grapes stage 3

I have finished 3 of the grapes and started the layering process on the background

Spring Migration is just about here!

I have a few new pics on my photography page for you! I teach at C2C convention this coming Friday and then I will be out of the studio for most of the next month walking the trails during spring migration. Mother Nature is dragging her heals kicking and screaming out of winter this year but the birdies are slowly returning regardless of the cool temps and snowy days we are still having.  I put my Oriole feeder out yesterday - my records show that they had already arrived by this time the last few years so any day now I am sure they will be sitting in the apple tree.

Icy Interlude

As it seems to usually go, life gets in the way of your best plans. A week ago today we were carefully stepping over and around our yard surveying the results of an ice storm. Although we suffered some pretty severe damage to the old maple trees that ring our property...and a large limb through the roof of our cargo trailer, we consider ourselves lucky, considering that there are some homes to the north of us that went without power for almost 5 days due to the toppling of a whole row of hydro poles.

Needless to say, we were up all night so the lack of sleep plus the unexpected yard work has put me behind in the studio....I have spent some time on the grapes project and will probably get it finished sometime today!

grapes stage 2

I have continued to reinforce the colour sequence on the grapes, added some reflected colour on the cup and a darker value in the shadows as well as first layer of cast shadow on the 2 grapes sitting outside the cup. I think I will start on the background now, it is difficult to judge values without having a full range to work with....I hope there is enough cover on the grapes to keep them clean once I start using the darker pigments on the background!

grapes stage 1

Here is the first stage - 2nd attempt.  I have a nasty head cold and trying to make decisions about sequencing is difficult with a fuddled head and a drippy nose....The only thing to do is start over when this happens, you can't fix or hide mistakes when you are attempting realism, discipline and a very critical eye is required throughout the whole process.
...good thing the paper has 2 sides!

Photo reference for blue cup with grapes 

Working in coloured pencil today, gearing up for my class on Photo-realism techniques at C2C next month! I'll be back later with some photo updates as this piece progresses.