next stage, work in progress, birches and pool

Birches and Pool - changes - work in progress

OK - this is where it is now. I decided to crop it a little and move the elements on the left in, lose some off the top where it was throwing the balance a bit and have a border around, which will show between the painting and the off white mat between it and a pale wood frame.

The colour balance is a little better in this one, closer to the painting

What do you think?

Comments

Billie Crain said…
This is coming along nicely, Vivien. I'm not sure I'm fully understanding what you're doing but it's looking good. I loved the golden tones and the use of complimentary colors in the prior post but the passage of deep blue was throwing the comp off a bit. It looked top heavy. This now looks much more balanced.
4:32 pm
Julie Dunion said…
I absolutely love this Vivien, exactly as it is. It's earthy yet fresh. Do you plan to do much more to it?
7:17 pm
Jean Spitzer said…
I love the colors and line; the framing is too symmetric for me, now.
8:37 pm
Pam Johnson Brickell said…
I think it's stunning. I love the texture in the trees, the reflection in the water and the overall depth of this piece!
2:41 am
vivien said…
Jean I agree about the symmetry - it was an early error and trying to keep it within the size means I can't do much about it now :>(

I felt the same about the blue Billie which led to this cropping of the image.

I thing the border will go darker yet but otherwise it's virtually there Julie.

I'm working on the next one now.
5:57 am
Lisa Le Quelenec said…
I'm really enjoying seeing this series and can't wait for the next. I love the marks, colours and shapes. There is one tinsy thing that I would do though. The progression in the scale of the trees is lovely but the middle horizontal bands of the land seem very close in height so it seems to flatten the depth. This contrast might be what you intended though. Just my two pennies worth...
11:55 am
Robyn Sinclair said…
No technical wisdom from me, Vivien but I love the stained-glass jewel-like magic of it.
4:57 pm
vivien said…
Hi Robyn :>)

Lisa - you are right - mmmmm I'll take another look at that tomorrow when my brain is awake. Thanks :>)
9:39 pm
Lisa Le Quelenec said…
Happy blogging birthday! I can't wait to see what comes next.

Best wishes Lisa
8:04 am
vivien said…
Thank you Lisa :>)

I hadn't noticed!
8:42 pm
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Eye, Urban/Rural exhibition

Image
Vivien Blackburn's work in the Urban/Rural show We've just hung a group show at the The Eye Project, Urban/Rural show.  If you want to come and see it it's on for a month - well worth seeing, 11 lovely artists and some fabulous work. Those large canvasses are 40 inches square. There are rural landscapes, flowerscapes, intriguing textile work including a large knitted building, abstracts .... something for everyone. It's in the gallery below the cafe in the Adult Education Centre at the top of Wellington street, Leicester, opposite Fenwicks.  Meet the Arttists day is Saturday 1st April 10-2.  Come and have a chat with us?
Read more

Hedges silhouetted agains the snow, winter light: watercolour and Derwent tinted charcoal pencils in Stillmand and Birn Beta Hardback sketchbook

Image
 Detail  I have always liked the calligraphic tangle of the hedges when they are sihouetted against the sky.   Recent snowfall meant even more opportunities with amazing light and the landscape simplified and hidden by the snow, throwing hedges into relief. Above is a detail of a double page sketch in the lovely Stillman and Birn Beta A4 hardback sketchbook.  This paper is so forgiving and the watercolour works beautifully with it.  It allowed me to work through wet washes with charcoal pencil - something that tears many papers, leaving holes.  Some of the hedge is paint, some tinted charcoal. First snow, more on the way, winter light: silhouetted hedges in watercolour and Derwent tinted charcoal in a Stillman and Birn A4 beta hardback sketchbook The earlier warm golden glow of the low sun is covered by clouds, threatening more snow to come.   The spiky calligraphic marks of the hedge and the underlying form of the bank, with some of the taller dried grasses showing
Read more

paint or sketch trees: challenge

Image
Close up of tree bark, Marqueyssac, France. photo: Vivien Blackburn Another challenge Rather than another update on the seascapes I've decided to run another challenge in response to feedback from the trees post. Feedback from people said they got a lot out of the skies challenge and I'm sure you will out of this one :>) click the image on the left to link to the original post on trees and you can check all posts with the tag 'trees' here The challenge is to produce sketches of trees done from life. These can be: close ups, extreme close ups, whole tree, part of tree, distant views - whatever you want. Style: anything goes - photorealism to impressionism but with underlying observation Medium: your choice, anything goes :>) oil paints, acrylics, watercolours, mixed media, charcoal, graphite, coloured pencils, pen, oil pastels, pastels, pastel pencils ....... etc etc etc Timescale: we'll finish at the end of July and I'll post links to your blogs t
Read more