Perugina Art: March 2008

Blue Swimmer Dinner
Still Life

29 x 21 cm

Watercolour on Arches

300gsm

Thanks to all the replies

from the artistic community of WC, their support encourages me.

Yorky
Moderator
ORMSKIRK, Lancashire, UK
Congratulations on the award Perugina, I look forward to seeing this develop.

Doug

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PERUGINA
Yorky... Hi Doug , thanks for popping in, I was very happy to hear the good news on the 'The Black Vintage Vase'.

The competition in these small seasonal award shows is getting fierce!

There were many great works in all mediums and subjects pooled together, and i wouldn't know which to chose from... so i feel very honoured.

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giddy up
congrats on the vase!!!!!!!....very cool.........love the start of this crusty fellow............love the colors........keep it up!

Greg......

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PERUGINA
giddy up... hi Greg, thanks for dropping in and for your comments, I hope this all goes to plan.Thanks for your support and encouragement.

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HarvestMoon
This crab is already absolutely stunning...

I just don't ever SEE all the colors in something- like one piece of claw- that the best artists like you see...

I would have slathered on all one solid color I just know it...congrads on your vase- that was a killer painting...

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CharM
FANTASTIC beginning to a terrific composition... I love the title...AND... Congratulations!!!

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bluegenes
This is great already! I love all the colours in his "arms".

Patty

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HarvestMoon
Back for another look... is it easier for you to complete one section at a time, instead of - for example- painting all of the claws at once if they have similar colors in them?

I never thought a crab could be so beautiful!
Linda

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PERUGINA
HarvestMoon...you are too kind in your comments... and I haven't finished yet and i have a long way to go with every painting being a learning experience...

I too in the past would see one colour... the WIP I did on the "Black Vase" taught me to see past the black... and having drawn many pictures in graphite I could only see in Black & White with shades of grey between...

I haven't been creating pictures in colour for long and i am really having a ball with it and discovering all the colours with in a colour.

Thanks for your supportive comments.

CharM...thanks Char, glad you have stopped by... i was really, really happy with the 'Viewer's Choice'

As we all do i hope this goes to plan and that not too many biscuits are consumed as comfort food when something doesn't go quite right! Can't afford any more weight gain!

Painting classes tomorrow!

Srishti...thanks for your congratulations, happy that you are here, it's nice to have support from fellow painters.

bluegenes... hi Patti, the crabs arms and this crab in general so far has me really looking closely at all the colours, they really are incredibly colourful creatures, and i never really realised this until i decided to paint it after i decided to buy it for cooking purposes.

Funny how things work out... i never would have guessed that i'd be painting 'a crab'.

HarvestMoon...hi there, when i initially read your comment about the sections... i thought why ask a question like that? ...and then the 'light bulb moment' struck... you are probably thinking that the crabs claws and legs extend and go beyond what i have already painted... and why would i stop mid way through his arms... i can see why you would think this strange...

If you look closely i have positioned him on the paper in a way that all his arms and claws aren't visible, and certainly if they were i would be painting them in their entirity rather than stopping mid way through.

I hope that clears up the confusion.

As i mentioned above i never realised how colourful these sea creatures are.

Thanks for taking another look and for your thoughtful comments.

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Srishti
Wow! Perugina!

This is looking Gorgeous!!!!

In the legs did you just paint sound the white parts or did you use maskinging fluid (it doesn't look like maskin. Just curious)

It's looking like a winner already!!!!

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giddy up
looks fantastic.........great texture and the colors are wonderful...keep it up.......loving this

Greg

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juneto
Yoou are doing fine !!!

Carry on , looking very Good !

June

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PERUGINA
Srishti...I didn't use masking fluid, personally i hate the stuff... i don't know whether i handle masking properly, everyone i talk to says it's great... by the time i dip my fine brush into the bottle and then take it to the paper the d... thing just dries and makes a ball!

So to answer your question ...i painted around the white circles... mind you i am using a small brush and am being really careful.

Classes today so i have to race off!

Thanks for your encouraging words, you are too kind in your comments.

giddy up...Hi Greg, thanks for the encouragement.

juneto...I am being really careful June, i tend to rush things only because i get excited and anxious, otherwise i'm pretty patient.

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monikadeo
This looks very interesting. I have pulled up a chair too Waiting to see how this progresses.-Monika.

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PERUGINA
monikadeo... thanks for having a peek.

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hpthecat
Oh Perugina! I first saw this the other night, (can't post from work)--have been meaning to drop in and let you know how impressive this is!Not only is this painting developing, but I am sensing a development in the overall maturity of your art.

Bravo for you!

Respect.

Maryann

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PERUGINA
hpthecat...Maryann, hi there, thanks for stopping in. Thanking you also for your thoughtful comments on my developing art, i hope to grow from these experiences, gradually adding to my skills and knowledge whilst trying to find my niche...

I'm a little all over the place in watercolour work at the moment, trying out new things to extend myself, however sometimes we need to pull back and retreat to what we know best and feel comfortable with until what it is that we have learnt is digested.

Slowing down to look closely at subject matter and actually working from a reference has me really thinking out the painting process.

If these WIP have taught me anything it has been this. So interesting to stop and process the information through writing it down.

Your encouragement and support in following my WIPs has been lovely.

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Srishti
Wow Perugina This is awesome, I wish I was there watching you paint!

Can you show your original reference picture?

I'd love to see how you interpreted what you painted!!!

I was waiting for a blue shell but this is stunning...

Absolutely unexpected!!!

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HarvestMoon
absolutely stunning... just completely amazing.....
Linda

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giddy up
I can't imagine at this point eating him.........he is way to wonderful to look at......!......and another thing blue is not a very appetizing color......he has that going for him!!!!!!.....he is fantastic .......great work

Greg

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wtrclrgrl
Lovely WIP! Thanks for posting it, love the colors and textures as well - Great!

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PERUGINA
Srishti...I guess these WIP are the next best thing to being here...

I will post the original reference at the end... it obviously will be of interest to others as well.

The Blue Swimmer Crab does get his name from his colouring, unfortunately he's shell is not blue, it is a crabby dirty brown colour which makes him very good at hidding in and around rocks on the sea bed, and his blue legs and claws are pecfectly camouflaged in the water!

You are too kind in you comments.

Thanks for your support.

HarvestMoon...thanks for your encouragement and supportive reply.

giddy up...hi, i can assure you that he was very appetising after he spent 8 minutes simmering away in my marinara sauce where he turned a gorgeous all over orange... it's a shame that they don't retain their beautiful colouring... this sounds really bad doesn't it!

I guess we wouldn't come up looking trumps either if we spent 8 minutes simmering away in a boiling pot that was lidded!

Thanks for your supportive comments, appreciate it.

wtrclrgrl...thanks for dropping in and offering your supportive comments.

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Brian Barnes
No head-bashing needed.

That kind of self-criticism just makes me crabby.

You're doing a wonderful job!

BrianB

PERUGINA
Brian Barnes...Oh Brian...Please don't get crabby with me... you know we are our own worst critics when we judge our work... i'm so annoyed really... beacuse i now realise that i should have done that wash and worked wet in wet building up the colours to achieve a more realistic texture... with the aid of rock salt in strategic places... that would have been just the ticket with some enhancements... never mind... perhaps i will try the shell part again on another sheet of Arches and then decide to do a re-do!

All part and parcel of the learning process which is interesting, just wished i had taken the right path at the crossroad!

Anyway...here is the next installement... I have finished the major painting of the crab... with just the spots to complete and his small antenae to do.There is the background also and I am playing around with another idea but not too sure what really... as this critter was photographed on a rather large round, white, dinner plate.

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Brian Barnes
You've done such a fantastic job with this!

I would never have known about the shell texture without the ref photo.

I agree that the technique you propose would work beautifully ........ and you obviously have the expertise to pull it off.

If you try it again, may I suggest a less symmetrical composition. Something like this ..........?

Difficult with that ref photo because so much is missing but, as you can see from my rotation and crop, very little has to be added.Just a suggestion in case you hadn't considered it.

BrianB

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PERUGINA
Brian Barnes... hi Brian... when this came up i thought ...

'Woah! What's happened here?

My image has tipped over and with my computer busting at the seams with images and warning bells going off that my memory is almost at capacity... you can understand my surprise!

If you haven't noticed... as many have here I love symmetry... have even posted centrally whenever i start a thread (I have recently stopped this... took all my might but have succeeded!)... can't help it... so this seemed natural and i really hadn't condidered this... funny you have pointed this out as all the photos i took of him they are all symmetrical, just at different distances.

I like your suggestion though...If i had the 'expertise' as you kindly mentioned i would have done employed the salt/wet in wet technique... too bad... but i have learnt for next time.

I have even had another thought...dropping in some gouache while the paint is still wet would give some great textural effects too... some experimentation will need to be scheduled!

Thanks for your imput... appreciate your comments.

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Srishti
:Wow! Perugina!!! the Shell looks gorgeous!!

I think you did a wonderful job with this!!!!

Yes, the Rock salt might have worked too... but this looks so glorious as it is!!!

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Brian Barnes
Perugina -- You say you love symmetry but I didn't find it in your paintings.

I looked through the ones you've posted here and came across many delightful surprises.

I just love your "Lady with Cello", "Lady Playing Harp" and Lady at Her Piano". ......... and their hair!!!

BrianB

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PERUGINA
Hi Brian... i was refering to my postings, glad you liked my 'Ladies and the Instruments they Play' Series.

PERUGINA
Srishti...thanks for your enthusiastic support.

I will probably give this anotther go at some stage.

Brian... perhaps you have some suggestions that are off centre!

Here he is with the plate and i have tried to put in some shadows in to ground him... Have some ideas about what to do at the top... but haven't decided on anything definite.

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Brian Barnes
Hope you don't mind me playing with your crab ..... Some ideas ..........

.......... but then I don't like eating crab. Other ideas ........ knife and fork.

BrianB

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PERUGINA
Wow Brian... I am impressed... as i haven't been a user of the computer for long... would you be able to let me know what programe you used to do this with?...

I have no idea when it comes to these things and the only thing i use the computer for is emails and the art forums, storing images and my blog, a glorified type writer...

Take it easy on the computer jargon!

Love what you have done, and i don't mind as it has led me to asking this question.

Something i'd like to explore for future use.

Thanking you for doing this!

I'm sorry you don't like eating crab... is it the taste? or all the fuzzy, furry, crusty bits you have to negotiate your way around? Hee hee

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PERUGINA
I decided to go with some pebbles instead... sorry to disappoint you Brian...

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Brian Barnes
Not disappointed at all!

This is super!

I never would have thought of using pebbles in a million years.

Worked out great!

Your control of the medium is amazing!

Despite the composition being almost symmetrical I really like it!

BrianB

BTW the program I use is PhotoShop. What I've taken to doing lately is stopping part way through a painting, taking a photo of it, and using PhotoShop for planning my next move ........ just like I did with your crab.

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PERUGINA
Brian Barnes... glad you liked the pebbles Brian... thought i'd use something that was sea theme related... instead of food related!

The table cloth idea was a little cheesy... I think you are being too kind in your comments about having control... there are aspects of this that worked well and those that didn't and it was my approach that let it down... but my experience of this will serve for next time.

Thanks for letting me know about Photoshop... i've heard of it and will make enquiries... sounds like a good program.

What a great thing to have if you are using it to plan your next steps facilitating painting.Thanks for your comments, and your company... glad someone was there to see the end of this WIP... and keep me entertained!

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CharM
Don't discount all the lurkers who've been watching quietly, Patricia!!

There've been 475 views of your progress...

I'd say you had a LOT of company!

This finished beautifully!

I love all the colour and textures... and the pebbles add another layer of interest!

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bluegenes
Yep, I've been watching! What a great finish! I hope you posted the final image in the gallery.

Patty

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Srishti
Perugina... I was hoping you'd do something like that This is wonderful!!!! It's wonderful.... I love it..... Wonderful!
Srishti

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Brian Barnes

Quote:
Originally Posted by PERUGINA
Brian Barnes... glad you liked the pebbles Brian... thought i'd use something that was sea theme related... instead of food related! The table cloth idea was a little cheesy... ........... and here I was thinking crab went well with cheese. BrianB

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painterbear
Perugina,I just came from viewing your finished painting in the Gallery, I'm so glad I did because seeing this emerge step by step was so interesting.

This has been a wonderful WIP! Thanks for taking the time to do it.BTW, I'm not too sure the rock salt would have worked any better than the technique you used.

I'm afraid it shows up and looks kind of "obvious" when people use salt in a painting. Just my feelings on it though.

Will try to give you a Merit Point for this thread if it will let me.

You deserve one.

I bet this fellow tasted wonderful in your sauce with the linguine.

I'll eat Brian's share since he doesn't like crab.

Sylvia

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Brian Barnes
Sylvia -- Just leave the cheese for me.

BrianB

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PERUGINA
You guys are so cute!

CharM... hi Char nice to see you here... by "company" i mean someone to actually write/talk too... so Brian was keeping me from going quiety mad towards the end!...

I know there are a lot of people who visit to have a look... and i don't discount them at all, but thanks for pointing out the number of views it has had... i hadn't even realised this as I've been too absorbed in the painting exercise.

Thanks for your comments about 'crusty'

bluegenes...hi Patty, nice of you to drop in and comment on the final.

Yes I have posted in the Gallery.

Srishti... your enthusiasm is mirrored as i am excited and also relieved that this is over with.

It was nice to have your company along the way. I'm glad you liked the finish. Thanks

Brian Barnes... #1 cardinal sin most people make is putting cheese with a marinara or seafood...Brian. As you don't like crab you wouldn't have to say any prayers then!

painterbear...Sylvia, always lovely to have your support... Wow and a merit point!... That's very generous of you and thank you.

Given your expertise... it sort of comforts me to hear that you think the rock salt wouldn't have worked as well... it can be obvious technique, however i am still curious and may experiment with it at some stage.

Tossed the pasta to the side... he was the best crab i have ever had!

Brian Barnes... Cheeky Boy!

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monikadeo
Perugina, this has come out so well!

The pebbles are the icing on your cake

It was a pleasure to watch the WIP. Please keep posting more of these.

Monika.

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PERUGINA
monikadeo... thanks for your comments on the pebbles, glad you like them.

Work In Progress

Blue Swimmer Dinner
Still Life

29 x 21 cm

Watercolour on Arches

300gsm

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I had so much fun with my last WIP
‘The Black Vintage Vase’
which won the
'Most Popular Viewer's Choice - Summer Awards 2008'

a small seasonal show last week,
conducted by my local art society of which

I am a member,

and had such an overwhelming response all round

that it has spurred me on to do another.

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On holidays last week in

Soldier’s Point

a place called

Sunset Beach

on the NSW North Coast
is the setting where the inspiration came for this second WIP.

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Ummmm...

so many beautiful spots here that

‘scream to be painted’

however what do I do when visiting the

Local Fisherman’s Co op…
(exceptional seafood)

is first shop for a variety of tasty

‘fruits of the sea’

for a
‘linguine marinara’

to end all ‘linguine marinaras!’

Then make sure that the
‘star performer’
is a beauty!
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This Blue Swimmer Crab specimen
fulfilled two roles...
the obvious one being its

destiny for the cooking pot…

the other …

a great subject to paint with all those wonderful variations in colour!

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Hence the inspiration for the title!

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I quickly photographed the crab on a large, round, white dinner plate,
as he was going to be devoured that night
and he would no longer be around for
the next couple of days it would take me to complete this.