Here I've blocked in the local color on the peaches and have been tweaking color and edges on the grapes. I've also been subtly modifying the shadows, softening edges and working in reflected color. Even though the objects appear fairly complete, there is still a good deal of development yet to come, and I consider them just "blocked in" at this point. I'll be adding detail and color notes all over the place from here on out.
One reason I like to block in the objects in sequence like this (rather than all at once) is that it makes it simpler to work with a selection of brushes and hues that are all in the same color family. I can spread out the palette a bit and mix twelve different shades of oranges and reds, if I want.
The leaves are next, which will be the most complex passage... lots of overlapping shapes and shadows.
This is great stuff.
Maybe a stupid question, but how do you decide on a background?
Posted by: William Luse | 08/05/2009 at 01:41 AM
Also, just to satisfy my curiosity, what are the color mixes for the grapes and the oranges?
Posted by: William Luse | 08/05/2009 at 01:44 AM
While I'm on a roll, how much drying time are you allowing between stages?
Posted by: William Luse | 08/05/2009 at 01:56 AM
To answer your questions, Bill;
Do you mean the toned ground? I have for a long time gone with a strong, warm dark, somewhere between a chocolate and a burnt sienna, but I am trying to let the subject dictate that more, now. I thought a neutral might work better in this case. It's still a warm neutral, though.
Grapes are, I think, mostly cad red and cobalt blue, though there is also some green and orange in there. I jump around on my palette a lot.
The peaches are, at this point, mostly cad yellow light and cad red, also with dabs of complementary colors - cobalt blue and chromium oxide green. I use a lot of complements to mix darker shades. I don't own any black.
Drying time in this case is overnight. I'm working on a sanded gesso foundation, so the paint tends to dry pretty quickly. I often use paint straight from the tube, but I am also using some alkyd medium. I also plan to use a clear alkyd glaze later on, before the final highlights.
Posted by: Tim J. | 08/05/2009 at 11:27 AM
Many thanks.
Posted by: William Luse | 08/05/2009 at 03:48 PM
Whoa. Sanded gesso. Does that mean you're working on wood? And if so, what kind of wood, and do you always prep with gesso?
Posted by: William Luse | 08/05/2009 at 03:52 PM