Sunflower Daze WIP

[Denise]

Here's what I'm currently working on. It is from a ref pic Nicole posted for a "Who Am I?" project "elsewhere". As you see I'm still working on it (See Ali, I told you I'm slow)
This is 11 x 17 white stonehenge. I didn't understand the whole complementary colors thing until after I was seriously into this...I get it now and am going to implement that in my next piece.

BG is black grape, tuscan red, indigo blue, colorlessblender marker and cloud blue..so far...working on a black fading to blue at the light source

Petals are henna, golden rod, spanish orange and canary yellow. Much work is yet to be done here...

Middle of flower is just dark umber so far

leaves are olive green and dk green with others to follow

vase is Indigo blue and coppenhagen blue to start with

window frame on the right side is sepia, light umber,blue slate, violet blue and canary yellow

the countertop is celedon green, cloud blue, jade green, peach, and deco aqua. White is being used for highlights

the vase's shadow is copenhagen blue, grass green,dk green,olive green, celedon green,jade green, and peach

I have aprox 25 or more hours in and am about 1/2 to 2/3 of the way done. Many more layers and hours to go... :eek:

Just thought you might like to see that I am actually working on something and not just a poster :angel:

That wieird line across the top is my bad attempt at a photomerge in PS. It was too big for just a single scan. The merge also cut off part of the window frame on the right side.

I have added the ref pic

Denise

[Bill C]

Looking good denise, glad you figured out attachments! :D

[Denise]

Thanks again, Bill. Couldn't have done it w/ out you and the crew! ;)

Denise

[caulfield]

I see one yellow petal! This looks great Denise - I'm watching.

Nicole

[Denise]

Thanks Nicole! Yeah, I went ahead and tried all the colors and did 3 of the small petals (ya missed the 2 behind it ;) ). Those 3 aren't done yet but I wanted to see if the mix was what I was after.
Thanks for looking!

Denise
(who is now a "doodler" and lost the newbie title!)

[bmac]

This is looking good! This is the sunflower pic that I did for the project. I posted it in the project, but I still need to go back and add more values. I noticed alot after I posted to the thread. Yours looks very nice. Glad to know that I'm not the slowest 'doodler' around. :D

[Denise]

Beth- thanks for the kind words! I remember your post and it is very good! Nice to know I'm not the only SLOOOW one here ;)

Denise

[Greg]

Looking good Denise. I'm learning something about underpainting watching this. By the way, black grape is quickly becoming one of my favorite colors to work with. Can't wait to see more. :clap: :clap:

[Denise]

Thanks for looking Greg. This was my first on stonehenge and it is just THE BEST SURFACE--no lie!! I'm taking this to cp class w/ me to work on and have introduced my whole class to this paper. None of them (including my instructor) had heard of it. Several are planning on buying some now because of how many layers it takes.

I will post updates as I progress :)

Denise

[Arlene]

denise so far so good. btw it's not too late to add complements and i believe it will help alot in the long run.

try grayed lavender and dahlia purple in the petals, use indigo for the darks in the centers...try pumpkin orange for the darks on the vase and finally black cherry on the greens...I don't think you'll be disappointed.

and you say you're 1/3 done and have 25 hours in it already? then you work alot faster then i do. something that size would take me between 90 and 100 hours. I think you're rushing it. My new one has taken me close to 40 hours already and all i have finished is the underpainting.

[Arlene]

oh one other suggestion? extend the table off the page on the right.

[sassybird]

This is looking good so far, and I agree with Arlene about using the complimentary colors.

[Denise]

Sassy- thanks for looking and yes I'm going to add the complementary colors like Arlene suggested. I wasn't sure if I still could w/out spoiling it.

Arlene-thanks for taking the time to critique me. I really appreciate it :D I read it late last night but was too tired to respond.

Do you really think I'm rushing it??? I don't get a lot of time to work on it so maybe that's why I feel so slow, but I certainly want to take all the time necessary to make it all I possibly can. The amount that I feel like I have left to go was a guess. I certainly can't call it very educated as I'm not that educated yet ;)
I do notice sometimes that I go w/ a heavier hand than I should and have to back off...maybe that's where the "rushing" comes in...I am going to try to be more careful about that.
I will start adding the colors you suggested when I go to class tomorrow night. It's 3 solid, uninterrupted hours of drawing.

As for adding countertop to the right...I wish I could but that's where the paper ends :rolleyes: Do you think it's alright as is? Does it spoil it very much for that not to be extended? I value your opinion.

Denise

[one who sees]

hi, um....newbie here..but not newbie to cp,
going to be a beautiful piece..and i do find the one mistake many make with cp..is rushing layers by using a heavy hand far to quick..
you mentioned the paper, but did i miss you mentioning the texture?
recently i have been playing with using smooth surfaces...something i never would do before with cp..and am very pleasantly surprised at the results i am getting with it.. :)

[CPSr4Me!]

WOW! :clap: This is really lookin' good, Denise! Can't wait to see more!

:bye1: Sandy

[Denise]

Thanks Sandy and One Who Sees! As for the texture, I used the rough side.

Denise

[Arlene]

here's where i'm talking about...not having that edge there.

[Denise]

Oh ..ok, I thought you meant ADDING to that side. Well, I guess this will give me some good practice in lifting cp...haven't had to do that before :)
Thanks, Arlene!

Denise

[Jazz]

Lovely work Denise :) ,

I am so relieved to not be the only one to work slowly, probably unlike yourself I have all the time in the world to work on mine but am forced to take breaks and lots of them because of my back -that is why I am such a slowcoach, LOL.

You are doing a splendid job with this and it is quite large so dont worry about taking your time.

I tend to rush some of my layers too but as long as you add plenty it usually smooths out ok, mine did anyway :D .

I am looking forward to seeing the updates on this and yes certainly dont be afraid to add complements, I love them now but they used to terrify me.


Huge hugs,

ALI

[Denise]

well, I've been working on this for a couple of days now...have added the complements like Arlene suggested. I have to go buy a black cherry pencil (or 5) before I can move on completely to local color, although I have started layering some of the local color on the vase.

I have to reload photoshop on my pc before I can post an updated scan...hope to do that tomorrow....as well as get that pencil... ;)

I also took out that window frame on the right (facing) side. countertop and shadow are almost done...am eager to post it here as it always helps to "see" it better.

[brynmr]

Curious to see how Arlene's suggestions work out Denise. Looks good so far and I agree with her the right border edge business has to go. It doesn't serve the drawing and is distracting to the subject.

ps. you're working faster than I do too. :)

[lovingspots]

I rush things along because I want to see progress, I hate looking at the underpainting stages, I like the final layers. Sometimes I'll put in first layers of underpainting and then work on one little area all the way through to see how it's going to look, like one flower. That way I can see mistakes I have made on one, and correct it on the subsequent flowers. It also slows me down and makes me think about what I'm doing. It also helps me from being bored with it and chucking it all together.

I like what you are doing, I can't wait to see progress on it.

[Brenda]

This looks so lovely in real life. The countertop looks like granite! Glad to see you back at this, Denise. It will be gorgeous when you are through.

[Denise]

Tommy- yeah...I did go ahead and take that out, you and Arlene were right...I have so much to learn about composition..but I think I'm starting to understand some of it...

are you kidding? me work faster than you? do you see the date of when I started this thread? It was MARCH! Today is JULY....you have probably done several pieces in between that time! ;)

lovingspots- yeah...I'm trying not to be heavy handed...with graphite I have no trouble w/ this...cp is a different story though...I have to really make a conscious effort to layer lightly, so when I just go at it and don't think, my touch is much heavier...

Brenda- awww thanks! you're so sweet! and encouraging....

Thanks everyone for looking I hope to have an update posted sometime today.....I gotta go get that pencil....

[Traci]

Looking forward to seeing this develop -

[Denise]

Thanks Traci!

Well, my son was trying to reload PS Elements 2, but we no longer have the serial # for it...hubby forgot to mark it when he transfered the disk to an alternate case :annoyed: ...so, I don't know when I'll get to scan this thing and stitch it together, resize it, etc. so I can post it....

I've started adding some local color on the vase...at this point, I'm afraid I made my underpainting too dark/heavy and burnishing will happen too soon...

since I can't get feedback at this point, I'm just going to proceed and see how it goes.... :rolleyes:

[brynmr]

Tommy- yeah...I did go ahead and take that out, you and Arlene were right...I have so much to learn about composition..but I think I'm starting to understand some of it...

You and me both re: composition. And Arlene caught that not me. I was just agreeing with her.

are you kidding? me work faster than you? do you see the date of when I started this thread? It was MARCH! Today is JULY....you have probably done several pieces in between that time! ;)

Ok I see. I have done several pieces in that time yes. Ok I'm sending someone over to do all your cooking and cleaning so you can devote all your time to drawing. :D ;)

[Denise]

Ok I see. I have done several pieces in that time yes. Ok I'm sending someone over to do all your cooking and cleaning so you can devote all your time to drawing. :D ;)

Yipee!!! You are my new best friend!! ;)

THAT would be a dream come true!

Let me know when they're coming so I can pick up the house a bit..... :p

[brynmr]

Let me know when they're coming so I can pick up the house a bit..... :p

LOLOL

[sally]

Hi Denise!
Re: your first WIP on the sunflowers...you had a really promising start...
Using complements as an underpainting freaks me out a bit too! but it does really help establish values...
I will be looking for your next posting!
BTW...you are NOT alone in the Slow Workers club...I am right there with you!
Smiles...
Sally :bye1:

[Denise]

Good to see you, Sally! Thanks!

trying to locate a serial # for my photshop elements program....can't post til I do...

[Gemma]

Hey Denise, this is coming along very nicely.
Gemma

[Denise]

Here is the update with complementaries added per Arlene's list. Some local color has been started on the vase.

My photoshop merge wasn't very good (I think I'm missing a 1/2" in the middle), but you get the idea.

Still working on all areas....nothing is finished yet. Have removed window frame from right (facing) side.

I can't extend anywhere as I am to the end of my paper all the way around...I know, silly me....don't know what I was thinking....:o will definately present a challenge when it comes to matting and framing;)

[scottb326]

Hello Denise,
I am liking it! As for the composition, I think it looks great. I am the type to have different compositions in my illustrations. I like different angles, and looks. I am definately not a flower expert like the other folks, but am really enjoying the colors. It still fascinates me to see what can be done with colored pencil. Nice job :)
-Scott

[lucky]

It's looking great Denise! I really like the composition too. And the vase looks excellent, it's always so hard to get all those curves just right and you've done it perfectly!

[TeAnne]

Hello Denise, I'm looking forward to seeing this finished. :)

[Greg]

I might just add that although this looks beautiful, you ought to see it in real life. The color is a lot livelier than it portrays on the computer screen. Denise, this is looking really good. Can't wait to see how it progresses. :clap: :clap: :clap:

[Denise]

Thank you Scott and Lucky! I can't take much credit for the comp. though...this is from RIL on WC. Nicole chose this picture along w/ a couple of others for a challenge on WC back in Feb., I think. I made some minor changes to it, cropped out a window, changed the countertop and bg, and edited out a large flower which, to me, makes it feel more balanced now. I'm slightly nervous about adding in the yellows now over the purpleshttp://www.scribbletalk.com/images/smilies/eek.gif ....but Arlene knows her stuff, so I'm trusting herhttp://www.scribbletalk.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

Thanks for looking, TeAnne! Nice to see you back here!http://www.scribbletalk.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gif

Awww, thanks Greg! You get brownie points.....nohttp://www.scribbletalk.com/images/smilies/bangin.gif when I review your homeworkhttp://www.scribbletalk.com/images/smilies/wink.gif http://www.scribbletalk.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gif .

I have a busy weekend ahead...I hope to work on this Sunday afternoon or Monday morning.

[Angela]

This is coming along really well! I am so afraid of the whole complementary thing, too. Should you do the underpainting with a very light touch or what? Who knows for sure? I would be so afraid to start with purple and then put yellow over that! AKKK :eek: !!

Here's another slow worker: :bye1: It took me one year to finish my last project with none started in between!

Can't wait to see this one develop.

[Denise]

Thanks Angela! I'll get another update posted soon....I may get to work on it tonight....

[Arlene]

let's be clear here please. this is not a photo that Nicole took. it's a photo from the reference library and was taken by olika. i know because i used the photo for an acrylic i did...one i'll never show anyone. :)

[Denise]

....this is from RIL on WC. Nicole chose this picture along w/ a couple of others for a challenge on WC back in Feb., I think.

You're right, Arlene,...I should have specifically sited who the phtographer was and said Nicole did not take the photograph, sorry for any confusion...I wasn't very clear...:)

don't want to show us your acrylic, huh?:rolleyes: ;) :)

[CindyH]

Denise, this is developing into a really wonderful piece. You are doing a terrific job :clap: :clap:

[Arlene]

don't want to show us your acrylic, huh?:rolleyes: ;) :)

Not a chance! it's that bad.

[Lahree]

I love sunflowers! This is coming along great! I did this photo for a contest over at WC, too. I stuck a fairy on top of mine! :D Well, hey, it was supposed to be done in the artist's usual style! LOL!

[Denise]

Thanks Cindy ;) !

Lori-sunflowers are great! This is from the same contest, I believe:blushing: :o

Arlene- ya know...if you did show it, some of us who aren't as masterful as yourself might just feel a little better about the quality of our work....;) :p :devil2: (I have a feeling my convincing isn't working....;) )