High Key with Mid Values

The paper was dry for washes of carmine, green and orange to be painted around the white buildings, and most of the street. Before the first wash was dry I painted in greens and shadows where they were needed. My plan was to keep the painting in high key (light values) leaving bright whites. It was a challenge to paint the values needed in the beginning as to not disturb them with unnecessary washes over the same area. After the painting was dry darker values where established, calligraphy, and a wash over the foreground street... it seemed to be to light....this is 15x22 using140#Arches cold press paper. Mid values dominate keeping whites and darks connected.....

Mid Value Madness!!!

Step 1 Light Value













Step 2 Mid-Value













Step 3 Dark Value













After a quick sketch... Step 1 is a light wash of orange/purple/green applied to paper that had been sprayed with water. This will be the light value in the painting. Step 2...When paper was dry the mid values were applied mostly in shadow areas....the cars and people where a positive stroke of mid value. Basically reclaiming the drawing.... Step 3...The final darks were established for depth and the use of a rigger brush finished up with calligraphy marks...

Where I Left Off!!

As much as I like to paint first things first came calling.....like being with my 85 year old sister as she went through shoulder replacement. With that said all is well and I am trying to untrack. Although I was unable to paint, reading books from my stock pile brought me back to some basics. Although I understand mid values this review caught my attention concerning the importance these values play in a composition. When lights and darks sit side by side they don't enjoy one another without mid-values. They tend to always be in competition with each other...along comes mid-value and romance begins. Mid-values can be a mixture of the colors being used, which some call mud....actually they are cool or warm grays that unify the painting as a whole. A mid-value painting can be mid value colors these 'middies' are what I refer to as colors that are easily recognized (cobalt/reds/greens). When these bright colors take center stage the neutrals or mid-values they create support their importance. So mid values can be a large portion of neutrals or pure hue...check out some of your paintings for the mid-values.

I quickly sketched a very busy street with the thought in mind to concentrate on mid-values. So this is the sketch and the three steps which entertained me for the afternoon....

Cloudcroft Art

Catching the fever....painting on canvas or paper which ever surface suited the painter. Learning for me is greater than what students receive from my students is much more than what they might take home. A week with inspiring eager to learn ladies sets old fires burning. Had a great time new faces, new stories plus painting almost none stop....

thank you class for encouraging me and hope you took something with you and continue painting....JoBeth

This was the last day's demo..on 140# Arches cold press paper.. some painted on canvas and unfortunately I didn't get photos of their work. By the end of the week their work was superior to mine...so maybe it was a plus for me. Keep painting and enjoy the talent of visually seeing subjects different.

Still Life Class...

My definition of a still life is anything not moving which just about takes care of most subjects.

St. Francis Hotel, Santa Fe, was my reference photograph. It was actually taken from the sidewalk looking in but I visualized the waiting table from inside.

On Arches #140 paper, I decided on a a low key painting. Wanting the darks to stay as dark as possible it was necessary to paint on dry paper. I used every dark value on my palette....painting around whites and any value that would become a mid value. The shadows were painted at random thinking about shape not actual cast shadow. To finalize, negative darks were painted and calligraphy marks....this was fun and that's what it's all about.
The photos below were other's having fun......or maybe not....

Brenda with one more stroke of green...

Diane's brush with negative shape

Linda and Donnie comparing notes...

from the palette of Adriana.....

Exercises..no not Pilate's!!!

These are warm up studies I often do...to motivate myself to paint. These are painted with a 2 inch flat brush....no pencil drawing...just shapes. This helps to loosen up and use my imagination, I see you laughing that is if you know me. Great for exploring new colors or color schemes...most are painted on the back of those paintings you don't want anyone to see after your gone....

Unfortunately...some things just don't linger on your palette
like dark chocolate....this was one of those

My Scene

Wet the surface of the paper wash on
New Gamboge and Cadimum Orange
over the people....the center of interest..



While paper is still wet quickly
add mid to darker values of cool reds
greens, blues and purples out to the
papers edge. The challenge is to
keep colors edges soft and graded



After the paper is totally dry
shadows are used to define the
subject. The contrast of lights
and darks at the center of interest
are the main players. The dark edges
are out of focus with hints of color.



Calligraphy and final darks where
they were needed.....I introduce
'Two Please'

Kathy's color choice
Brushstroks by Dianne
and the beat goes on....

Cathy and Janet busy while Ellen

is practicing negative shapes.
Cecilia's great start!!!