Rainy Day 2

[caulfield]

Hi All!

This is my last drawing. I usually use my own photos for references, but this one is from th ril on wc.

It is finished, but I would still love to hear comments on it, especially to do with composition. You can view it larger if you want on my website. (http://www.nicolecaulfield.com/rainy2.htm)

Thanks for having me over here. I am looking forward to another venue for colored pencil artists.

Nicole

[Bill C]

Don't think I ever saw the final of this Nicole, It's beautiful! I love the color in the sky and bg! : :clap: :clap:

Welcome!!! :D :D :D

[Norma69]

And me.... haven't commented ... yet .... I say looking good!!
And, as you know I lack in the other "C" area but you won't suffer - so many experts here - you wouldn't believe :D
Welcome

Norma

[caulfield]

:bye1: Hi Bill! Thanks! I had a lot of fun with the background. :) I pulled up Caillebottes painting with the rainy street in Paris - and tried to match the colors in the sky. On tan paper (art spectrum - elephant) I used cloud blue, light peach and jasmine. That is one of my all time favorite paintings - it is at the Art Institute of Chicago. During the CPSA convention - I would love to go back there and see it again -you're welcome to come along!

Thanks Norma! I'm hoping to get better with that "c" thing! :)

Nicole

[Dee]

This is great Nicole.

Very creative colors in the BG. :clap: :clap:

I like the comp as is.

[Greg]

Nicole, very nice. I like your use of colors, blending, and shading. I also like how you captured the emotion on the faces. I can't help but wonder, what is that person thinking? As always, I really enjoy your work.

[Brenda]

I am really drawn to the colors in the mist. It has the rainbow effect that mist has sometimes.

Makes me wonder what just happened. As always, I love your work!

[Arlene]

Oh I so do like this. I like the effect you've achieved and the colors. I"m not crazy about the composition as i feel there's nothing on the left. to balance the woman looking out on the right

what i did was play a bit with the comp. I cropped the left side and the top a bit to make it a bit more intimate, and gave just a bit more room on the right so she didn't feel so cramped in there...i also lightened the background on her right so it wasn't so heavy on the right side.

what do you think?

[caulfield]

:bye1: Thanks Dee.

Thanks Brenda and Greg - I had this whole spy scenerio in my head when working on the people. :cool: LOL, I think all my tv/movie watching is a big influence for me.

Thanks Arlene! Ah, I was playing around with cutting off that left side! I like it. Did I also notice some rain dripping off the umbrella?

I actually sent this one to the photographer, because I had to get another one photographed. When I get it back I could try adding to the right.

Thanks for looking and commenting!

Nicole

[Henrie]

This is so beautiful; I simply love the sky. And it tells a story - not sure which one, but that only makes it more interesting.

[Arlene]

:bye1: Thanks Dee.

Thanks Brenda and Greg - I had this whole spy scenerio in my head when working on the people. :cool: LOL, I think all my tv/movie watching is a big influence for me.

Thanks Arlene! Ah, I was playing around with cutting off that left side! I like it. Did I also notice some rain dripping off the umbrella?

I actually sent this one to the photographer, because I had to get another one photographed. When I get it back I could try adding to the right.

Thanks for looking and commenting!

Nicole

the rain wasn't intentional...but it's not a bad idea either. ;) that was just bad ps manipulation. i also cropped on the top a bit. i'm glad you like it...i do too.

[caulfield]

the rain wasn't intentional...but it's not a bad idea either. ;) that was just bad ps manipulation. i also cropped on the top a bit. i'm glad you like it...i do too.

LOL, and I thought it was ph mastery. :) In other words it was a "happy mistake" something I miss from watercolor. :)

Thank you Henriette!

Nicole

[Lahree]

Nicole I am a HUGE fan of your work! I love the softness and the colors and the stories! This is just beautiful! :clap:

[caulfield]

I tis mutual then - :) I'm a big Lori fan!! Thank you! :blushing:

[Greg]

Nicole, I hope you don't mind me asking questions. The misty effect that you give on this is really really good. How do you do it?

[caulfield]

Nicole, I hope you don't mind me asking questions. The misty effect that you give on this is really really good. How do you do it?

Ooh, that is a trade secret, it's gonna cost ya! ;)

Actually it is really getting the grain to work for you. I am using paper with a grit to it, Art Spectrum Colourfix, it is for pastels. I put my first layers down of color - lightly. Then I use a milky color like cloud blue or light peach and lightly put it on top with a dull pencil and just go back and forth between the colors and the milky color layers until it fills the tooth better and has the effect I want. I haven't tried it without the sanded paper though.

Nicole

[Greg]

I didn't think about the grain. That must be why mine were coming out with a sheen using similar colors. Thanks Nicold.

[Denise]

Nicole- Another simply gorgeous piece!! You have a wonderful style...just love to look at your work! :clap: :clap: :clap:

Denise

[caulfield]

Nicole- Another simply gorgeous piece!! You have a wonderful style...just love to look at your work! :clap: :clap: :clap:

Denise

Thanks Denise :blushing:

[Lahree]

I think you should enter this one in the CPSA show. I LOVE it! I'd vote for it!

[caulfield]

Really - Thanks Lori - I'm sending in my one with the three old guys that I did with Katherine & the one with the coffee cup. I am having slides made right now - including of this one. The only thing is I don't really think the comp works as is. I needed the help of my comp guru - and I couldn't find her for a little while - :( . I can fix it, but then would have to send it back to the photographer who is a little busy right now. Do you think it is up to it before Arlene's comp changes? I could crop it with slide tape on the left - but wouldn't have the extra space on the right. I think composition is so important for competitions. Sorry for all the babble!

Thanks Lori!! Nicole

[KarenCardinal]

Don't know about the comp... not really my strong suit.
I'm with Lori though... this is such a wonderful moody work.
You've got to enter it!

The atmosphere you put in your paintings is simply wonderful!
You have a great pallet and technique! :D

[caulfield]

Don't know about the comp... not really my strong suit.
I'm with Lori though... this is such a wonderful moody work.
You've got to enter it!

The atmosphere you put in your paintings is simply wonderful!
You have a great pallet and technique! :D

Thanks Karen - :blushing: :blushing: As most of you know I am very bad at making decisions - I will probably have to do eeny meeny with my sldes! :eek:

Nicole

[Lahree]

Well, you could certainly crop with tape...I am going to have to. But you can certainly work on it and enter it next year and enter the two you have ready to go this year. That way they will all get entered eventually. The two you have ready to go for this year are stunning as well.

[caulfield]

Well, you could certainly crop with tape...I am going to have to. But you can certainly work on it and enter it next year and enter the two you have ready to go this year. That way they will all get entered eventually. The two you have ready to go for this year are stunning as well.

Thanks Lori - that's a good idea. :)

[Toni]

Nicole this has you written all over it. LOL.

Your developing quite a style, a very wonderful style, all your own.

I love the mood, palette and the story. I like arlenes crop because it puts the chatting couple in a sweet spot, but I really like the feeling of the ppl in the bg too. Will be interesting to see what you do with it.

So... whats next?

TJ

[caulfield]

Thanks Toni! I like those people in the back too - maybe they could be an inspiration for a new one ;).

What's next - Coffee Shop 5 - it is over in the comp forum. I am going to do the one without the cup and I brought me :) up al little so there is less space above my mouth.

Nicole

[knelson315]

Beautiful!

[CarrieLLewis]

Yes, yes, yes, how did you achieve that misty look? I have ... in my mind's eye ... an idea for a misty/rainy day horse scene, but just haven't found the right focus, yet. The colors and look of this wonderful painting make me want to drop everything else and give it a try!

Great work. The other work on your website is very good, too. You have definitely achieved the ability to get a very atmospheric and painterly look in your colored pencil work.

[Arlene]

i'm with you nicole...don't enter it unless it's the best you have...there's always next year and it's not that you lack for good work.

[Bob Ebdon]

Its wonderful as usual Nicole - the story is there again, and the atmosphere. But I agree with Arlene that it was a bit unbalanced uncropped. What about another of your coffee shop pics? Or will you have your new one finished in time - the speed you work, you have probably done it as I type!

[caulfield]

Thanks knelson and Carrie! The misty look, sigh, I think it mostlly a product of this paper (art spectrum), its grain, and alternating between lighter creamy colors and darker dryer colors. :( Wish I had a better explanation!

Thanks Arlene & Bob - I'll just stick with my first choices (which I had some good advice picking). :)

Nicole