Thursday, May 14, 2009

Looking forward to summer markets


Little Shopper
6 x 6
oil on doorskin
This was a scene near the Community Cafe that I didn't realize I had captured on my camera till I zoomed in and played with contrasts and saturation using Gimp (similar to Photoshop but free). I didn't spend long on this study especially when I found one of my dogs hairs permanently embedded on the board! But it was enough to give me a sense of the fun that can be had this summer when I have a chance to go to the market and the beach and collect resource photos! If only the weather would improve - we are still seeing snow.

8 comments:

Unknown said...

Hi Barb! Thank you for the words of encouragement. It has weight because I adore your work. The cafe painting with the bicyclist is awesome but I love this one too.

I'll have to check out Gimp and how is it painting on door skin?

r garriott said...

A very nice scene and wonderfully painted. Love all those blues and the translucence of the bin... nice placement of mother and child.

Single edge razor blades can be wonderful for lifting (if still wet) or scraping (if dried in) pet hairs. I always have a few handy.

Or, as I say in my studio some days, "Free cat hairs with each purchase!"

David Larson Evans said...

Very good painting, nice depth.

Michelle said...

What a lovely, sweet scene! I can empathize with the pet hairs...my pets are now banned from the studio. :)

Unknown said...

Thanks Sheila - Gimp is very much like Photoshop but is a free download and seems to work well enough for me. Doorskin is real wood so has some imperfections but is smoother than canvas and you can cut it to any size.

Thanks R - I've since used the razor blade and am having great success at reducing my pets contributions!

Thanks David - am trying to focus on depth using perspective - people and bicycles amke it challenging.

Thanks Michelle - I dream of someday having a studio! of course I guess the dogs would just have to come in seeing as how they are attached to me by some invisible umbilical cord!

Carolina said...

That's (almost) my son and I ;) Lovely painting...
I like your style very much Barb. I'm glad I found your blog.

L.Holm said...

Wonderful work. Love the composition. Had to laugh at the dog hair, and R.'s pithy response.
OMG, still snowing! my sympathies!

Unknown said...

Thanks Carolina and Liz - R was right about the razor blades - they leave no trace and we finally have warm weather though I drove through a snowstorm last Thursday, hopefully the last.