Monday, November 19, 2007

Ice-cream man

Here is the other painting I've done for my 'client'... her mother bought some of mine a few years ago - one that she loves of the ice-cream man, and one of a woman walking through this avenue - so I combined the two and hope that she will like this one. I didn't put in all the shadows that would fall on the figure - they are very dark at this time of year, and the picture is busy as it is, so he looks to me as though he's been juxtaposed, but he does provide a solid focal point I think.
I'm changing track completely today - I started illustrating a children's book for a friend about a year ago, and she is soon to go and visit her young grandchildren in Australia, so I want to finish it for her to take with her. So sploshy watercolours with pen & ink for the next while - I'm afraid I really am (the female arty equivalent of) Jack-of-all-trades, master of none!

3 comments:

Adam Cope said...

hi cathy

nice image!

re-shadows -remember the tonality lesson during your painting holiday at Chateau de Lanquais? I think we touched on that cunning trick of placing placing the darkest dark next to whitest white on the focal point. You might have tried that here by recomposing the dark trees, moving them around to make a dark cluster around the white dressed man, who'd be placed in the sunlight. That way you would not have to suppress the shadows on him & the light would remain logical & consistant. Just an idea ... playing the black/white chessboard ,moving the elements around to make the best possible arrangement.

(mind you this recipe doesnt work every time!)

nice image.

hope you are well.

Cathy Gatland said...

Thanks Adam - I had forgotten that focal point tip, though I remember the chessboard lesson quite well and try and keep it in mind (along with a 100 other composition rules I have read or heard!) The buyer took it away this morning, with the dog-walk painting, so I may try another one.

Adam Cope said...

bravo

all the same

keeping all these 'rules' in mind whilst trying to paint naturally can be difficult. Normally I play with one at a time.