Chris Saper exercise

Barbara Hudson · 09-14-2003, 12:50 AM

Hello everyone!

I have not posted anything here for a long time. This is because I have (temporarily) moved to another country and there hasn't been the time this year.

However, now that I am back to it I have been engrossed in Chris Saper's book which my husband bought for me last Christmas.

I have tried one of the exercises that she has set out in the book and below is the result.

If Chris sees this thread please could she help me out on one of her skin tone recipes? I cannot seem to be able to buy the colour cadmium scarlet from anywhere here (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia), is there a close equivalent? I found the need to add a little yellow ochre to her recipe and wondered maybe whether it was because I used cad. red instead of cad scarlet.

If anybody can help me on this I would be very grateful. Thank you in anticipation.

Barbara

Chris Saper · 09-16-2003, 09:51 PM

Dear Barbara,

Please pardon the delay in responding to your post. Cadmium Scarlet is very close to both Vermilion and to Cadmium Red Light. They are all orange-reds, with Cadmium Scarlet being the warmest, then the Vermilion, then the Cadmium Red Light.

In Stephen Quiller's Color Choices he indicates that Winsor & Newton's Vermilion and Grumbacher's Cadmium Red Light are most similar to the Cadmium Scarlet.

If you are using a Cadmium Red Medium or Deep, you may have difficulty since they are considerably cooler in temperature than any of the Cadmium Scarlet alternatives. However, you could warm either color with Cadmium orange, if you have it.

I wasn't sure if you were interested in a more complete painting critique, or are really concentrating on color mixing in your painting.

Here is my Isabel, 12" x 16".

Renee Price · 10-09-2003, 09:21 AM

Hi Barbara,

The first thing that I noticed is the scale of your drawing. Her right arm (on our left) looks too long and the head looks too small. The face is drawn well and the features are similar to those in Chris' painting. If you're trying to mimic her flesh tones, you need to mute your colors a little more. Overall it looks like you've got a great start.

Renee Price

Barbara Hudson · 10-10-2003, 11:23 PM

Dear Chris & Renee,

Thank you for your comments, they are always much appreciated.

Apologies for not getting back sooner, I have been away.

Chris,

Yes, I was using Cad. Red medium, maybe that is why it didn't quite work! luckily I have both Vermillion and Cad. Red light, so I can now call my palette complete. No, I wasn't as much concerned about the likeness to your painting of 'Isabel', as I was to my use of an alternative to Cad. Scarlet. I will try a few more of the exercises in your book to get used to the new palette before I post again. I did not expect to get it right first time, it was, as I stated just an exercise.

Renee,

Yes, I see now (comparing it to Chris's Isabel) that you are right. However, as it is on a board I think that I will just crop it. I know that this will spoil the composition somewhat, but it was mostly an excercise on skin tones and getting used to a new palette.