Meet Mr.Gull
Artist Note
This is a repeat from an old post .
This is a quick sketch from the photo of a gull on
This is a quick sketch from the photo of a gull on
back in Sept 2012
I decided to repost some old posts during this month
and with vacation time/gull season upon us
I thought it would be fun to revisit Mr. Gull.
I thought it would be fun to revisit Mr. Gull.
Working from a photo is hard for me, but seeing I do not live
among the gullies, I gave it a go. I also used the fracturing
technique. Poor Gull!
I want to tell you about the canvas I used. SENSO
It is a primed linen, but the priming is a clear acrylic so the natural
color of the linen can be used to advantage as a middle value and
neutral color. I buy it in pads and if there is a painting I do which
I like then I mount it on a board.
I left some of the linen showing as this was a sketch and
I wanted to keep that casual feel.
I really like this product.
With picking up an "old post" I see that the
comments also followed along. I do not know how
to keep them with the 2012 version and not this one.
Does anyone know?
With picking up an "old post" I see that the
comments also followed along. I do not know how
to keep them with the 2012 version and not this one.
Does anyone know?
Wow, I'm a bird lover...what personality you captured!
ReplyDeleteSherry - I thank you. You are a great water-colorist.
DeleteJust terrific! I love the real/abstract mix here and it's so beautifully handled in this subject and with your approach.
ReplyDeleteYou think so? I was worried I had deformed him. Your words comfort me Mary. Thanks.
DeleteWow, I love that seagull. Seeing your painting make me realize that I need to work more loose but in some way keep my black line.
ReplyDeleteThe black line can be a good thing or a really bad thing. I wish you were giving classes here in Sweden.
Wonderful painting.
I PERSONALLY ADORE your black (and white) line work, Roger, and you are VERY loose with it. I have shown your work in my classes and a few of the artists are trying to do their own versions of it. Your paintings are full of movement and the layers of color changes are exciting to me.
DeleteThank you Julie, that really warm my heart.
DeleteThere is times when things gets a little "messy" and I know that to do complex compositions and objects I need to balance/focus only parts.
What I love to see in your work is that a painting look cohesive and lively without it looking distracting.
I love the casual feel to this piece showing glimpses of the linen, of course your technique is just amazing, a value addition indeed Julie!
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely comment and I thank you. I have to say that your blog has a marvelous painting and piece of philosophy today
DeleteVERY NICE! You did a wonderful job---I wanted to do this challenge...but in my mind's eye I couldn't come up with a good idea (to make him more interesting)...you certainly managed to make him look fantastic! bravo!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Celeste. I was not sure I could do something like those spindly legs with pink flippers in my fracturing technique. If you noticed, I left the legs alone and only did the flipper feet.
DeleteCongrats on your sale in the show and I love the moonlight painting.
When a seagull stops for a moment, ready to fly away ... you caught that moment, and the sense of the sea and the sky around it,dear Julie.
ReplyDeleteYOUR fracturing gives alwais stunning results!
I thank you, dear Rita. I am not familiar with seagulls, Even when at the shore I have never really studied them and usually I do not paint anything I am not familiar with and that is why I followed the photo. I think it is an excellent photo but that is our fabulous Carol Marine for you. Always quality.
DeleteThis is so gorgeous, Julie! The only thing throwing me is his feet. These look like the webbed feet that ducks have...? I think gulls have regular bird feet with the three (or is it 4?) toes...
ReplyDeleteBut then I'm not fully awake and not sure I'm seeing right either. No matter because it really is beautiful and I love how you've handled the edges, as though a vignette!
I am laughing at this one, Crimson. Maybe it is a special type of gull.It DEFINITELY has pink webbed feet on the photo. I remember without having to go back and check because that is the part I liked the best. Kind of cocky with an attitude - wearing his best pink slippers!
DeleteGlad you like the painting, Thanks.
A beautiful job, Julie! He has so much personality.
ReplyDeleteI too, have some of the Senso linen product, but found it hard to work with. Maybe, it's time to give it another try.
I agree about personality - see answer above.
DeleteThe Senso is wonderful because it has a bit of a tooth so charcoal can be part of the painting too. It is hard to see the correct side with the transparent gesso type medium. it has a slight sheen. Maybe you prefer a smoother surface?
Give it another go and make you paint a little bit "soupier."
I do not uses Liquin but I bet it would be fabulous with this.
Great job Julie! You get my vote! And I love the Senso idea & am going to look for it for my drawing!
ReplyDeleteDonna - it is wonderful for drawings with a shading here and there. let me see if you do it.
DeleteThe work you do has a level of intrigue I would love to achieve.
Lots of nice texture with the canvas! Gulls are a great shape aren't they? Your guy looks just fine!; just like a gull should look.
ReplyDeleteHow nice of you Libby - thanks. Are you drawing yet? I think of you starting to feel up to at least piddling around with art materials.
DeleteI did finish a small painting that I started prior to the surgery. I think once my husband goes back to work I can resume a more "normal" schedule. We have been out of whack for two weeks!
DeleteThis is really beautiful...so unique! I love the blue around the bird...! wonderful job as always, Julie!!
ReplyDeleteYou are the BEST, Hilda, thanks.
DeleteThanks for showing your fracturing technique on wildlife, Julie! I really like this one! Wish I could SEE you paint this. Looks like a lot of knife. How/when was shaper tool used? Feel free to email me if you'd have time.
ReplyDeleteMy shaper was used on the first pass and on the last one too. The brush was used to place the basics in first. I used a script brush so I wouldn't get too tight. The knife was used to place the paint on in the middle stage.
DeleteI love it. What kind of hard board do you mount it on and what do you use to mount it?
ReplyDeleteThank you, Julie! You're not only a great artist but a great lady also! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteHello Julie:) Poor Gully??? This is wonderful! You did a very great job. Love it!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Renate, and I really like your fish!
DeleteFun to be this late and get to read all the comments and answers. So much information.Thank you all. Julie, for me the strong lights just give this gull to much presence. Strength and power. Love it and it plays so nicely against the fractured background of the sea.
ReplyDeleteNice comment, thank you, my friend.
Deletethis is beautiful - i love the 'reality' of the bird vs. the fact that it's on canvas! beautiful!
ReplyDeleteHi Myra - thanks so much. reality - now I like that viewpoint!
DeleteSeagulls are very special to me: in my last three years of flying, I was in Germany with the 'Phantom' (Jet fighter aircraft) where my callsign was ...."Seagull"
ReplyDeleteThis one is a 'beaut! Great painting, I love it!
How about that, John. Your call sign no less. Makes it easy for me to remember that interesting bit of information. You are aging well going by your photo and I know you were flying at 14 right!
DeleteIt's really fun to see you do a subject like this. I love the linen in the background, and the fracturing technique brings this birdie to life!
ReplyDeleteIt's really fun to see you do a subject like this. I love the linen in the background, and the fracturing technique brings this birdie to life!
ReplyDeleteI enjoy seeing how you tackle an unfamiliar subject. This one is terrific. I think the linen and fracturing bring this birdie to life.
ReplyDeleteIt was fun to do it too. Glad you like it.
ReplyDeleteWhen are you going to post again? I miss you.
When I looked for your work today and found this...WOW! The fracturing, expressions on the bird, shapes, colors ... everything is so wonderful and awesome AGAIN!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing the SENSO tip, makes me want to try this.
What is the best glue to mount with?
Julie, this is amazingly wonderful! I am not surprised someone snatched it up so quickly! I appreciate the info about the Senso linen. I amy try it with my next supply order!
ReplyDeleteHi Susan - Thank you.
DeleteHope you like it. I am enjoying the texture as well as the neutral color.
Gosh, Julie...I learned something new today. I don't know why I didn't know this! LOL But it seems you are quite correct and I am quite not so much! I am going to look at their feet next time! teehee
ReplyDeleteAh, this is yours O:-) You used a painting knife, don't you? O:-)
ReplyDeleteI work the brush and knife side by side.
DeleteHi Julie! I posted a comment on this a I think the day you posted it, but maybe I didn't press send or whatever. What I wanted to say was I love the looks of this on the linen. I had 2 questions: what do you mount it with an what kind of board do you mount it to?
ReplyDeleteGlad you asked, Lisa.
DeleteI use 1/4 in Masonite board cut to size by The Artisan, Santa Fe. They do an awesome job. Ampersand does not do the 6x8in.
I use YES paste. It is great stuff - washes off with water, completely archival. Some artists use Miracle Muck, but it is more liquid and too messy for me.
I cut small pieces of left over foam core board to put it on with and then toss it.
After gluing the painting on I place the board upside down on the floor (on paper) and place a heavy book or something, on it.
Thank you Julie! I've printed this off! May be two years before I ever give it a go, but I did print it. :) You're awesome!
DeleteThe color and texture of the linen with the texture of the paint is wonderful!
ReplyDeleteHi Julie, To keep the original comments in 2012, you don't move the original post, you copy and past. If you highlight over the original photo it will also copy so it's a simple job to create a new blog with a new date and then just paste into it. Hope that helps.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful colors and texture, Julie!! I love how the white is so vibrant!
ReplyDeletewonderful work!!!
I remember liking this on the first go round. The gull is great but I like the linen poking through also:)
ReplyDeleteSomehow I missed a post, Julie! But then I have had power outages all week long, one lasting over 24 hours, and another about 12 hours, a few lasting less time. Now I am having computer issues on my beloved desk top. So, several hours after waking up and trying to get that computer working, I am now on my lap top. Of course, my warranty ran out on the desk top. Bah! Anyway, I think this gull is beautiful! For some reason, I remain surprised at the duck like feet on gulls. I know that is correct because I looked before, but it still surprises me! LOL
ReplyDelete