Red Whip

This is my latest attempt at an Amerindian based on old black and white photographs from Edward Curtis. I have adopted a different approach, specifically with regard to colour.

The Atsina, otherwise known as Gros Ventres or less flattering as `Snakes', were a branch of the algonquin-speaking tribes located in North Central Montana. At the turn of the 19th century numbers were reduced to a few hundred but have since increased substantially. Wikpedia has comprehensive information.

Atsina Brave Red Whip 1908. www.firstpeople.us/

Red Whip 16" x 12" Centenaire 140lb (300gm) not

Interpretation of the photograph was again difficult. Is his hair grey or what? It certainly looks peculiar. I decided not to get into a tangle over this and went for an impression rather than a very realistic approach. 

Colours used for the face were Cadmium Red Pale, Yellow Ochre, Cerulean. and Ultramarine Violet (Rowney PV15) for the shaded areas. There are touches of Cerulean and Raw Sienna in the hair with Perylene Maroon (Graham PR179) for the red top piece. Raw Sienna and Perylene Maroon for the shirt. Some Cadmium Orange (Maimeri PO20) and Viridian (Rowney PG18)  in the background. I tried to match complements, also alternating warm and cool..There are small amounts of white gouache in places.

Brushes used were the Da Vinci Artissimo 44 Size 2 Kolinsky and Isabey 6228's, 4, 6 and 8.

September Challenge

This month it was my choice of subject and this is it. A mother Cheetah and her two cubs, probably on the Serengeti.

The initial drawing

Stage 2

20" x 14" Fabriano Artistico Extra White 140lb (300gm) Not

The concentration here was on the three heads with the rest supporting them. Colours used were various shades of yellow, including Raw Sienna and Gold Ochre (W & N PY43). Cerulean and Cobalt Teal Blue (DS PG50) for the blues with Burnt Umber, which was also mixed with Ultramarine Blue for the darks. There is some diluted Viridian in the background. I also introduced Translucent Orange (Schminke PO71) to warm the animals up. The Serengeti is a very hot place.

Brushes used were the Da Vnci Artissimo 44 No 2 plus some Isabey 6228's (4,6,8) and a couple of riggers for the grassy/foliage bits.

Next month Mick chooses the subject which I await with trepidation! Just joking Mick. 

May Challenge

This is the latest photograph in the ongoing (fun) competition between Mick Carney and myself . .www.thepaintingstruggle.blogspot.com/

This is a complicated scene  (I don't know where it is) so the first decision was what to leave in and what to leave out. I decided to omit the canal boat on the left hand side but otherwise follow the basic scene, simplifying as I went. I did a preliminary sketch to see how this would look and then proceeded to do an outline drawing.  If you study the photograph you have two distinct near halfs. The left hand very light side, mainly the building (hostelry?), the largest shape and the dark right hand side, the bridge predominating. I decided not to have such an abrupt separation and deliberately lightened the right hand side, then making the large windows and door of the house as the key elements linking them to the hand rail and the boat under the bridge.

 18 x 15" Waterford High White Not

I painted in stages starting with the top roof and carried on from there linking things up as I proceeded.

Colours used were a mixture of Burnt Sienna, Permanent Carmine, Burnt Umber and Cerulean for the roof, mixing on the paper. I also put these colours in the left hand side of the bridge. Others used were Cobalt Blue and Cerulean for the sky, Raw Umber in various places and for the first time Hansa Yellow Medium (PY97 Daniel Smith) mixed with various blues for the greens, instead of W & N Transparent Yellow (PY150) which I have discarded. I think that's it.

The painting was completed using one brush which was the Da Vinci Artissimo 44 Size 2 Kolinsky mop. This is roughly equivalent in size to something between a 12 and 14 round Kolinsky. A superb brush, one of my favourites even if it is expensive.

Initially I was quite pleased with the result but in the light of the following day have some doubts, which happens all too often. Comments welcome.