How to use warm and cool colors in a painting

Recently, I enjoyed working on a simple composition of circles, focusing on mixing warm and cool colors.

Here is the first lot I did.

This is just a start. I hope to build on this series in future.

Thank you Karin Wells for this great article describing how the old masters used warm and cool colors in their portrait paintings.

Small floral paintings

Acrylic on canvas, 10 X 10 inches (SOLD)

Acrylic on canvas, 10 X 10 inches (SOLD)

Acrylic on canvas, 10 X 10 inches (SOLD)

Recently finished few small floral paintings. These are on 1 3/8 deep canvas. You can buy these at my Etsy shop: www.etsy.com/garimadesigns

Pink, orange and red tulips

In this painting, I  was successful at creating  big organic shapes on the canvas. I feel the composition should have some simple big shapes. The pink and red flowers draw our attention to the dark light contrast. In addition to shape, we see the flowers overlapping, creating a sense of space and depth in the painting.
In the background, are the small flowers looking like a field of flowers. The push and pull of pink and red orange create an interesting pattern. I like the soft and subtle feel of the painting. The flowers do not have much detail, but are able to convey their meaning.

Visit to the Thar desert and back

Yellow Sunset, Acrylic on canvas, 12" X 12" (SOLD)

I visited Rajasthan, India, my native place over the winter vacation. Some pictures of the desert and the paintngs inspired by them.

I focused on bringing out the right colors. The first layer was full of dull yellow ocher. The second layer was painted with cadmium yellow deep for the sky and burnt umber, ultramarine blue for the ground. The center resembled distant dunes, but I wanted the whole painting to look bright, so I used a touch of complementary blue.

Orange Sunset, Acrylic on canvas, 12" X 12"

This painting is another attempt to capture the beauty of the Thar. This time the colors are pale red and bright ocher.

Bare November trees

The scene was magical. Right in my front window. Our neighbors trees looked so pretty in the morning sun. I tried to capture and recreate the mood on canvas. It was painted on an existing painting that had some orange and gold details. The effect of layering the purple shades on this under layer was successful. the gold shows through and mixes with the yellow branches to give a subtle effect of the delicate early morning rays. Hard to capture on camera, but it looks beautiful in person.

This painting is now Sold

Needlepoint canvas of my painting 'Bunch of Roses'

So excited to see these Needlepoint canvas for Belts,  crafted from my painting 'Bunch of Roses'. Buy them at  Chelseaneedlepoint.com

Painting from inspiration

             

Before leaving home, for my daughter's first day of preschool, I had quickly put in my bag -  a camera, a sketch pad, pencil, paints, brushes, and a water bottle. First day of preschool is a big day for both daughter and mom. I was nervous for her, but at the same time enthusiastic to use the extra time at hand. After dropping her and saying good bye,  I walked across from her school to the West Parish Garden Cemetery. It was not the most perfect weather for painting, it was cloudy, not the typical blue skies . I took notes from the scene of the water lily pond, sitting and observing the patterns in water.  I did not paint, but mostly recorded my observations. This is one of the pictures I took that day. 

I did not realize, the grass was wet and my shoes/socks were completely soaked. I returned home after about an hour. I wanted to finish an autumn themed abstract painting. I had already started it a few days back but was not satisfied with it so far. I started changing it to make it more like the pond scene, just more colorful.  

Pond by West Parish Garden Cemetery (SOLD)

I concluded, it looks beautiful. The color harmony seems to work. The lily pads are popping out and seem to float over the water.

Tom Gill Demo

I attended artist demo today. Tom Gill ( http://www.tomgillart.com/) creates a beautiful painting at Andover Artists Guild monthly demo. He uses cutting edge technology -  Acrylic paint markers to create paintings full of life.

My first gallery submission

Submitted two of my paintings at Lakeside Art Gallery, Rolling Ridge , North Andover, MA

http://www.rollingridge.org/about-2/lakeside-art-gallery/

Update: Both paintings are now Sold

View from top, Provence

View from top, Provence, 24" X 30", Acrylic on canvas

First prize, Andover's Art in the Park 2015.

Accepted in Newburyport Art Association Juried show in 2016. 

Silver acrylic paint

Recently I got a request for a custom painting which had silver paint applied on it. I have never used silver paint earlier, so this was an exciting opportunity to learn something new. I researched on the web for different kinds of silver paints and silver foil. In end I settled for liquitex silver acrylic paint. I was not sure about the sheen and brightness of the pigment.

As you can see, the paint is really nice and shinyin natural light. I applied couple of layers, mixed the paint with blue paint, mixed with acrylic gel and gloss medium, thick gel. The combination of these techniques gave the desired end result. I wanted it to be seamless with the blue and emerald green paint, so I applied glazes mixed with the silver and blue over the blue under painting. The feeling was that of beach water with the glare of sunshine.