So, I started my Glass Study on March 28, 2019, and I just finished it this week! A lot of starts and stops with this – first, I went to Spain, England and Wales. Second, class stops for summer break. So, I worked on it March and April and then didn’t pick it back up until Sept 10!
I’m not sure if the break helped or hurt, but you can certainly see a big difference from the beginning to the end.
First off, I had to decide what piece of glassware I was going to use, what background I was going to use, and where the glassware would be placed. Oh – and where did I want the lighting? I think this part alone took me at least 3 hours. Sheesh!
First try – lighting on right, and backgrounds as shown.
Second, a slightly different angle and move the glass forward a little …
Hmm, let’s try the light on the other side
Move things ever so slightly …
How about a different bottom background?
OK, I think this is it! Let’s prime the canvas and start drawing the outline. If you draw something like a vase and it looks off, it is really helpful to look at it in a mirror. Whatever doesn’t look right is more pronounced when you look in a mirror and you can try to fix it.
OK, shadow added (that’s the first thing you’re supposed to do, followed by the lighter elements, in relative order). My colors don’t match reality all that well so far though. (This stuff is hard!)
The following week. Looks a little better but definitely needs work.
Just the painting itself.
OK – now essentially a 5-month break … and then:
I couldn’t find the bottom background that I had been using previously but I found a close match so I used that. It looks a bit better though!
A week later – looking better again!
Final product. I’m not all that thrilled with it, but it definitely looks a lot better than it did at the beginning. And I have a much better understanding of how to paint glass. The vase shape isn’t great – I thought the pencil drawing was pretty good so not sure what happened when I started painting it. And, I don’t really like the bottom background color either.
But, luckily my teacher thought I got out of it what I needed to so it’s on to My Own Pick of what I get to paint!
So, I’m painting something I took a photo of. I’m not going to tell you what it is yet. You’ll just have to wait! I’m hoping it comes out well because I’m painting something that I’ve always wanted to know how to paint (besides glass that is)
See you next time!