Work in Progress:
Peaches, Update 11
In this Update I’ve done more
work on the entertainment center, the French doors in the background and the
couch, bringing closer to completion.
At the end
of the last update I mentioned that the background colors are predominantly
browns and how that allowed for the lighter colors of Peaches to stand out. In
fact, the whole composition is done using harmonious color. I didn’t especially
plan it that way but, early on, I did notice that the all the objects in the
photo showed predominantly browns and ochres. I liked the combination and felt
it gave a warm, quiet and comforting feeling to the painting.
In her book
“Painting Children’s Portraits in Pastel”, Wendy Caporale speaks of using
harmonious color to “bring out the gentle warmth” of the subject. This is
especially true when the colors are warm in temperature – the reds, yellows and
oranges. All the browns and ochres used in this painting are warm in
temperature, leading to a feeling of calm. If care is not taken, the painting
can become boring if there is not enough variety in tone. I’ve tried in this
painting to establish variety in tone, and feel I’ve accomplished that. The
values range from nearly black in the darks of the entertainment center and couch,
and the shadows associate with them, to the very lightest of values in Peaches.
The contrast in the tones used in Peaches and those of her surroundings also
focuses attention on her.
The colors
used for the surroundings were all the same. Only the proportions were changed.
For the couch I used CO 175, 670, 165 and 692, PP 175, 187, 280 and 169. I used
some darker soft pastel colors in the entertainment center to further bring out
the subject – Peaches. Those colors were Sennelier black brown 02 and lamp
black 526.
I will
continue to refine the entertainment center, curtains and french doors and the
reflection on the floor. I’m getting closer to completing this portrait.
Another week or so.
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