Two questions

Martin_J_Crane · October 2012

Hello everybody, its been a long road to getting set up to follow Mark's methods, but I've finally got everything set up and I'm good to go. I have two questions that I've been going back and forth on - maybe I'm just over thinking. First, I have my still life setup below with rather dramatic lighting, but its difficult getting my lighting balanced without having to light up the setup more than I want to. IOW, with the setup this dark there are no pure whites, and its very hard to match the white on my color checker with the white on the small piece of cardboard. I'm concerned that if I increase the lighting in the setup so that the two whites match, the painting will end up being too bright. Am I missing something? Second, how would you go about painting the tarnished pitcher? I'm less concerned about the second issue after watching Mark's video on the cup, but should the brighter parts be painted wet over the "local" colors?

Thanks, Mark. I'm really looking forward to participating here.

LizONeal · October 2012

On the balancing white question....is it just a different color of white or is it a different value. You will never get it to look exactly the same...just needs to match in value. I struggled with that part soooooo much!

Martin_J_Crane · October 2012

Thanks, Liz - difference in value. I keep thinking, if I get the values to match, I would end up using pure white in those areas and the painting would end up brighter than I want it to be. BTW, I can't overstate what a relief it is to have this forum. Nobody else even has a clue what the issue is, yet alone an answer.

Martin

Mark_Carder · October 2012

yes, match value not color. But if you get to extreme with the color difference with your still life light and your studio light, you may end up with a painting that is overly yellow or orange (I am assuming that is the color shift). So just be aware of it.

Don't worry about your still life looking too bright, when you paint it, it will not seem as bright as the still life looks in person.

LizONeal · October 2012

Oh, BTW, I absolutely LOVE This setup!!!!!

Martin_J_Crane · October 2012

Thank you both - color mixing starts tonight!

LizONeal · October 2012

If this is the first time you have mixed by Mark's teaching I would play the video over and over while you work. I did that and you will start to hear Mark's voice in your head directing you on is it too yellow...too blue... oh wait, maybe only I hear Mark's voice in my head, may be a personal problem. ; )

Gary · October 2012

Good questions Martin - we all need to review that step and get it right...Thanks for the reminder.
I listened to Mark's DVD so much two years ago, I still hear him when I paint!

Liz my friend, you only have a personal problem if you also see him in your head at the same time you hear him!! Aloha!

LizONeal · October 2012

Oh, thank goodness! I don't see him ALL the time in my head so I must be ok!

bjart2 · October 2012

Thank you for letting me know about this form I always enjoyed the other form and I want to learn more about painting. Thank you Mark. bjart

shirley_seput · October 2012

Hey Martin .. as far as the tarnished pitcher goes... you will be surprised (as I was) that simply by painting what you see ....a pitcher will suddenly appear. Keep asking yourself what is the difference between what you see in your set up and what you have on your canvas. I too really like your set up.. the dramatic light and your color choices are excellent.. can't wait to follow the process. .. shirley s

myc · October 2012

That's a gorgeous set-up Martin!

Martin_J_Crane · October 2012

Thanks very much! I have been drawing for several years, and one lesson I learned is to start with a reference that you are happy with and don't start drawing until you have it. I'm glad you all like it - now comes the challenging part!

Martin

Amrit · October 2012

Martin, really nice set up. One question. Is that all in a shadow box?

Martin_J_Crane · October 2012

Thanks, Amrit. Its a modified shadow box setup with a spot light shining down from a distance at the upper left rather than through the top. I have a black opaque curtain hanging from the ceiling to block the light from that spot from reaching the painting area. The "table" is just a board sitting on two wooden crates. The "table cloth" is just one cloth napkin. I will take a few photos tonight and post.

[Deleted User] · October 2012

Very cool still life and shadow box setup mnsrc!

tjs · October 2012

I really love your setup. You have a wonderful eye!

Martin_J_Crane · October 2012

Thanks - if I can do it justice I will be a happy man!

Martin_J_Crane · October 2012

Here's the setup and the preliminary drawing, and since I'm taking pictures, here's a drawing I'm working on in the other corner of my studio.

myc · October 2012

Looking good!

Gary · October 2012

Thanks for the update....fun and educational to get to follow along!

gus · October 2012

This will be a beauty! So classical. Question for you...I see binoculars on your easel, do you use them while painting/drawing? Just asking bc I have been tempted to get a pair bc sometimes I feel that I am going blind and cannot see unless I keep walking closer to my set up. Donna

Martin_J_Crane · October 2012

Thanks, Donna. Yes, I do use them to draw, and plan to use them to paint. Not with the color checker, because you can't focus on that and the setup at the same time. I use them just to get a better understanding of where forms begin and end, since my eyesight isn't too good. I got the idea from David Jon Kassan, a wonderful NYC artist who uses a pair when he's doing portraits from life.

gus · October 2012

I was wondering if opera glasses would work just as well and then you could have free hands.

Mark_Carder · October 2012

Looks great so far!

Martin_J_Crane · October 2012

Thanks - I've had a couple of false starts and wiped off the canvas tonight and the drawing came off with it. Didn't mix enough of certain colors, and when I started putting the darks in for the pitcher, I painted over too many parts of the drawing and couldn't figure out where I was, because with the pitcher its a lot of dark and a few highlights. It just got frustrating and bad went to worse, so I should have just stopped. I guess I just need to slow down. I'm thinking of mixing the color for only one object (plus background) then painting, then mixing for the next object, and so on. Back to the drawing board, literally. Question - if I have the proper amount of medium, should I still be seeing my brush strokes?

Light bulb: I think I am also going to draw (or at least mark in) the borders between the light and shadow areas on the objects, which might help keep my bearings as I paint. Sort of like "posterize" in photoshop, except using the color checker and divider.

[Deleted User] · October 2012

mnsrc said:
Light bulb: I think I am also going to draw (or at least mark in) the borders between the light and shadow areas on the objects, which might help keep my bearings as I paint. Sort of like "posterize" in photoshop, except using the color checker and divider.

That's funny… I used this method sometimes too and I also thought of it as "posterizing".

tjs · October 2012

First, great setup! The drawings are both wonderful -first rate. Your form on the anatomy is awesome. I just love that. But I'm still trying to get over the whole binocular thing though *-:) I had to read that twice.

Martin_J_Crane · October 2012

Ha! Thanks.

Vangie · October 2012

Oh, and nice drawing, too...

Martin_J_Crane · October 2012

Thanks, Vangie. I'll be posting updates on the painting this weekend, so I'll include a recent photo of the drawing as well.

Howdy, Stranger!

Categories

Two questions

Comments

Howdy, Stranger!

Quick Links

Categories

Two questions

Comments