Friday, July 27, 2007

Transparency


For the past year in my drawing journey, I have tried to concentrate on seeing what is in front of me. Of really seeing it, not just assuming what it is shaped like. Not just the shape of something, but also seeing the colors. (I suspect this a lifelong study.) No where does this seem more obvious as well as difficult than in transparent objects. I spend a lot of time looking at transparent objects with things inside them and seeing how the reflections are shattered and scattered. I try to not see a glass of cranberry juice, but instead see how the transparency breaks the color, how the broken shapes fit against each other within the whole. That sounds rather mystical and whimsical but it something I have been training myself to do. But visualization is a whole lot easier than execution. So I got myself and instruction book* and read all about cast shadows, and projected light, inner shadows, reflected colors, and distortions. This is my first attempt at this, following the instructions in the book. I think I grasped the basic idea, but I think there is so much to learn and explore. The projected light coming through the transparent object was the real revelation for me and I think the key to making it look transparent. I really enjoyed this process, and may work my way up to that gorgeous glass of cranberry juice. My ultimate goal will be to paint cut-glass crystal, but for now I will start simple. I think next will be dewdrops. I tried hard to connect his to an EDM challenge but it just didn't match up.

Water color in the Moleskine journal.

*Nice, Claudia. Painting with watercolor, pen and ink. 2001

12 comments:

Lin said...

EXCELLENT!! TRANSPARENT AND COLORFUL! BEAUTIFUL JOB!!!

picklesandroses.blogspot.com said...

Nice job and a great subject.

Anonymous said...

Lynn,
I'm really impressed. This is also one of my goals, but I'n not as brave as you. I even bought myself a bag of marbles in preparation. You've inspired me to try!

Witness said...

These look great! Reminds me of the days long since gone...since then, I've lost all my marbles...so to speak.

Tami said...

Great Job! Good challenge too, even if it isn't one of the EDMs, wouldn't be suprised if it shows up on the list soon...

Rita said...

Really nice! Have you done the something round? Wasn't that one of the challenges? Or I think there was a childhood toy?

Emma said...

I love your marbles - they are so realistic! I went on a watercolour course earlier this year and the first thing we had to paint was a glass vase - it was a bit frightening at first but a great challenge!

Alison said...

These look very convincing. It's amazing what you see when you look, isn't it. Have you seen Janet Fish's work - she must be the master of reflection and transparency though I don't know how much watercolour she does.

Shelly McC said...

Wow! The green and blue marbles are stunningly transparent! Great work!

Anonymous said...

Beautiful! Seeing is the biggest part of being an artist and you've got it down.

laserone_ said...

Wow, very cool! :)

Mim said...

All of your stuff is beautiful but I especially like this one.