Friday, January 02, 2009

6 O'clock Shadow


The name is a misnomer - it was two o'clock but I prefer the play on words! We have a covered back balcony (the sides are just wooden bars with netting) and in the afternoon the sun shines through and makes wonderful shadows with the bars. Ever since we arrived here I have wanted to draw it and thought there is no way I would ever be able to work quickly enough to catch the light before the shadows change. Of course there is no way but I took a tip that Mary gave me (I believe she got it from Michael Newberry) to lay in the shadows first. The colour of the light didn't change much but the shadows moved across the floor very quickly. So having worked out where the shadows were it was much easier to then concentrate on the light. Second question was how much of outside detail should I include and I decided that as it was the shadows on the floor and side net wall that interested me most I would just give a suggestion to what was outside. All in all I am pretty pleased with the way this came out. I tweaked it a bit once I got it inside.

New Year's Resoltion 2 - Keep website updated regularly.

9 comments:

Stacy said...

This is beautiful Anita! I really love it. I think you achieved just the right amount of detail through the netting. I can tell what is out there, but it doesn't detract from those fabulous shadows and dramatic light.

Good luck with both of your resolutions! They sound like good ones.

Jeanette Jobson said...

I really like that network of shadows. A great idea too, to put down the shadows first before the light changes.

You make pastels look so simple...

tlwest said...

shadows first! wonderful!
This piece is very reflective. I find it so hard to do plein air or catch the light just right - a lot of the time I end up just making it what I want the light to be LOL!

Billie Crain said...

Bravo, Anita! you chose your focus points well.

Angie said...

This is beautiful! You have been doing some amazing work lately!

Anita said...

Stacy - thank you! I'm glad that my instincts to stay away from what was outside paid off.

Jeanette - it looks a bit like a spidersweb! I can't imagine why I make pastels look simple - they are a real test of my patience!

Terri! Great to hear from you! I find plein air difficult too but its on my list for conquering this year.

Billie - thank you!

Annie - how sweet of you to say so. I did feel I hit the mark with this one.

Joan Sandford-Cook said...

Anita - How nice to find another Anita coming to my blog. I simply had to speed over to yours and was I impressed. The passion for shadows and line in this latest post would hold you in good stead for attempting the zentangles. I seem to be more a curvy person- thus all my circles- probably from my natural history background.
Love the chair post and then Alexis and Jennifer have inspired me to go ahead with one of my plans to do a family sketchbook. Great meeting you - are you in the US of A or in Asia at the moment???

Robyn Sinclair said...

Another beauty! That is a wonderful tip, to paint the shadows first.

Anita said...

Joan I will give the Zentangles a try - in bed maybe! Seems like a good place for that kind of meandering! A family sketchbook - what a great idea!

Robyn - thank you!

all artwork is copyright of Anita Murphy 2006/2007/2008/2009