Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Jan 13 - The Dog on the Dock, Part Deux

This 9 x 12 acrylic is further along than I planned, but I got so captivated by the water and light, I just couldn't stop to take a photo earlier. The girl is even being blocked in, and the wire fox terrier even has 3-D form. Dang!

This will be called "Incoming" with the humor in whether the girl will be reeling in something or the dog will be going into the water after it--or both!

Interesting to note that I don't even sketch in the figure with pencil before painting directly on the background layers. I just pick a middle value hue that's close to what I need and put a "cutout" shape to localize the object. Then I paint over that to create the illusion of three-dimensional form. The dog went in as a white silhouette first, then warmed and cooled depending upon light sides or shadow sides.

I love acrylics for the ability to create layers--this is SO effective on water. I love oils, too, but hands down acrylics have it for creating the illusion of depth and transparency. I keep adding layers to the sky as well, continuing to go lighter with each application.

Shadow has settled in, and today (another 80 degree day) finds him saying, "What koi? I don't see any koi," at our pond on the front patio. One of the reasons I love painting water is because I can see and study it every day. Oh, that isn't a real crocodile, but it does make folks do a double-take!

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2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Elin, you have really captured the rascally nature of the wire fox terrier...I have one and he's always getting into trouble. Shadow is such a beautiful baby...I don't think I could get any work done with him around...I'd want to snuggle him nonstop.

Anonymous said...

Elin, you have really captured the rascally nature of the wire fox terrier...I have one and he's always getting into trouble. Shadow is such a beautiful baby...I don't think I could get any work done with him around...I'd want to snuggle him nonstop.