Monday, July 28, 2008

Blue Teapot
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Blue Teapot
oil on gallery wrapped canvas 12x12x1"
Sold
Today I decided to leave out the fruit, and after a suggestion from a commentor I tried to vary the lighting. However, I have no natural light so I dinked around with spots and floods and bouncing light, and the final result is just about the same lighting as the rest of my paintings.
So much for that suggestion.
What I discovered was that I need bright light for the color to be bright. I can direct the lights away from my subject and then I have dull color. Well...I don't want dull color. In fact this teapot was almost not bright enough for me to buy it in the first place (Goodwill, $8.95) and same with the yellow cups (Goodwill, $1.40 for 4). The cobalt cup and saucer (Goodwill, $.99) were dazzling though, and yet with a indirect light, the cobalt blue was practically black, so nevermind.
I attempted to limit my palette by finding a nice yellow tablecloth, which was handdyed and had a bit of red that wouldn't make it into the frame of the painting. However, it was reflected smartly by the teapot, spoon and cup and saucer.
So much for that limited palette idea.

I think I'll have a wee cuppa tea.

9 comments:

  1. Very nicely done. I think the red reflections work wonderfully. Not only do they work well, they add a sense of mystery - What are they reflecting, I wonder? Don't tell everyone that it is part of the cloth. Leave it to their imagination.
    I love the reflections on the teapot, especially.

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  2. Beautiful!! I like the colors.

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  3. I love this one. By the way, the red teapot is on its way. Let me know when it gets there. I think I packed it carefully--hope it survives the USPS!

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  4. Oh, this one really grabs me! I love the colors and the warmth!

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  5. Anonymous8:05 AM

    Gorgeous!!!!!

    Question: As the artist-in-charge, why not simply 'adjust' the colours, if they're not quite right, IRL? I can see how this would not work so well with, say, fruit (because the viewers' brains all 'know' what colour red grapes are, for instance, and so would 'know' if the were 'wrong').

    But for man-made objects...hey, who's to know? That teapot can be any blue you like! Yes? Or...?

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  6. Dear Liz in IN,
    When one adjusts the color or the object (local color) then one must adjust the colors of the reflections. You may see the variety of blues in that teapot and understand that I would be adjusting not just the main color but all the nuances involved. Making that stuff up is way beyond my skill. I can adjust the backgrounds OK if they are not involved directly with the objects.

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  7. Another lovely painting!

    Kristin in SC

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  8. Hi Melody...just stopping by your blog...I found your work on ebay. I am a fellow Tennesseean and aspiring artist. I love your work...very realistic and you do capture the lighting very well. I think I read where you moved to TN this year? Your flowers are beautiful...love the frogs in the pond! Hope you enjoy TN! The mtns are beautiful here...especially in the fall.
    Kendra Joyner

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  9. Your painting is so good, it's hard to believe that anything is beyond your skill. Just sayin'.

    ~Priscilla
    gushing sycophant

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Hello,
So nice of you to drop by. I love your comments, and if you would really like a reply, please email me at fibermania at g mail dot com