7_30 through 7_31

Forgot to post, working on Hero Tree design. Taking double the time. . . I need to move on tomorrow. Also went to figure drawing.

7_29_13 Tree 30 Min

For thirty minutes and under pressure this wasn't bad. I definitely feel less worried and more free while painting. I guess I'm not so hung up on making mistakes.

I did a quick background value. Then measured and blocked in the trunk. I indicated the width and height with a light paint mark and blocked in the shape of the leaves. I wasted a lot of time trying to match the values of the whole tree while blocking in. 

Next time I'll block in the local value of the shape of the whole tree, then go back and give the tree its form. Then I'd have more time for the darks and lights. 

A long ways to go but a good feeling for this one. 

7_28_13 Blending Practice Part II

I was lifting on all of them until the last one. I was trying to push the paint from one end of each pigment into the next in hopes losing paint with each stroke, causing it to lose opacity and blend into the next pigment.

What worked was mixing an inbetween pigment or value and putting it in the middle. So I just kept doing that until it blended. Going to try the egg tomorrow. Need to remember relative values and to be patient. . . possibly premix too for faster blending. 

All my attempts. You can see almost all are lifting because I went over the line too many times. I lost paint and then the brush only had water left, so it lifted. 

My best blend, worked because I mixed a half step in between each value. 

7_26_13 Blending Practice

After trying awhile I found out I was using too much water and too little paint. I went on youtube to watch videos of people blending, most didn't know what they were doing but it still helped.

One thing I tried was lighting wetting the paper before adding the paint. It made it flow smoother on the paper. I often get clumps and find the paint sticking to the paper.

I also learned a little about Gels. They lessen the gloss of paint, extend the paint, and make the paint thicker, which would be useful when using Black or the acrylics that are a bit runny like Alizarin.

1. Use more paint, less water. Cake it on.
2. Wet the paper first
3. Try gels for more body

Not necessarily in that order. . .

7_25_13 Grayscale, Egg

New strategy: Going to just try blending. So I'll have a square, one side gray the other white and I'll try to blend them in the middle. On the core shadow I keep lifting the paint. Not sure but I think the black paint is watery, or more translucent. Its not as thick as the white or as opaque. Gray scale still having same issues. . . Need a new plan for that too. 

7_23_13 Grayscale 9 Values, Egg

When I squint. . . the middld of the scale is all the same values. Need to get lighter faster. Also the opposite end is too black. I'll get it next time!

The egg. Shape and getting that blend is proving to be a problem. Still having technical issues with the acrylic. Lifting the paint, so I need less water and more paint. I did have better success with fading out the shadow. It needs work, but was better than the other times.

7_22_13 Fundamentals: Grayscale and Egg

Did the scale first, then the egg. Tried out the new brush, its like a round combined with a flat. Not bad for blending, even though it still needs work. Each 30 mins. Did the small thumbnail first in pencil for the egg. When I squint the second to last scale is too dark. Next time it will be a nine scale in 45 mins.