Female and Male Cardinal - painting update

It has been some time that I'm now working on these two. Well, I did a lot in the start and then I was busy with other things, like writing.

If you want to check the process: April was the start
And not long after there was the update to the female.

I did post another update middle of May by simply posting an image to my G+.

So, this weekend I had a little time to work on them again.

Both of them side by side, a bit blurry.

It sure was fun to work out the twigs and how the bird feet should go around them for good hold. I took photos of them a bit later again, separate:

female

male

And yes, I nearly spoiled the male painting as I was adding the first leaves, too dark and with the wrong brush. I put some white over it (nearly spoiling the already done background) and hope to be able to re-do the leaves better and without the tiny mishap being noticeable.
The female bird as such is done (feet and some smaller details only left to do), the male is only basic color and face done. The twigs will still get some small leaves and flowers. depending on my mood these can be done by next weekend - or take another month or two to be finalized. I have no hurry.

=)) Will let you know for sure once they are done, maybe even an update in between again.

Female Cardinal - update

I started out with this a few weeks ago.
Female Cardinal and male Cardinal

In the meantime I have only worked very little and only on the female.

Here are the two shots I have made to document my progress. And notice eventual errors early enough. So that I can still correct them.

Just the brownish grays here.

Adding a little red already; and yellow and white.

It sure looks  cute already.
I hope, I can keep that look on the bird.

=))

Female Cardinal and Male Cardinal

New Painting Project 2013 - part 1:

The Background

Finally I am back to painting, with acrylics again.

All Winter long the light was just not right in the room I use for doing the art work. 

Now, with Spring finally here the sunny days with the right light to see the colors "as they are" is back. Electric illumination falsifies them too much for me. 

This is the image I'm working on:

Female Cardinal by Marilou Aballe

Contrary to the usual "bird-on-twig = background is sky blue" setting, the background here is a blurry grey. 

And I need to do the background first, so the details of the twigs won't get painted over when adding it as last thing to the painting.  

I mixed the black and white and applied it to the canvas. But that turned out too dark, and streaky:

Using additional water and swirl motion:

Still too dark.
Next trick to get some of the wet paint of by placing a paper towel over it and rubbing it gently:

The result is this:

Nice, but quite the blurry, cloudy background I has aimed for. The color though seems great. Additional careful rubbing over the canvas produced this:

And since there is also a male Cardinal photo, I decided to do the pair:

On this above photo is the print out from another female Cardinal (by Laura Waterhouse), that I had saved last year for painting. The details around the eyes are different and I mistook it for a male. 

This is the male cardinal I will paint on the second canvas:

Red Cardinal by Marilou Aballe

I'm just not sure yet if I place it in the same tree, or leave it on this minimalist metal wire. Grey as background works here just the same.

(Sorry, if some photos are a bit wobbly - I was in a hurry to make them before the paint dries.)

I will update as I progress with these.

The Exhibition 11.11.2012

After all the preparations I was ready to go; all packed on Friday night. Grabbing and adding a few more items that I might be able to sell as well as some of my older drawings on paper. In case anyone should ask about other art I have done so far. It's good to be prepared for everything; though seriously I did not think that any "experts" of art would come to our tiny exhibition.

I even found the time Friday night for making a self-baked cake to donate for selling.

On Saturday morning, starting at 10.00, it was all transported it to the exhibition place: an old gym now used for all kind of sports of various groups and larger events, like theater plays from our local theater group, in the village. This time it was our turn to use it.

All my things just before setting them up.

One corner of the gym as seen from the entrance.

Additionally, a dead tree was decorated with knitted bands, leaves, flowers and butterflies to attract visitors. Two members of our art club had the idea for this and got the permission too for it; until the tree would be exchanged for a new one next Spring.

The tree decorated with the knitted works in front of the  gym.

Below a few shots showing all busy getting their booths ready; as well setting up the eating area and the children's drawing corner. 

decorating the walls too

eating arrangement and tent in back for the children's drawing place

half way done

the central display walls

My first set-up:

I did not like this! All of my framed photos so low and sort of out of view. I wished, they could get a place on the display walls too. Well, since I wasn't alone doing this show, democratic overrule had it that mine are too small for the big display walls and the others get all that space.

So, to "help me", they put two sitting banks over one another and, after covering it with some cloth that I got from home right then, I could place my photos there. They could be seen; but not as close as could have been possible to see all the details. People just don't ask to have framed photo handed to them to have a closer look. :(

(I wouldn't dare to ask for that too. )

By now it was 13.00 o'clock and we had a little lunch there: soup, cheese bread and meat bread.

As the others were already signing prices to the things they wanted to sale, I had to re-set up my booth.

All done!

By the time I took this photo, it too was time for me to go to work at the grocery store for me. I did invite a few more people personally that I met there. And coming home late in the night I did bake another cake, as one seemed not to be enough.

Sunday, 9.30 we met again to prepare the food and drink for selling, display the cakes (too many to fit on the tables) and I took the time until it officially started at 11.00 to price a few things I had for selling: books, bags, photos, knitted scarfs.
Right after church, the first visitors trickled in. It was cold, foggy and raining outside. In the hall I didn't notice any of it, having the heating right behind my booth.
It wasn't until 14.00 that we had more visitors, for coffee and cake time too. This "storm" lasted about two hours only. It then started to grow dusk and it was still raining, so not many more came after that.

Some drawings were left behind when they children went home.

Having a closer look and talking about the art creations.

Here you can get the yummy food before you go inside.

By 17.00 we finished officially. Packed all our things back into the transport boxes and cars and had a meal together from the leftover bread and sausages and cheese dips we had offered.

Some expressed their disappointment of not having sold as much as they had hoped for. There were just not enough visitors of the "right" kind.

To this, I must say that it was planned as exhibition; not as sale. And for that I, on my part, had enough feedback from the visitors. Lots of OH and AH and WOW so colorful!!!

One woman, asked me why I write in English. I told her that I had been to Australia for a few years as teenager and that to me it was like my mother tongue. She smiled and said that, yes, it is noticeable that I'm different than the typical German (artist); my paintings are so much happier than what you usually see in Germany and that I should keep that. 

Oh yes, exactly that kind of feedback is what I wanted and needed. =))

I will certainly keep my happy style in art, even if I experiment with different techniques. And no one wants any of it in their homes. It's for me I create art and not for a market. Though, if asked, I CAN do commissioned work too. And have already done it.

Funny thing was too, that I finally sold my hand-knitted bags after three or so years - to children. My best customers. They still appreciate bright happy colors!!

Now, that the event is over, my things back home, I don'T feel like unpacking them yet. More feel like creating new art first. Happy, colorful paintings and photos and stories too.

Back home, still unpacked - ready to go to the next show??
Yes, why not!! It was not only a lot of work but
a lot of FUN!!

Before the Exhibition on 11.11.12

Well, to do an exhibition is hard work. And so much fun.

The art club at my village decided to do a show this year - after a longer pause.

I do not make my art just for those shows; but I have done a few new and different things compared to the last show.

So, to start off, we had a meeting in which we decided what kind of show we would have. As we are all doing different arts we did not decide on  a theme for it. Everyone can show what he or she wants to. Additionally, we can sell our works too. In the last show we did this was officially not allowed until the show was over and we had left the building. :(

And to finance this and our club a little bit we will also offer food and drink. At low cost. And cake or two as fee from each of us that participates to sell as well. 

And everyone of us will do a bit of the work for the general decoration; and of course ea ch for his or her own display, depending on what will get shown.

In the last 18 months or so since the last big show I hadn't been idle. So I have works to show too:

A different style in painting, a new book, and lots of photos. 

The art (paintings) was the easiest and first I chose. All my new acrylic paintings will go, and some other older drawings too to show the different styles I do. 

Then came the book; in paperback. A collection of all my poems and the short stories I have written by now (some of them are in this blog). Included is a completely new story; too short for a paperback book of it's own. Additionally, as there was enough space on some poetry pages, I included some of my art and photos.

This gave me the next step. To present those photos as single works. 

Some photos I knew instantly that I wanted to show; others were added bit by bit. Thanks go to all on G+ that "helped" me through their likes and loves and pluses to select some of the photos. 

Going through my shots from the last year (yes, it's only been a year I have been into photography to this extent) I realized how many they actually are. Too many to show them all; some are of "bad" quality too. Yes, you get spoiled about what is a good photo and what is not through seeing so many online from all sorts of people.

It's the downside of digital photography: you get so many shots in nearly instant time to enlarge on your monitor at no cost. Not like it was years back, as teenager, when I had my first little pocket camera and took photos. Back then you had to decide if you wanted to "waste" this shot from the 24 or 36 you have on the film. And then came the time you waited until they were developed and you held a print of it in your hands. The disappointment of a failed shot, of one that you didn't take as memory of the event faded. And the joy of one having turned out so well you treasure it for the rest of your life. =))

Finally I ended up with 75 images I could get printed. Now, three days later I have them in my hands. And think that I could have exchanged some of them for others, "better" ones. Oh, well, maybe for the next show. ;-)

Five of these photos I had enlarged to small poster size. They arrived today, and I framed them behind glass without frame (seamless so to say). I chose some more art-like images; not the ordinary landscape or flower shot you see as posters so often. And again, now that I have them, I feel that one or two could have been different images with more "power".

I guess, I will get some better feedback than my own opinion at the show. ;-)

And then of course, I do also have some extras to sell: cloth bags I had seen from scrap material. Simple ones, for shopping; some knitted scarves and socks; postcards left over from the last show etc.

Now all I need to do is think on how to display the art works best, how to place the other tings on the table we are getting each, have some sheets of paper ready to note down wishes for "posters" that I have not done and of course spare change. All of this until Saturday when the setting up of the show is.  (And go to my daily work as well, of course; I can't live from my art yet).

So finally, I will show you those five images for the posters - as a small teaser fro my part of the exhibition  knowing very well that most probably none of my readers will ever show up on Sunday 11th November 2012.

As 30 x 40 cm poster

As 30 x 40 cm poster

As 30 x 45 cm poster

As 20 x 30 cm poster in 24 x 30 cm frame; laid out at the sides with light green paper

As 21 x 30 cm poster, also laid out with paper, light blue - looks like sky now.

Additionally I should add that the watermark got cut off partially on all of them on the prints. It IS too close to the edge. So, should anyone order a re-print of these I will move the watermark to better fit inside the photo or maybe even make a new watermark with just name and year. Some things I still have to figure out as to what suits my wants and needs.

Now that nearly all is ready I can start or continue with my other projects: writing another novel, getting a difficult painting done, sort my photos and upload them to the various pages I use and simply enjoy myself. And of course keep everyone updated on how the event was.

=))

Dragonfly or Damoiselle

I did it again.
I made a new painting.
From a good photo.
And documented the making of it with more photos.
It actually didn't take that much time besides the wait in between colors to dry.
(Size 15 c 15 cm)
So, here the progress:

pencil outline and background color - longest wait after that to dry

body and eyes added

some makings in white on top - and changing direction of canvas 

adding the legs and some more details

outline of wings - with line marker instead of brush and paint

half of the wings filled

DONE!!

Special thanks goes to Jasbir S. Randhawa once more for providing the photo (as seen in the small print out on the first photo here). Without that as basis I wouldn't have gotten the details of the wings.

New Projects in Painting - Update #3

So, now that two of the three paintings in this "project" are finished, I have all the time just for the third.

=))

Here an overview of the development of it. The first two pictures are when I was still working on all three of the paintings.

Just the outlines in pencil. 

Some black for the eye and back added.

Adding a background first, but leaving the tree stump and squirrel free of paint.

Since then I have done more to this painting. But slowly, with enough time for the color to dry between layers.

The basic color for the tree stump.

Some more details on the tree stump - with shadows.

Adding the basic color for the squirrel - the eye was moved a bit more the the snout too.

To actually paint the squirrel took me a week of hesitating. And I'm still not quite sure on how to get the fur "realistic" enough. This is the hardest part to figure out. A learning experience - and hopefully one that I can apply to that cat face painting I want to do since April.

Long way to go - and still having fun!!

New Projects in Painting - Update #2

The last update was on the 20th August, nearly two weeks ago.
New Projects in Painting - Update

But I have not been idle.
So - here is how it went form the last update:

All 3 paintings at their various stages as I had stopped the last update.

Spider has now it's net, the bird a hint of shadow below it. I did some minor detail work on the spider too.

The Spider - hanging for the photo on my yellow kitchen wall. It got removed later on as it's too "scary"!!

Meanwhile the bird has got a background and some shadow. I chose this reddish brown as contrast to the blue and yellow main colors of the bird.

The Blue Tit - again hanging on my yellow kitchen wall for the photo. As of today it is still there!! =))

The Squirrel.

Now that the first 2 of 3 are finished, I started working on the squirrel. And I have "learned" that it might be advisable to do the rough background first. the fine hairs can be painted more easily OVER the background than the background AROUND the fine hairs later on.

So, now I have some new paintings to show off when the art club I'm in finally does have an exhibition for once around the middle of November.

=))