Flower Lady
9x12in watercolor on Yupo NFS
Pike Place Market is printed on her apron.
I was told that it is a lottery system
to get a space each day at the market,
but obviously
the fish and flowers vendors
must be permanent.
Artist Note.
Okay - I am not going to pretend that
this one was easy.
Talk about busy - even with all the editing I did.
So, how to get a design that works and at
the same time try and capture
all the flowers,
and a person?
And do all this on Yupo!
It kept me totally absorbed all day.
Linking the lights.
I used the left down light
joining the strong angle of light from the
left front flowers...across her arm
to the back white flowers on the right.
Having her head stand out,
and by how much was the
difficult part.
Until I started this series
I had never painted
women of Asian descent.
They were all so beautiful.
I will be trying more of these
in watercolor - trying to simplify.
Like the gouache below... still unfinished!
I know you agree - painting is life long learning
Ah yes Julie, art is a life long pursuit. Great job on both the flowers and the "Flower Lady" painting. I shall get my ducks in a row and back to posting. Way overdue. You are my inspiration so I study your work everyday.
ReplyDeleteYou are great, Blanche - what a lovely complement. I will look forward to seeing you get back on your blog. I always check....just in case!
DeleteAs soon as we pick up a brush, we're fac do with a string of choices. From the looks of thIs one, you made the right ones. Beautiful--the whole series is beautiful.
ReplyDeleteWe are indeed, Linda, and the choices change as we know more or our taste changes. I have seen you go through some pretty major changes yourself (the venetian school comes to mind) and todays stunning painting style is back to when I first started following your blog. I am never bored visiting it and that is a true complement.
DeleteThis absolutely takes my breath away! The composition, modulation of the face, the colors, everything appeals. With YUPO, it seems as if your fracturing technique becomes a layering of colors as opposed to a pull & push of colors. Does that make any sense?
ReplyDeleteThats one heck of a terrific comment for me to get. Thank you so much, Dana.
DeleteIt is hard to layer with Yupo - at least I find it so. The fracturing technique pushes and pulls on the Yupo the same as with oils and acrylic. It is more difficult because i do not do it all the time and that is why it is a real challenge.
I like your flamingo on the DPW Challenge - especially the colors of pink and orange in the feathers,
I can feel your frustration but yes, lifelong learning. What is so very special is the luminosity in the gouache painting. Lovely indeed.
ReplyDeleteI have always enjoyed mixing transparent with the opaque and gouache
Deleteallows for that. Pleased you like it.
Your new post has a beautiful cloud study and this is our monsoon season so clouds abound - love them all.
I so love paintings on Yupo and yet I've never had a successful and can never manage the color saturation I see so many achieve, including yourself! This is gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteI would like to try the inks on Yupo. I have seen so many beautiful pieces done with them. have you tried them, Sherry? They lend themselves to abstract as well as more traditional work,
DeleteJulie, this is utterly opulent and splendiferous!! Your market series is so amazing I am running out of superlatives! Your dedication to working things through is inspirational!
ReplyDeleteFirst - CONGRATULATIONS on your book being published. It sounds like it will be informative. Love the cover and you little sketches too.
DeleteThanks for the kudos on my painting.xox
Endless fodder for creating and thinking! Lovely results too. I would have to guess that figures on Yupo would be especially challenging!
ReplyDeleteEverything on Yupo seems challenging to me but only when painting in the impressionist way. I tried pouring and blending and liked the effect, but it seemed too "surface" for me to get my heart into. This Pike Place market series is the very opposite from the beautiful simplicity of your work but I feel we share the common goal of painting what we "feel" about our choices.
DeleteI get that "surface" thing I think. Like it is technique driven only. That's how I interpreted that anyway and I feel the same thing. i think we would both rather get out our thoughts and feelings and ideas about the subject as opposed to technique alone.
DeleteYour new direction of busy complicated scenes is inspiring. Always pushing yourself to reach new heights and do it successfully.
ReplyDeleteI am starting you yearn for a simple scene! Maybe just one.
DeleteI simply love the way you painted the wildflowers in your new piece.
They look so beautifully natural.
I do like the market series as well. So much detail and so much to look at. I am still in a slump but know that it will end but I know this is normal. Look forward to the next one Julie (Not slump,lol, your next painting.)
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Polly. Sorry you are in a slump and hope it will soon be gone and you can get back to your painting. I missing seeing them.
DeleteThe gouache painting of the flowers looks finished! Great series of work?
ReplyDeleteYou think it is finished? I will have to look at it again.
DeleteYour flower in the DPW challenge is absolutely gorgeous, Kaethe. You inspire me to try one single bloom after this series is over.
This is so beautiful, Julie. You are so good at these, and in watercolor too! So daunting.
ReplyDeleteNice to hear from you Jean. I wish we could link from your comment to your blog so everyone could see what a wonderful artist you are.
DeleteIt certainly is, Julie, and you just thrive on challenges and tests of creative thinking! I'm so glad you do because you point out what needs to be solved and how to do it! A great learning opportunity for us, too. Your figure is beautiful among the flowers. This would be wonderful in a large format, also.
ReplyDeleteI value the comment and suggestion of a larger format. I am trying to paint what I actually experienced at the market and it was exciting for all my senses. The many, many colors, shapes and light, noises - amazing.
DeleteI love how she is immersed in flowers, amazing work! Beautiful light and colors on the gouache flowers! Inspiring!
ReplyDeleteHi Celia - thanks for the neat comment. I value your opinion so it makes me feel good. I am not sure yet how I feel about either of these paintings. They are just part of the exploration of a series.
DeleteI am amazed with what you've done here on yupo! Wonderful!!! I'm really enjoying this series from the market.
ReplyDeleteHi Joan - thanks - happy you are enjoying the series... me too, but in the process - not the looking at what I have done. Do you ever feel like that, Joan?
DeleteThis whole series is fabulous! .....and the gouache is finished and beautiful - frame it!
ReplyDeleteAnd I am really enjoying seeing your still life paintings, Mary. The blue and white pieces are especially close to my heart but the spoon in Biscotti made me envious - so perfect!
DeleteYour works make me happy. Lovely colours and touch.I agree with you.
ReplyDeleteI can't see the end, so it is interesting but sometime other way around.:(
Thats a lovely comment... happy - thank you Hani. I also laughed and agreed - sometimes other way around.
DeleteYou did a neat post about your painting travels. Your watercolors are really lovely.
Oh I so agree that this learning to paint is a lifelong journey. I think about that sometimes and hope I'll have enough years to develop my potential to some kind of satisfying level. I'm guessing that might not be the case, however, because I'm pretty sure I'll always keep wanting to do better.
ReplyDeleteThese two paintings are lovely and I can see how challenging that top one must've been. You really got the beauty and feeling of the place, I think. The lower painting is beautiful and that space in the background really gives a sense of calm and rest and balances the colorful flowers so nicely. I like how you put in just enough of the flower shapes to let us know what's there, without laboring over them. So refreshing.
Thank you for all the wonderful thoughts and tips you share here at your blog. It is always a joy to "peek over your shoulder" while you work.
When I read your words - of satisfying level - I know you will always be improving, even from the excellent level you are already at.
DeleteCongratulations on the huge honor bestowed on you by the Staedtler Company. Your drawing are amazing. Classy presentation.
I love both of these.
ReplyDeleteAnd I love your lady with the great clavicle!!!
DeleteThe flowers on the top painting is absolutely beautiful, Julie. I love the subject ..
ReplyDeleteYou did a wonderful job on the lady as well!!!
Hi there Hilda - thanks so much for the kind words about doing well with the lady. You are the master of the figure and head so it meant a lot.
DeleteIntriguing .... What do you get when you mix a jig-saw with a painter?
ReplyDeleteWell it all fits together, the colours harmonise, the light's perfect and the woman works comfortably amongst all that.
Once again a pleasure to look at and read about. Thanks for sharing.
LOL - great comment and clever too. Worthy of a thinking man.
ReplyDeleteI am waiting "patiently" for your next masterpiece.