Saturday, July 26, 2008

virtual sketch date finale

(7.5x11 Fabriano Artistico CP)

A final version of the July Virtual Sketch Date subject, combining, I hope, the nbest elements of the previous two!
This was a lot of fun--I like to have someone else supply the subject! Can't wait to see what's on for next month.
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25 comments:

Cathy Gatland said...

Ooh, this is glorious - have enjoyed all the preludes, but the finale is grand!... lovely colours and such round glowing fruit, Laura! I was thinking about doing this virtual date, wasn't sure if I'd have time - next time I will!

Anonymous said...

Cathy said it! Laura you got so much life and movement in this final version - great stuff!

laura said...

Thanks, Cathy! I don't think of volume as my forte, so I'm really pleased.
You should do it next month! It's really great fun, and tomorrow links will be posted to all the bloggers who participated--should be very interesting!

Thank you, Kay Susan. I think working a little bigger helped, also, in the final version, after doing the two smaller ones, I realized I need to pay more attention to the negative shapes (e.g. in and around the stems)--I think that really helped.

Paulette said...

Hi Laura,
Just beautiful! I love water colours.
You definitely blended the best of the two!

Laura Frankstone said...

Laura, this was such a treat! Your luminous orbs are gorgeous! I checked out the reference photo and tried to think what I'd have done with it. Maybe I'll join in with you and Cathy next time!

Rose Welty said...

This is great! I'm so glad to get some watercolors in this time...I just love seeing all the different styles and interpretations.

laura said...

Thanks, Paulette! I like your quick, off-the-cuff interpretation too!

I hope you do join in Laura--it'd be so much fun to see what we make of the same subject.

I agree, Rose--I'm a total convert and so glad I happened upon VSD! Kudos to the administrators and participants!~

Suzanne McDermott said...

Beautiful! Better than the last post. Glad you put in the dark.

Sharon said...

Oh, this is even better. I have background envy. (Can't do them.) Wonderful glow to this.

Judybec said...

Yep, this is my favorite version! All that color and you make it work!! Lovely! I think I'll join the fun next month.

MaryAnn Cleary said...

What a delightful interpretation. I love it.

Jennifer Rose said...

Gorgeous watercolour! Love all the different shades of green for the leaves.

Kellie Marian Hill said...

so beautiful! I absolutely love the colors, and how vibrant it feels overall... *happy sigh*

Sydney Harper said...

Very nice and sunny. Your sunquats glow.

Maggie Stiefvater said...

Oooh, makes me want to chuck my colored pencils and try watercolors instead. Love the palette in this.

Stacy said...

I love how loose and colorful this is!! I wasn't drawn to the colors in the reference so I did mine in charcoal. But after seeing your version, I wish I had had the vision to use watercolors. Very nicely done.

Lilly said...

Wow, of all the entries this month, I think this one is my favorite. I am going to be spending time studying your work. You have exactly the watercolor style that I have been wanting to do for years. Looks like I will be adding this blog to my Flock browser. :)

Sandy Maudlin said...

STUNNING! What a great painting.

A Brush with Color said...

That looks fabulous. I love your filmy style, and you have a great sense of color. So fresh!

laura said...

Wow, thank you, everyone for the head-swelling comments. What can I say, some days it just seems to work.

I do want to say though, since Sharon commented on the background, that I usually leave backgrounds out myself! But here, there was little of it, and in little shapes that I decided to paint it--and I started with it, in each case, painting the shapes yellow, then floating in some rose madder, then cobalt blue. I let it blend and dry before doing anything else; then, throughout working on the painting, I tweaked the sections in one direction or another--toward pink or yellow or blue--as seemed needed.

Leslie Hawes said...

This is a spectacular Finale!
The bright white of the highlight is the anchor, and the rose color background is a sharp choice!

Dougie said...

Very very nice. This is an excellent example of the wet-in-wet techniques. The background is quite good... but the leaves are just plain perfect.

I agree with everyone that this is definitely a spectacular piece.

Gwen Buchanan said...

Laura, this is a beautiful painting with a life !!

Quilt knit said...

This is so open and free! Wonderfully done in watercolors. congratulations.
I have enjoyed everyone's artwork.

Sherrie Roberts

Peter said...

Ditto Laura on this being a favourite. Love the technique and colours... Just found the VSD site and wait with anticipation for September's challenge.
Take care
Peter