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Friday, September 16, 2011

Sunflowers

Sunflowers, 18x24 work in progress
I have been working on these sunflowers some more this week. It is hard to find just the right shadow color for the big one that is back lit. I've tried several things and am still not quite happy with it.

I'm also really noticing a distortion from my camera; I'm getting a 'fish eye' sort of look, this shot isn't too bad but on some it has been real noticeable. I'm sure it's just a camera setting or something. Will just have to play with it some more.

I'm using Chroma's Atelier Interactive Acrylics. I like how I can blend one layer into the next, but I am giving some serious consideration to trying out some of the new water miscible oils. If you have tried them, please tell me what you like or don't like about them, or if  you prefer one brand over another and why.
Posted by Mary Hysong at 6:32 AM

39 comments:

  1. Mary C. NasserSeptember 16, 2011 at 6:49 AM

    Wow!
    Beautiful painting!
    I love the brightness and details!!
    ~Mary

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  2. CrystalSeptember 16, 2011 at 7:27 AM

    This is such a bright sunny-flower painting! I love it. :-)

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  3. AnonymousSeptember 16, 2011 at 8:16 AM

    this is simply stunning!

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  4. Joni NickrentSeptember 16, 2011 at 9:49 AM

    A Beautiful painting...love sunflowers and you've captured their awesomeness perfectly! happy ppf! POP ART MINIS

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  5. DebSeptember 16, 2011 at 9:51 AM

    Really lovely.

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  6. Carol McKennaSeptember 16, 2011 at 10:01 AM

    Love your sunflowers and your art style ~ enjoy ~thanks, namaste, Carol (Share the Creative Journey) and Happy PPF ^_^

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  7. FayeSeptember 16, 2011 at 10:13 AM

    Beautiful bright colors, Mary. Sunflowers are such cheery subjects. This is a happy painting. I haven't tried the water/oil paints yet, but I'm tempted. My regular oils have dried up from lack of use in the last 20 or so years. I don't know if they would be as vibrant as acrylics or not. I hope someone will answer your question.

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  8. NettySeptember 16, 2011 at 10:37 AM

    Loving your wonderful painting of the sunflowers. To me it looks perfect as it is. Happy PPF, Annette x

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  9. WrightStuffSeptember 16, 2011 at 12:08 PM

    Great angle you approached this from.

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  10. AbelaSeptember 16, 2011 at 2:17 PM

    Lindos sunflowers ...Saludos

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  11. ChristineSeptember 16, 2011 at 2:22 PM

    Lots of detail, nice!

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  12. AnonymousSeptember 16, 2011 at 4:24 PM

    My favorite flower of all time and you've painted them beautifully!! Thanks for the flowers. :)

    Ileana from "arroz con mango"

    http://www.chica1665.blogspot.com

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  13. GeckostoneSeptember 16, 2011 at 8:11 PM

    Wow this one's my favorite now! I LOVE it! Great composition and gorgeous popping colors! Deb

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  14. UnknownSeptember 17, 2011 at 7:58 AM

    LOVE these sunflowers- I feel like I"m right in the field with them- gorgeous work!
    Happy PPF (a day late ;))
    Stephanie

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  15. Ayala ArtSeptember 17, 2011 at 8:50 AM

    I love the water mixable oils. They are better than regular oils in the sense that are not smelly and the cleaning is easier and not stinky.
    They dry faster than regular oils, but much slower than acrylics. I sometimes use a medium to accelerate the drying time.

    Your sunflowers are beautiful :o)

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  16. carlareySeptember 17, 2011 at 12:41 PM

    Wow...really beautiful flowers.

    Can't offer any feedback on the paints, but I'd guess your "fish-eye" distortion in the photos comes from shooting too close. If you have a zoom, back off from the painting and use the zoom and see if that is better. If it's digital, and you can use a viewfinder instead of the screen try that as well. It's easy to angle the camera when you are trying to see the image clearly on the screen and that can cause you to shoot at a distorted angle.

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  17. Alexandra MacVeanSeptember 17, 2011 at 2:05 PM

    These are lovely. Your detail in this is amazing. Thanks for sharing with us. :)

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  18. SHERI COOKSeptember 17, 2011 at 2:06 PM

    Bright beautiful sunflowers! your work is lovely so far! Happy PPF!

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  19. FallingladiesSeptember 17, 2011 at 4:40 PM

    love these! sunflowers are so fun!

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  20. EVASeptember 17, 2011 at 6:54 PM

    We were indeed on the same page with sunflowers this week. Yours are fabulous!!

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  21. Rosie KaplanSeptember 17, 2011 at 7:22 PM

    these are lovely. I get fish eye sometimes. Its cos of the lens type. HE earlier suggestion on standing back and zooming in sounds like a good one and I will try it too.

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  22. Lilac & LavenderSeptember 17, 2011 at 9:04 PM

    A few years ago there was a field of sunflowers I had the pleasure of passing on my way to work... I always admired the contrast of sunny yellow against bright blue sky. Your painting reminds me of that field... beautiful :)

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  23. Elisa ChoiSeptember 18, 2011 at 2:12 AM

    oooh so lovely! It looks almost done. I love the vividness of the colors!

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  24. YvonneSeptember 18, 2011 at 5:50 AM

    I will have to see if I can find those acrylics and give them a try. Lovely work.

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  25. LeoviSeptember 18, 2011 at 8:45 AM

    Delicious composition with beautiful colors.

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  26. HeatherSeptember 18, 2011 at 9:53 AM

    they are VERy happy sunny flowers! happy weekend to you. nice work

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  27. Šolanje na domu-WaldorfSeptember 18, 2011 at 11:00 AM

    Fantastic! Love the colors. :)

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  28. ger chouinardSeptember 18, 2011 at 2:52 PM

    thx for the inspiration ... my sister wants me to paint some sunflowers for her! Yours are lovely. Yellows are my forever favorite color. Have a great week!

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  29. JanetSeptember 18, 2011 at 2:53 PM

    Your sunflowers are beautiful!

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  30. Hybrid JSeptember 18, 2011 at 6:03 PM

    You have such amazing painting skill and how I wish if I could like that. Well Done!

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  31. Paula - Buenos AiresSeptember 18, 2011 at 6:05 PM

    Lovely! Wonderful colours, so lively.

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  32. GlorV1September 18, 2011 at 6:37 PM

    Oh, just loving your sunflowers!! Excellent!

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  33. Irene GeorgopoulouSeptember 18, 2011 at 11:41 PM

    Love it!

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  34. AnnabelleSeptember 19, 2011 at 9:50 AM

    Gorgeous work! Love the dark circles in the centre...mesmerizing!

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  35. JulieSeptember 19, 2011 at 10:49 AM

    I love sunflowers, I really like the angle and background of this one.

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  36. MelisaSeptember 19, 2011 at 11:45 AM

    Sunflowers are surely the perfect subject for this time of year. These are looking great.

    I do like the water soluble oils. I have only used Winsor & Newton because that is the only kind I can get locally. I love the easy cleanup, they don't stink, and although they dry faster than regular oils they don't dry nearly as fast as acrylics so they are much more blendable. They also don't have that shiny kind of plasticy look when dry that acrylics have.

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  37. angelselfSeptember 19, 2011 at 6:55 PM

    I have also used the Winsor Newton water-oils. They have wonderfully rich and deep color. I recommend them. The drying time is about a week, but as Martha mentioned there is a fast-drying medium. Easy cleanup, no smell and the vibrant color of oils...its a winning combination =) I have used them successfully on canvas and on heavyweight watercolor paper with excellent results. Kathryn

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  38. K.September 19, 2011 at 7:57 PM

    This is fantastic! It's like the deeper you look into it, the more detailed it becomes. Great sky!

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  39. TeriSeptember 20, 2011 at 8:21 AM

    Gorgeous! Colorful and such an interesting angle.

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