Continuing to move up the body, the vest gets it's color with this one. Someone stopped by the shop shortly after we finished the video and when first seeing the figure ask if the vest was leather! She was surprised when I told her it was just paint so I guess the operation was a success! Here's how I did it!
Part 8 - The Vest from Out West Woodcarving Videos on Vimeo.
This carving is looking fantastic, that light tan highlight makes a world of difference it really makes it look like old worn and dusty leather, which is exactly what it's supposed to be!
ReplyDeleteThat HD camera is really coming into its own, the close up shots are amazing I can see every detail , such clarity, I can almost count the hairs on your brush. Thanks for the upgrade, much appreciated. Keep up the good work. Trev
I too am both awed and frustrated with the excellent shading and highlighting you are doing on this piece. The HD cam makes it show up so much more and I now appreciate the effect these techniques bring. The frustration comes in that I just cannot seem to duplicate any of the effect. I know it takes practice, but it shouldn't take weeks I hope. One thing that might be a big factor in my painting, and I am going to experiment on the next carving and see if it changes anything, is in using washes. Every book I have ever read on woodcarving preaches the value of acrylic washes, in fact they are pretty dogmatic about it. On the WCI forum, everybody is all gung ho about washes, they preach the party line. I too dilute my paint (not for highlights but for the main body of the caring) except for eyes. I have the usual trouble with erratic absorption due to end grain in places, and oft times get a splotchy coverage of color. I have noticed from the git-go that you do not (as a general rule) dilute your paint much..certainly not into what we typically think of as a wash. I wonder if this practice (full strength paint) would make the difference I seek in my painting. Does the full strength paint prevent (or limit) the grain raising effect of the water in a wash? Does the base coat of full strength paint provide a better background to show the highlights? In short, I guess I would like you to tell us why you use full strength paint versus the "traditional" wash. I know from prior comments you have made and from seeing your paintings in the tour of the gallery video that you studied art. I obviously haven't, so I know you have a reason for all the decisions you make....I wish I had the knowledge base to make those decisions wisely. I need an expert such as yourself to tell me what I need to know, or at least what I need to decide. thanks so much for sharing your thoughts and techniques with us.
ReplyDeleteLynn I know you have heard to old saying ( if it sounds like a duck and looks like a duck it must be a duck ) Is that vest Leather? It Sure looks like leather. Wonderful. Today I am going to paint a small cowboy( 6 inches tall) who happens to have a vest. Going to try to copy your technique. Love it Ginny
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