I posted a Venetian mascarone ( carved stone head on a keystone) a few weeks ago. It was a very quick sketch and I wanted to paint another one. Below is a 8"X 10" watercolor of the same mascarone, but from a different reference photo.. I took this one from a different angle and on a sunnier day. This painting started much larger, but I got tired of all those perspective lines and decided to keep only the focus on the mascarone itself. As a result the mascarone is too much in the center of the page...but that will have to do:-)
I think what attracted me to this reference photo was the little pigeon that I discovered as I looked at the photo more carefully...
I now really want to return to my florals...I would like to paint some orchids: I don't especially like these flowers usually, but I would like to submit a painting to the artist section of a large Orchid Show in Ottawa in April. I have not painted regularly in the past few weeks and when this happens I always have a hard time starting something new: insecurity? an equivalence of stage fright? painters' block? Do you sometime feel this way?
Christiane, just discovered your blog...and so enjoyed looking over your work. Very lovely. look forward to following!
ReplyDeleteWelcome, Julie. I have visited your beautiful blog and see that we share a love of Venice and flowers among other things:-) Thank you very much for your comment and I hope that you will drop in often!
ReplyDeleteLovely mascarone. I am a lover of Venice as well. And, yes, we all suffer from various forms of "painters' block" It, too, shall pass.
ReplyDeleteKathryn, I see from you blog that you too love old buildings:-)Venice offers painting material everywhere you look! I have started sketching a few orchids...that should take care of my procrastination:-)
ReplyDeleteThis painting looks great! Really like the color choices. You will do just fine with your orchids. You are right, getting started is sometimes the difficult part.
ReplyDeleteI think you did a wonderful job on this mascarone no matter where it is positioned- that did not bother me at all. I do love your flowers- I will be studying you from now on as I have taken a shine to painting them also:)
ReplyDeleteVicki, thank you for your kind comment and support. Yes, once I start painting I am really energized.
ReplyDeleteKathy...oh dear...study me? You don't need me Kathy; you are doing so well. However, flowers are certainly addictive and so much fun to paint. I am looking forward to seeing your next flowers...and (rounded :-) vases that you paint so well.
Have a great evening everyone!
Gorgeous.. I think you should paint one a week .. both are really lovely xx
ReplyDeleteLove this one, Christiane, especially that little pigeon. :)
ReplyDeletethis is super christine ..gorgeous reds and greens .. really like the composition too .
ReplyDeleteVery nice painting, I always like Venice scenes! Making a decision of what to paint can sometimes slow me down, but once I decide on my painting, then I usually don't have any problem getting started, although the first wash/stroke of paint can sometimes shock me! I'll watch your orchids, since I've got a reference photo of some that I've been thinking of painting.
ReplyDeletePat, with 300 mascaroni in Venice, one a week would indeed keep me busy for a while:-)
ReplyDeleteAnne, thank you! That little pigeon stole my heart:-)
Jane, I am so pleased that you like this.
Deb, thank you. I am glad to see that I am not the only one slowed down by deciding what to paint next. I also dread that first brushstroke...after that, well...we just keep going.
I am afraid that I chose a reference that is too complex...we'll soon see:-)
I like the pigeon, but also like how there's not too much green!
ReplyDeleteHi, Pam. The entire door was green, but I painted only the top of it. I'm glad that you like it this way.
ReplyDeleteLove this, Christiane...you might know I'd be drawn to it with all this fabulous red going on. I also love the little pigeon.
ReplyDeleteMollie, I am so pleased that you like this. I have to admit that I took quite a few liberties with the colors...I told myself that these were the colors under the grime of a few centuries:-)
ReplyDeleteBeautiful. Wonderful colour palette - that touch of green against the warm tones - marvelous. Got your perspective and elipses most brilliantly.
ReplyDeleteYou are such a great painter I can't imagine you having any problem painting anything. As for the post, i love it, great colors,subject and composition.
ReplyDeleteCathy, thank you, but you are much too kind. I really worry a lot over each painting until it is more than halfway through...then I start to relax a bit if it's looking ok:-)
ReplyDeleteReally great work! I love this one!
ReplyDeleteThank you very much, Theresa!
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