Then after carving that side....then add the same yellow color onto the white china. I always look at my work and say to myself, "Does this side look like that one?" If so, I change it to be different in colors and shapes. Then I look at it and say, "Is one side of the leaf dark and one light?" If so, I have the light side painted with a little bit of dark and vice versa. Different different different for all values (lights/darks) and colors and temperature, etc. Everything in a painting must be different and yet still have a little bit of this and a little bit of that on each side of each thing in the painting. Also, as I said before, each cluster will need the darks added. But you could do that next time. Each cluster should have a light side and a dark side. I hope that this is helps as it is what I tell myself when painting. Different, different, different . no lines alike no two sides of a leaf alike no two sides of a cluster alike no colors alike on each part of the leaves (meaning the same color on both sides) no values alike (each object must have a light and dark side) no sides of the 'sky' alike (but not too different....it must look integrated and not segregated) no tendrils alike no branches alike no tops the same as the bottom of objects etc. Variety everywhere....and yet enough unity for it to all look like it is ONE painting and not several. Designing on your own like this is THE absolute hardest thing to do and which is why I like it so much. But one must remind themselves and talk to themselves contstantly when painting and ask the questions of "Does this look like that." And, "This leaf has a whole lot of ______________and a little bit of ____________." "This cluster has a whole lot of _____________ and a little bit of ________________." The sky has a whole lot of _______________ and a little bit of _____________." It's the UNBALANCE that will be visually pleasing contrasts. A whole lotta......and a little bit of. Finally I would wipe some color on those two bottom leaves as the red now brings them forward. I would paint them with yellow green. Also, squint at the plate and look at your darks. Make sure that the pattern of darks are pleasing. The dark areas should look good even if that were the only thing painted on the whole plate and they must connect. Think of them as ONE thing instead of several. The shapes of everything should be interesting. Ok, that's all I can say. And I'm only saying this because I know that you don't have a teacher and I'm try to teach long distance. These things are just my opinion of course....so paint it the way that you want to.
|
|
|
Post by Pam Millspaw on Mar 16, 2010 17:20:09 GMT -6
Celeste, Thank you for all the help. I am still working on the two plates and will submit again before I fire. I can't tell you how much I appreciate your detailed instructions and how much I should be paying you for the lessons. Tomorrow I leave for NY to visit my daughter and her family. Ezra is turning 5 and I am going to be there for his birthday! Painting will have to wait. Pam
|
|
|
Post by Cynthia A Pinnell on Mar 20, 2010 10:58:11 GMT -6
Pam, you have put in the work on these 2 grape plates. You have continued to "refine" them and they are looking really good.
|
|
|
Post by Cherryl Meggs on Mar 20, 2010 16:20:13 GMT -6
Pam, I hope you don't mind me jumping in here. I love what you are doing with the grapes. Remember clusters in grapes think of them as the whole bunch not individually. Be careful about dividing the grape clusters with leaves. Or anything in half. Assymetrical balance is the best when painting in this style. Nothing alike alike. One main cluster of grapes. And in the main cluster one that is on top of everybody else. I am so proud of you for designing your own work. That is a challenge in itself, not to mention the subject of grapes. Monochrome using Black Grape is one of the best way to see values. All values should be present try to think in more than 3 values, try 5! Darkest, Dark, Medium, Light, Lightest! Get the idea? I start all my beginner painters when painting grapes with a monochrome. Then we do anologous washes over the clusters of grapes. Using Grape photos you can see how the light, darks and colors happen on a cluster. YOU are learning from one of the very best artists living today, Celeste! I absolutely love her and her work. Again hope you don't mind me putting my two cents in! Cherryl
|
|