"Daddy's Home!" © Paula PertileI'm starting a new series of art for some books, and am trying to work out the style I want to do. Part of me wants to do simple watercolor. Part of me wants to do detailed watercolor/gouache paintings. Part of me wants to do my usual colored pencil thing. Who will win?
This was done with colored pencils. The background alone took forefreakingever. If you do colored pencil, you know what I'm talking about. And in this case, I'm not sure the final effect is all that much better than if I'd done something else. I kept going though, because I wanted to see it through. Oh, its beautiful, yes, but I think the subtle gradations and layers upon layers of color build-up get lost a bit.
Try as I might to do a quicker or simpler style though, I just don't think I have it in me. I like tight, detailed work. I love to render. I do not love to just whip things out. The art I'm attracted to is tight and detailed. Every time I try to do something 'fast' just to be practical, I'm unhappy with it. So I will soldier on in my quest for the perfect style/medium/technique.
And I will post results.
In other news, there is new addition to our little family. Willow - a sweet orange kitty who's been sneaking in through the cat door to eat and play with the catnip toys since just before Isabella died. I finally caved in and told her she could stay - and now she sleeps on the bed and is quickly training me to her preferences. She 'covers up' food she doesn't like (like its something in the litter box) and meows her approval if I get it right.
Sigh.
My local art store is having a BIG SALE on Thursday, so I plan to go stock up on a thing or two.
There are also gardening chores and general 'sprucing up' things to be done outside, now that the weather has turned to sun, finally.
Tomorrow I'm listening in on a phone call with Mary Engelbreit - one of Tara Reed's wonderful monthly "Ask" phone calls she does. I can't wait!!
Happy St. Patrick's Day, a day early! Don't forget to wear your green or you'll get pinched (do people still do that?) Me, I'll be having my corned beef and cabbage and boiled potatoes and carrots- mmm.
Slainte!
9 Comments on New art, new kitty, last added: 3/18/2010
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I love the way your picture turned out, but maybe if you did a sample in each of the other 2 techniques you will be able to decide better.
Love your new kitty; sounds like quite a character and just what you needed. Cats (and God) have a way of doing things like that.
I love this picture, Paula, it's warm and witty and beautifully drawn. I like the glow around the lamp, nice touch, and I see you have put new kitty, Willow, in there too!
Yes, I can see how doing that background, between all those vertical struts, could send you off the rails - eek! You have such a fine touch with pencils, the subtle nuances of colour are very evident (to me anyway!). That's what makes cp so special.
Like the sound of that meal, you're making me hungry. Hope Willow has you trained very soon - lovely story ;)
Her little foot with the toe pointed down to the next step...gets me all giggly feeling! :) How cute is that????
And Willow has you so trained, you are already drawing her into your pictures.
Meow.
Do you feel comfortable doing a watercolor 'color field' and then adding gradations over top of that? I can't watermedium worth a d*** so I go the tortuous route of just colored pencil, but if you can combine both, I think it would save time.
I have found that doing my favorite most comfortable medium always worked the fastest.
Roberto Innocenti has a great technique that would work well with watercolor+colored pencil...
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_drwBXRJvUXU/S3rF8kYNJuI/AAAAAAAACS4/PTBdxmrae9w/s1600-h/Innocenti007.jpg
I love your colored pencil technique Paula. Yes, I admire other people's ability to dash out something beautiful, but it isn't for me either. I am working on something now and absolutely torturing ever square inch of it. And it's digital. I thought when I started doing digital work it would somehow be less detailed or more full flat color fields. But you can go on and on and on forever. So I guess that's the real me. though I do also have a kind of quick style and it is rewarding in its own way - but I still like to torture it at the very end if I have time.
So, that's you! You are noodler.
Willow is w a wonderful name - seems like it fits her just right.
I signed up for the Mary Engelbreit call also.
(Great minds think alike)
I love your pencil work, but I feel your pain.
Have you tried working pencils over watercolor wash?
This way you get a background of color with less
effort and can use less pencil, because as much of the color as you want is already there. Did that make sense? You've already tried this and
weren't happy? Hmmmmm
As a teacher who reads LOTS of children's books, I love the Daddy's Home picture! I think people do appreciate the effort you put into detailed work. I know I choose books to read aloud based on the artwork! Thanks for sharing your talent. Keep us posted on your project!
Congrats on the new art and the new kitty! Others have already suggested the watercolour, c.p. combo idea so I shall just wish you a Happy St. Pat's instead!! :-)
OHHH I just love the picture. I understand you quandry over colored pencil or watercolor or what. Love your new kitty. Since I retired from teaching elementary art I am working at Petsmart, so I get to see lovely pets every day almost.
Happy St. Patricks. Love your work.