So, first the "finished" product. At least, I'm done with it and this is how it will always look. This painting gave me a more than a few challenges before I
gave up, and a couple of technical lessons too.
In a recent post I described using caran d’ache to transfer
a drawing onto the tracing paper. Neat, no? Well, not entirely. In the detail I have included,
you can see how something about the material is affecting the wash that touches
it. Something waxy maybe? Anyway I saw halo
effects anytime I did a wash up against one of the lines. So that’s lesson one.
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In the same detail you can see the cobalt violet I used, a new
color to me, but from my normal and trusted brand, Da Vinci.
I don’t like this paint at all even if the color is difficult to mix from
others: this pigment is strangely syrupy in the palette, and as you can see, went onto the paper looking like
a kid’s crayon!!
Additional washes or scrubbing did not fix the texture. Avoid it unless it’s an effect you like - glad I don’t love the painting, or this would tick me off.
After this experience I am taking a (well-deserved) break from abstracting and abstracts. I need me some good old
representational comfort! That should show up in my next post.
I find a lot to like in the painting--the tendrilly shapes appeal to me very much, and I like the way you've scattered the patterning across the shapes ...
ReplyDeleteCobalt violet is one of my favorite colors, but I have found that it does vary a lot across manufacturers, in consistency and in color. (I think Winsor and Newton's is the best in the tube, but their pan version is too hard--you can never get any color out of it, just pale slime. Daniel Smith (which to me is too dark) and Sennelier are very gooey; often a pool of oil comes out of the tube when you squeeze it.)
Will have to file away the haloing effect for future use.
I think you are being a bit hard on yourself. Barring the unforeseen problems with the Caran d'Ache and paint, this is a very nice painting - DO IT AGAIN! Take what you learned and re-do it.
ReplyDeleteI have some of the crayons but have only played with them, did not do any tracing with them, perhaps they are too oily for w/c. The paint problem is probably the gum arabic - sometimes it gets all globbed up in one spot. You can try: (1) squeezing the tube several times with the cap on - like you would squeeze an icing tube - to see if that helps. (2) Otherwise squeeze it all out into a small container and stir the heck out of it and see if that helps.
You could also just mix a purple/violet from your existing paints to see if you like that.
Lately my students have been having problems with the Daniel Smith paint molding, which upsets me since I always recommend it, but personally have not had a problem. Of course, my paints are older. However, until they fix their problem, I won't be ordering any.
Anyway - good luck. Looking forward to your next painting.
Thanks, Deb, but . . paint it again? I will admit that in all the years I have painted, I can think of just one time when I maintained my attention span sufficiently to paint something more than once! I will indeed try to knead the tube to see if that helps. I don't have any colors in stock right now that will mix to that bright and intense a violet, which is exactly why I bought a few violets (and oranges too) recently. Otherwise I keep a pretty conservative palette of warm and cool, staining and non-staining, of each color, plus my favorite quin.burnt orange.
DeleteI've never had mold, even with careless storage of wet paints, covered sometimes, in a less-than-dry basement. Although I did store some premixed washes in sealed containers for too long once. PHEW did those smell. Advice: refridgerate.
I like this painting. I know we artists are always our hardest critics but I think when you step back from this for awhile you will like it. I had the same problem with the Da Vinci cobalt violet. It was the first color I bought from them so I figured all of their paints were like that and haven't bought any others.
ReplyDeleteSo let me make a shout out for Da Vinci, because, really, they are wonderful paints. That big tube they sell makes one (someone like me, cheap) SO comfortable with squeezing out all I need. The quality has been excellent throughout. Try some basics sometime, the ultramarine, alizarin, etc. You'ell be glad you did. The only other issue I've had with their paint is when I needed Naples Yellow and discovered how many different Naples yellows existed in the world: I found someone else's for the hue I needed.
DeleteMind you, the cobalt violet reminded me of the M.Graham paints I used once and disliked, and there are LOTS of artists - obviously - that swear by M.Graham's.
Are Cheap Joe's paint manufactured by DaVinci?
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DeleteI don't know who makes the American Journey paints. Anyone else?
DeleteDear Katherine - I think it looks very stunning to me. Glad you shared your experience with the cobalt violet...was thinking of adding it to my list of colors to purchase...just may not now. I too use a lot of Da Vinci paints. Have a great day.
ReplyDelete