First lay in of color

[Patricia Joyce]

I tried to cover the whole canvas but completely pooped out before tackling the reflection in the water, so it is still rough. I could use sets of eyes and expert suggestions as to color/temperature/value, etc. What do you see??

As mentioned under composition, I do not like this particularly but had already begun to paint. I ordered another canvas and while it is on backorder I decided to move ahead with this one. Good practice and learning tool, for sure.

Thank you for looking, and for your help, in advance!

[Patricia Joyce]

It's so cool to see it here. Things really pop out. Immediately I can see that the value of the girl's back, lower, is too light and the boy on the left's t-shir is bad at the bottom. . I need help with suggestions of the boy's shirt. I changed it to red hoping for the "pop" effect. His shirt in the photo is the same color as the water.

I am not sure how deep to go in value with the darkest shadow in the water, just off their bodies. In the photo it looks so black and I don't want any dead spots.

If anyone has any suggestions about the reflection, jump right in. I know it will be important to get the right effect. There is no detail in the water, waves, etc. yet. I figure that would come nect. The paint is on very thin. It looks like the horizon dips a bit on the right. I will have to check that.

At this point all I have for good examples are Sorolla prints and Monet books. I dont' watn to go too impressionistic, but it is fun to slap on that paint!

[Debra Norton]

Patty, it would help me if you posted the photo in this thread too. It's easier when we can look at both at the same time.

[Patricia Joyce]

Here is the reference photo. It is bad color reproduction. I think the hue in the scan is redder than the actual photo.

Boy are things screaming at me today. The value of the boys shirt on the left is much too dark. And the seascape, well, it just isn't there, yikes. My thought was to lay in deeper colors and bring up the waves, reflections in subsequent layers in lighter value. Now I am second guessing this decision, remembering what Marvin teaches, to keep the drawing in the correct value at all times.

The girl is wide at the waist and hip. . . I could go on but I would love your expert eyes...

[Debra Norton]

Hi Patty, the first thing I have to say is don't freak out! It's only the beginning and it's better to see the mistakes now than later. One thing that helps me is to do a color study, just a small one. That way you can play with color and value without using lots of time and paint. You said you have a new canvas ordered. Why don't you divide this one up and use it for color studies? Maybe even do a black and white value study. I did one at a plein aire workshop last summer and it helped a lot when I got to the painting.

I agree with Marvin about keeping the values correct all through the painting, it can be difficult to lighten something later on. Having a black and white copy of both your source photo and your painting will help keep the values where they belong. I just convert both in paint shop and compare them side by side on the screen and mistakes pop right out.

Another thing I do is keep the paint smooth at the beginning, it's easier to fix drawing mistakes when you don't have to fight with ridges. I try to check my painting for ridges at the end of each painting session. If I miss some I scrape them off the next time I paint.

Doing a careful drawing helps too. And when I transfer I use acetate, and I save the acetate to keep track of the drawing; sometimes it gets away from me! So if I'm having problems I lay the acetate over the painting to check my drawing. I think you might find that helpful in keeping the reflections (and hip sizes, etc.) where they belong.

A T square would be handy to keep your horizon line straight.

The blue around the reflection...... I think it makes the water look deeper than it is, in the photo you can see the warm of the sand through the water. I would connect the reflections of the three kids on the left, they run together a little higher than you have it. I would squint to get the foam the right value. Compare your painting with the photo while squinting.

I hope this helps.

[Debra Norton]

I straightened the horizon line.