Rhinos

The last meeting of Avon Valley Artists had as the subject `Animals'.  I selected a photograph of two Rhinoceros - probably mother and son (or daughter) but I can't be sure of this. The composition appealed to me, especially the head of the larger animal. 

`Rhinos' 18" x 12" Fabriano Artistico Extra White 140lb (300gsm) Not

I first made a careful drawing using a Pentel 205 2B Size 05 mechanical pencil. Although careful this was not over detailed. As can be seen in the photographs above I began by painting the head of the larger animal, starting with the horn and working across. I then painted the smaller one. There was a limited amount of over painting, particularly with respect to the darks, and I did a little more work on the rear leg of the smaller animal as Yvonne pointed out it was light by comparison with the adjacent darks. The background colours are Hansa Yellow Medium (Daniel Smith PY97) and Cobalt Teal Blue - I love this colour!

The main colours used were Quinacridone Gold (Daniel Smith PO49), Quinacridone Burnt Orange (Daniel Smith PO48), Raw Sienna, Raw Umber, Moonglow (Daniel Smith), Cobalt Teal Blue (Daniel Smith PG50) with the darks mixed from various combinations of Moonglow, Ultramarine and either Burnt Sienna or Burnt Umber. There is a little Ivory Black (Maimeri) in the eyes and a couple of other places. The Daniel Smith Burnt Orange is the same pigment (PO48) as the Graham Quinacridone Rust. I think it a little redder.

Brushes used were the Escoda and Isabey Kolinsky retractables sizes 4 to 10. Overall I am quite pleased with this one.

Doors, Windows & Gates

 Rustic wall of building on Corfu

This was the subject(s) at last weeks Avon Valley Artists meeting which left considerable scope for interpretation. Members brought there own source material and off we went. Below are the results. 

Apart from my own effort, which I photographed later at home I wasn't able to take any other individual ones, other than the groups above. The reason was that a funeral was  due at 12 noon and the Hall is next to the lane that leads up to the Church. Access is poor and parking around the hall is such a problem, due to some of the locals parking their cars there more or less permanently, that we were warned we might be blocked in for an hour or so, and were obliged to finish in a rush and get out while we could. Fortunately this doesn't happen too regularly.

30 x 40cm Gerstaeker 200gsm Not `Rustic Window'

My guide photograph showed this section from a typical rustic building on Corfu. What I liked about it was the lack of conformity - no straight lines - and the variety of colours. I've exaggerated the colours in the painting.

Colours used were Permanent Rose (Graham PV19), Cadmium Orange (Maimeri PO20), Quinacridone Gold (DS PO49), Quinacridone Burnt Orange (DS PO48), Moonglow (DS PG18, PB29, PR177), Cerulean Blue, Cobalt Teal Blue (DS PG50), Viridian (Rowney PG18), this latter mainly on the wooden shutters, a little Burnt Umber and some Raw Sienna . I think that's it. The following day having decided the overall effect was too pale I added a diluted wash of Raw Umber over the whole painting. You may note the use of Moonglow, a three pigment mix. Normally I avoid multi-pigment paints but in this instance, and a few other Daniel Smith paints I break my rule. After all why be dogmatic? Moonglow is darkish grey with a purplish tinge - a lovely shade with several uses.

Brushes were my Escoda and Isabey retractables sizes 6 to 12. For the overall wash of Raw Umber I used the Rosemary - actually mine is labelled ABS - Kolinsky Mop Size 4. 

Avon Valley Artists Thursday 25 October

This week the subject was `Fruit' just that. Although attendance has not been great this session we had the unusually low figure of only eight members present. 

Thin on the ground!

Those present painted either from photographs or fruit they had brought to the hall.

Robert

Eileen

Helen

Pauline

John
 

 

Yvonne

 See www.watercolourflorals.blogspot.co.uk/ as Yvonne has already done a comprehensive post with photographs, description of paints used and other information. Well worth a look.

Pat

Where is mine?

This is my setup, the drawing completed the previous day and starting with the pineapple.

Fruit. 16" x 12" Centenaire 140lb (300gsm) not

The colours in the pineapple are mainly Quinacridone Gold (DS PO49), Quinacridone Rust (Graham PO48). There is also a little Cerulean and Burnt Umber. The top is a mix of Cerulean, Viridian, Hansa Yellow Medium (DS PY97) and Cobalt Teal Blue DS PG50). The apples are (left) Quinacridone Coral (DS PR209), Sap Green (Graham), and a touch of yellow. The right hand apple is Quinacridone Rose (Graham PV19), Quinacridone Purple (DS) and Sap Green. The orange is Cadmium Orange (Maimeri PO20), Transparent Orange (Schminke PO71) and some yellow. The grapes are Moonglow (DS) and some Quinacridone Rose. The (difficult) melon is a mix of Quinacridone Gold, Raw Sienna and Raw Umber.  The pear is Raw Umber and ? (can't remember!). It isn't perfect - mine never are - but I am reasonably happy with the result.

 

 I used the Escoda 1214 retractable Kolinsky sable Size 12 for 90% of the painting. This is the equivalent size to several other size 10s or even 8 in some cases. Escoda's are smaller in general size for size but are good and well priced.

 

 

 

A final view of all the paintings.