Experimenting with Negative Painting Digitally
With Reference to Work In Progress Pieces of Sky
I have been feeling that I need to break out of realism a bit for awhile and explore some different directions in my art. When it takes me fifteen dissatisfied beginnings before I can even settle on what to paint, I know it’s time to do something different or try something again that I didn’t succeed at before.
Being drawn to the subject of leaves in water again. It is such a peaceful feeling that I have many mental images of gazing into water and using the sound, the changing colours, and the patterns to soothe my soul and calm me. I also really love the way light enters the water and highlights things under the surface.
There are layers of depth to depict, movement of the water, light hitting the water, sky reflections in the water, variations in coloration of submerged things and those above the surface of the water, Then there is the colour and texture of what is in the water .ie: leaves and any reflection from them…so many things to think of and try to convey. I’m hoping if I put more thought into what I’m doing instead of just sticking to a fairly realistic version of something, it will express a story and evoke feelings unique to each viewer. Or at least give them the chance to react to the art and interpret it their own way, without hitting them over the head with it.
Trying for the after image impression left in the mind from looking at leaves in water, and seeing the sky reflected in the water. This sounds like a lot to try and pull off, but I feel I have to; at least attempt to.
After a day or two of looking at this (intermittently of course), I've decided that the water looks like when it is starting to freeze in late fall. I overdid it on the textures in the water. The mostly still water in this painting should have been smoother and silkier. Anyway I'm working on a new waterscape of lilies in a lake using one of my favourite palettes, the greeny blues and turquoise with the lily pads in bright greens on the dark water. Yikes! I'll be doing fish next! Why would anyone want to paint a fish? They always look odd in paintings to me (unless they are Koi...hey there's an idea!)
Posted in Beginner's Tips for Corel Painter 11 and 12 Digital Painting. Updated April 3rd, 2011. 2 comments so far.
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dwsel said:
I'm glad to see new website of yours. I think negative painting experiment gave really interesting effect, freshness and sketchy look which I like a lot. Again congratulations on your new site :)