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Saturday, December 15, 2012

Just having fun

Clementines, Langton cp, 26 x 23 cm
Clementines 2, Langton cp, 26 x 23 cm
I was so excited yesterday to find in the grocery store these clementines with leaves still attached. Had to paint them first thing today, before someone realizes that they could be used as food too.
Before starting I checked out the yummy paintings of a similar subject in Hazel Soan's books. I did these two wet-in-wet with only three colors - indian yellow, cadmium red and prussian blue. The second one was much more wet when I started applying the colors so it ended up with a smudged look and cauliflower effects, but I like that. The Langton Prestige paper that I'm trying, seems to dry quite fast and buckle a bit more than Arches, but its pure white color is delicious and I quite like it so far. 

19 comments:

Catharina Engberg said...

I like them both, but my favourite I think is the bottom one. I also like it that way alot. And the blue came out so nice.

renate said...

Hello Blaga:) They both are gorgeous! I love the simplicity of them. Great work with such a limited pallet! Both backgrounds are wonderful. I love it:)

Judy said...

They are both wonderful, Blaga! Painting round things is the best cure for Christmas blues, I'm trying that myself! :)

Nora MacPhail said...

Wonderful Blaga! I am an admirer of Hazel Soan too!

Jane said...

How funny! I received some lemons from the garden of a friend , and with the leaves still attached I got so inspired and immediately made an oil painting ( not finished), so leaves seem to have a hidden power :-))) Two great works Blaga, love them both..but maybe the first one a little bit more. xx

Polly Birchall said...

These paintings are so good they are making my mouth water. I use Hazels books at lot for reference especially her little 10 minute w/c book, which I have in my bag and read on the train etc. I am so excited, apparently she has a dvd of it coming out in Jan.

Tito said...

Hi Blaga, two wonderful works, difficult to choose which one I like more, both, for different reasons are really nice to see. But, if I have to decide, I go for.....both! Ciao!!

Blaga said...

Thank you, Catharina! I enjoyed the patterns form, and I love prussian blue for its very wide value range.

Thank you, Renate! I followed a couple of Hazel's advices - used limited palette and tried to paint fast with only essential brush-strokes, which all helps simplify.

Yes, Judy, round things, I did remember your recipe for re-gaining inspiration. Just add happy colors for taste and the remedy is complete! :)

Thank you, Nora! I love Hazel's style!

Leaves contains high concentration of inspiration, Jane, didn't you know that!? :) Or maybe it's the beautiful contrast with the yellow and red in the fruit... Thank you, Jane!

Polly, the 10 minute watercolor was the first book I had of Hazel's, which made me fall in love with her style. I have also re-read it many times. Thank you, for leaving a comment!

I'm glad you like them both, Tito :) Thank you for your comment!

JANE MINTER said...

both are beautiful blaga !

Merce Ares said...

Hola Blaga. tus dos trabajos son bellísimos, me agrada los pocos colores que has usado y que resultado excelente. Saludos!!

Rita Vaselli said...

You make me smile at the thought of running for paint before the model becomes food!
They are two very beautiful work... and palette sings! I love it! Have nice week, dear Blaga!

AK said...

Both of them are fabulous. Great job.

Sonia Aguiar said...

Hola Blaga. Me gustan las dos acuarelas por igual. ¡Tienen mucha calidad! Mi enhorabuena.
¡Un abrazo y Feliz Navidad!

Ruchi Jain said...

Nice

Blaga said...

Muchas gracias, Ina, Mercedes y Sonia!

Thank you, Jane, Rita. Asit and Ruchi!

Floriana Quaini said...

Ciao Blaga,
Sono belli tutti e due, ma il secondo è più indefinito e quindi, secondo me più "animato" (forse il contrario di quel che direbbero altri)...
Comunque, anche se non vengo sempre a commentare i tuoi lavori (per me è abbastanza faticoso seguire il blog) seguo ciò che dipingi con interesse e simpatia.
Ciao, tanti auguri per Natale e anno nuovo
Abbracci, Floriana

Lydie said...

Hello Blaga,

I really like the looseness of your second try, more poetic for me.
I found some sheets of langton at the begining of my painting journey and I remember that its white was really white.

Sharon Whitley said...

Love them both - but think the first is my favourite - isn't it wonderful how we get inspired to paint by everything around us, I love that!

Lavana said...

Lovely artwork.
Happy New Year !