Sunday, October 16, 2011

Bobbing colors and Shadows

A Day in the Life - Sketchbook Project page 19 color pencils 5x7"

I see this little shed with these colorful buoys behind a high fence everyday as I drive or walk by it near the end of our street.  The arrangement and number  of buoys keeps changing - yesterday there were only a few but this past winter when I was on my walk, the sun was at just the right angle on the full display of vivid objects.  Through the seasons, I observed how the number of buoys, angle of light, the time of day changes the shadows making for exciting shapes and colors. All this helped me change the arrangement the way I felt comfortable with as I sketched. 

I had an 'ah-ha' moment when I realized that I 'draw' outlines of the objects  but I have to 'paint' shapes and values! Shapes in right color & value with lost and found edges essentially complete a painting save for a few accents! So now I know to focus my efforts in future paintings on the refinement of interlocking shapes in my composition, making highlights blend, anchoring the shadows so objects pop out.  Most of writing and painting is observing and thinking and seeing the relationships :) 

8 comments:

Kathy Staicer said...

A great sketch of a subject I hope to paint some day!

Meera Rao said...

Thanks Kathy- thats the plan :) I hope soon too !

padmaja said...

You could not have said it better.. I mean how you ended this lovely post Meera! That is a wonderful observation you made and I could observe your observation:-)

Meera Rao said...

Padmaja, thank you! sketching with pencils or with paint really is a must for the artist --if only I do it consistently!

Thaikaden said...

Very nice painting.

Meera Rao said...

@Thaikaden, Thank you very much :)

B said...

love the color peeking thro

Meera Rao said...

Thank you, B :) Its always fun to see what the arrangement is every time I pass by their house!

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