Two Pears, 5x7 in, Gouache on Paper
When I saw these two pears at the market I loved the way they looked with their beautiful colors and dark purplish leaves. And I thought they'd be perfect for a still life. So I carefully carried them home, hoping and praying that the leaves wouldn't break off. And somehow they made it, leaves intact. But then, just as I was setting up the still life, there went one of them, snap! Oy, what to do? After careful analysis I decided to glue it back on. Who would know? Shhhhh, don't tell.
And then it was time for another adventure in gouache. I experimented with thick and thin painting techniques. And trying out different sizes and shapes of watercolor brushes. And figuring out how to make some of the edges sharp and crisp and others less distinct. One big monster challenge was to get the values right. (Values are how dark or light the colors look.) I'm used to oil paints, and with them it's mostly what you see is what you get. But gouache is contrary. The dark colors dry lighter than when you brush them on. And the light colors dry darker. So if you don't watch out the whole painting can become one big boring midtone. And who wants that?
How'm I Doing?
So it was an interesting experience. Am I pleased with the painting? Well ... there are a lot of successes in it. I'm getting a better hang of the new materials, for instance. But when is an artist ever completely satisfied? After all, it's a never-ending learning process. If I did it over again I might try a softer color for the plate, so it wouldn't compete with the intense colors of the pears. But that's okay, it just gives me an incentive to try it another way.
Setting up a still life isn't easy folks--if you don't believe me try it yourself! Even the greatest artists have to slog through thousands of attempts before they paint their first masterpiece. Painting takes patience, persistence, and perspiration. It's a demanding and exhilarating challenge. But that's what makes it so much fun!
Setting up a still life isn't easy folks--if you don't believe me try it yourself! Even the greatest artists have to slog through thousands of attempts before they paint their first masterpiece. Painting takes patience, persistence, and perspiration. It's a demanding and exhilarating challenge. But that's what makes it so much fun!
