WIP Pumpkin Before Soup

[PERUGINA]

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x158/PATRICIALAROSSA/PUMPKIN1compressed.jpg

Pumpkin Before Soup
Still Life

23 x 32 cm

Watercolour on
Fabriano Artistico
Cold Pressed
300gsm
_________________________

Colours Art Spectrum

Background

Burnt Sienna Hue
Yellow Ochre
Aureolin
Ultramarine Violet

Pumpkin

Aureolin
Permanent Indian Yello
Permanent Gamboge
Burnt Sienna Hue
Antwerp Blue
French Ultramarine

_________________________
Fabriano Artistico is a forgiving paper more so than the regular Arches as you will see going through the WIP.

I jumped straight in with the background... it's probably not the done thing, however i was excited by my pumpkin last night i thought i'd plan it out and as always go for realism intead of looseness.

I have made the shadow a tad dark... scary... but hopefully this will be toned down towards the end (hopefully)... a technique employed that is as difficult as it is secretive to all watercolourists and one that is not often spoken about... and if it is ... it is done so in hushed reserved tones.

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x158/PATRICIALAROSSA/PUMPKIN2compressed.jpg

Right lets leave the background alone... horrifying as it is!
Let's start on the detail in the pumpkin skin... not a pretty specimen all freckly, presenting a challenge in itself.

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x158/PATRICIALAROSSA/PUMPKIN3compressed.jpg

That shadow still looms large and all thought at this stage i just want to turf it... i perservere trying not to let it bother me...
Working wet in wet i am attacking each segment of the pumpkin seperately...



http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x158/PATRICIALAROSSA/PUMPKIN4compressed.jpg

Right... I have started to obssess looking at that background and before i go any further i want to attack it... and you can see in the next picture i have managed to tone it down and make the colour look smoother rather than those blotchey patches i had happening.

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x158/PATRICIALAROSSA/PUMPKIN5compressed.jpg


http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x158/PATRICIALAROSSA/PUMPKIN6compressed.jpg

I've managed to get this far and i have attacked the background toning it down somewhat employing that technique i mentioned earlier... now...
1. You get a soft srubbing brush
2. Water...i usually do this at the sink
3. Attack the paper by gently scrubbing removing the paint.
I watched my tutor do this once with another work of mine and i must say the results were very appealing.

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x158/PATRICIALAROSSA/PUMPKIN7compressed.jpg

After hitting it with the blow dryer... i then lifted the high lights with a stiff brush.

Fabriano Artistico paper has a more durable surface than Arches in my experiences and can handle the rough treatment of scrubbing and lifting with out it pilling.

I hope you have found this interesting.

I may darken the shadows a little more but i am considerably happy with this particularly considering the terrible start.

Please let me know your thoughts and comments on anything you think i can do to improve this...i welcome it.

[sweetmango]

I really do love this, the colours, the realism, I think it is just lovely!

[Helm]

I really love the background, the pumpkin is just the cutest thing too, full of character and personality.

[V-Mak]

Well Done Perugina -this has been wonderful to fallow through !! The work looks GREAT !!!

[PERUGINA]

Thankyou for your comments sweetmango, Helm and V-Mak.

I very much appreciate you all stopping by my thread... and offering your thoughts that are a source of encouragement, keeping in mind that it is a section where people can show their WIP not being perfect and really exposing themselves through the process and learning from it.

Hope it's as helpful recording and working through the watercolour painting to others that visit and read through as it was for me.

:blushing:

[Jewels]

You inspire me to have a go at painting vege's and fruit which I have never done .This is wonderful Perugina, the colours are great, you are very clever

[emkay]

It's really nice to see a watercolour take shape Perugina! I find it an impossible medium to work with. You seem to be handling it beautifully.
Lovely work. :)

[PERUGINA]

Jewels...i would be very happy if you have a go at fruit and veges, they make for wonderful subjects... in fact fruit and vege shopping has taken on a whole new meaning... i primarily look for my subjects on a "paint first eat later" basis ... if posting something like this inspires you or anyone to have a go themselves or someone takes from it just one thing... then the post has done it's job and the forum being the vehicle for it has succeeded in it's role... it's not so different than going to the bookstore and flicking through a 'How To Book' and being tempted to buy it to try something that takes your fancy...go for it!

I really learnt lots... clever, not really i think i was lucky to have saved it with the good srubbing it got! Nothing like a good scrubbing! LOL

Thanks for stopping by Jewels, great to get feedback.

emkay... impossible is right!... just when i think i'm understanding it... it will throw a 'curve ball' and i feel like i'm at 'square one' again... the paints all act and react differently unlike other meduims - no matter what colour you use they all behave in the same way... there is a technical side to watercolour where their formulations all differ resulting in their different behaviours... it's unlocking this code that baffles me at times... i can sit and read 'till the 'cows...' well you know... but unless i get in there and 'play' i'm not going to understand it.

Thanks for stopping by with your thoughts, appreciate it.

[ingridr]

Thankyou for sharing your process Perugina. Look forward to the next one.

[PERUGINA]

Thanks Ingrid.