Friday, September 28, 2007

And More Blades of Grass

It can be an almost tedious process to paint in all the grass in a painting like this. Nevertheless, it really feels so good to step back from the painting and see it all coming to life.

I do a landscape like this in layers. The first layer is a fairly solid undercoat to quickly block in some color on the page. I prefer to have some color down before I tackle the main subject. The white of the canvas is usually too stark to judge the values of the colors I need to use on the main animal(s).

Once I have the horse or deer or whatever animal I am working on painted, I go back to the background and refine it. I add details such as tree branches, bark, clouds, grass (and more grass and more grass).

I lay in dark green blades of grass first. Then I lay in light shades of green grass. I often will go back to the darks and maybe even add more lights again before I am done. The end result is usually a field that looks quite believably grassy.

As I step back across the room and look at the painting, it is often easier to spot any problems in value, color, or shape that need fixing. At this point I almost always see something on my subject that isn't quite right. That must be corrected before I can call the painting done.

Tomorrow I will be out of town and Sunday I will be at church, so I may not get much of a chance to do any painting over the weekend. Today will have to be a full day of painting to get things done.

Kindest regards,
Nancy Verschoor

nancyverschoor@toast2.net
"Neglect not the gift that is in thee." (1 Timothy 4:14)

Thursday, September 27, 2007

Blades of Grass

I have made a lot of progress on my buffalo painting, "Plains Drifter." It will be posted by the end of the day - tomorrow at the latest. It depends on how the background goes. It can be a slow process to paint all those little grass blades! Anyway, be looking for the picture.

Kindest regards,
Nancy Verschoor

nancyverschoor@toast2.net
"Neglect not the gift that is in thee." (1 Timothy 4:14)

Wednesday, September 26, 2007

"Portraits in Charcoal"

I have added another charcoal drawing for you to see. I finished it a couple of weeks ago. This girl is a sweet, beautiful girl who smiles all the time.

The main photo I worked from was actually taken a few months ago. Since that time she has started wearing her hair pulled back in a ponytail. I made the changes in her portrait to reflect her new hairstyle and she loves it.

Three photos were used in producing this portrait. I find that the more reference material I have, the more accurate I can be in my drawing.

When I drew the portrait of C.L., I used a couple of photos for reference as well. It is very helpful to see more than one photo to get the likeness just right.

Send me an email so I can begin a portrait of your loved one: nancyverschoor@toast2.net

Kindest regards,
Nancy Verschoor

nancyverschoor@toast2.net
"Neglect not the gift that is in thee." (1 Timothy 4:14)

Tuesday, September 25, 2007

"Peek-a-Boo"

I finished "Peek-a-Boo" and will put it on today. I have started a painting of a buffalo which I will call "Plains Drifter." We live in Texas and it wasn't that long ago that the buffalo roamed across this vast land. We have had a lot of rain this year and the native grasses are quite high right now. I am going to paint the grasses a little shorter so the buffalo will show better. As we drive through the state we see fields with grasses so high you almost can't see the cattle that are grazing there. I suspect the plains buffalo would have loved all the good grasses we have this year.

Kindest regards,
Nancy Verschoor

nancyverschoor@toast2.net
"Neglect not the gift that is in thee." (1 Timothy 4:14)

Monday, September 24, 2007

Weekend Whirlwind

This weekend was a busy one, as they often can be. Saturday morning I made a trip up to Lubbock to serve my church at the temple there. Six of my friends from church went, too. It is such a peaceful and beautiful place to be. I always feel so close to my Heavenly Father when I get a chance to go. We had lunch afterwards and then returned home. Lubbock is a bit of a drive for us. I left home at 8:45 a.m. and didn't get home until almost 5:30 p.m.

My husband had left a note on the table reminding me about the Volunteer Fire Department fundraiser for the evening. I changed clothes and met him and the kids there. We kind of "volunteered" to help clean up after the event, so it was late by the time we got back home.

Sunday was busy going to our church meetings. After we get home on Sundays I like to research my family history. Being a detective must be a little bit in my blood, because I really enjoy the challenge of tracking down my ancestors and getting to know them. I was able to add more than a dozen names to my extended family yesterday. I am grateful for all my ancestors have done to create a wonderful heritage for me.

Now it's off to painting!

Kindest regards,
Nancy Verschoor

nancyverschoor@toast2.net
"Neglect not the gift that is in thee." (1 Timothy 4:14)