Capelin Weather
5 x 7 acrylic
I spent some more time with the capelin piece again today to finish it. I had taken some photos, but the light wasn't right in them and as I had started from life I wanted to complete it that way.
Whether painting from life or from photographic references, as long as the lighting is good, the painting will usually follow through technically. I know there is a school of thought that believes only drawing from life is the classic technique and photos cause problems. To me, there are issues with both. Practicality for me when using fish or a water scene comes into play. Working a full time day job means that I can't always access the lighting that I need or have the time to devote on site. I can do a lot from life studies, but time and availability makes painting completely from life often a luxury rather than the norm.
Use of both provides me with the best of both worlds. I can have the reality check and knowledge of colour and light that stays with beyond the boundaries of the reference photos that I take on site or of the specimens. I think familiarity with a subject gives the best grounding for a good painting and that familiarity is often found through studying the subject in life.
These little fishy friends are available for sale in my Etsy store.
4 comments:
Beautiful Jeanette. This reminds me of the work of the Flemish masters. Proof that acrylics can look like oil. :-)
Teresa, I've had a love/hate relationship with acrylics for many years. I think I have a better grip on using them now, but I still switch between them and oil.
And yes, if no one mentioned it, it would be very difficult for the average viewer to tell the difference between acrylic and oil in a painting.
An exceptionally beautiful painting, Jeanette.
Thanks Robyn. I enjoyed painting it.
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