You have been busy Dora! A little more darker toning on the apple to enhance it’s form and I would tone down the reflected highlight. I would also add more dark toning to the right side of the bulb. Those roots are something! Great job on the front/back petals! The blueberry and leaf/nut look very light – maybe it is the quality of the image. They could use the darker tones to give them crispness and definition like you did so well on the other subjects!
Thanks Doug. These are some quick sketches I did as daily practice. They do need some refining and extra toning. I find it difficult to get that reflected highlight to look right and I didn’t know how to add more dark toning to the garlic bulb without losing its shape.
15 July 2021
Great practice, Dora! Re: reflected highlight; think about it as another opportunity to practice toning–where the lightest bit is just next to the cast shadow and it fades into the shadow on the form. That lightest tone there can be a few shades darker than the main highlight on the subject (this way, the 2 bright light areas do not compete with each other). Keep that reflected light at a #2 or #3 tone and save the #1 for the main highlight. Does that help? For the garlic, I think just some more dark tones on the bottom right of the form will help round out the shape without interfering with the beautiful, bulbous details. 🙂 Great to see you here, Dora. Miss you!
Thanks Vern. Great advice on the highlight. I find the way you described it very helpful. I’ll keep the relative values in mind going forward. I miss you guys also. Feels like we are in prison here in Australia. In lockdown again and vaccine roll-out has been pathetic. I’m afraid an art retreat is not one of the exceptions for travel sadly. Hope to catch up as soon as we are allowed to travel. Hello to all. X
You have been busy Dora! A little more darker toning on the apple to enhance it’s form and I would tone down the reflected highlight. I would also add more dark toning to the right side of the bulb. Those roots are something! Great job on the front/back petals! The blueberry and leaf/nut look very light – maybe it is the quality of the image. They could use the darker tones to give them crispness and definition like you did so well on the other subjects!
Thanks Doug. These are some quick sketches I did as daily practice. They do need some refining and extra toning. I find it difficult to get that reflected highlight to look right and I didn’t know how to add more dark toning to the garlic bulb without losing its shape.
Great practice, Dora! Re: reflected highlight; think about it as another opportunity to practice toning–where the lightest bit is just next to the cast shadow and it fades into the shadow on the form. That lightest tone there can be a few shades darker than the main highlight on the subject (this way, the 2 bright light areas do not compete with each other). Keep that reflected light at a #2 or #3 tone and save the #1 for the main highlight. Does that help? For the garlic, I think just some more dark tones on the bottom right of the form will help round out the shape without interfering with the beautiful, bulbous details. 🙂 Great to see you here, Dora. Miss you!
Thanks Vern. Great advice on the highlight. I find the way you described it very helpful. I’ll keep the relative values in mind going forward. I miss you guys also. Feels like we are in prison here in Australia. In lockdown again and vaccine roll-out has been pathetic. I’m afraid an art retreat is not one of the exceptions for travel sadly. Hope to catch up as soon as we are allowed to travel. Hello to all. X