Lovely, Ishbel! However, I like your other hydrangea better. This one doesn’t incorporate the feeling of the inflorescence as a whole. The light source is vague. Where is the highlight? Where is the darkest shadow? And I see the individual flowerettes drawn too much in outline. Granted, this is a difficult subject with the grouping of tiny flowers close to the stem. Then the almost floating flowerettes above them, but seeing your other hydrangea, I think you are up the the task.
Thanks for your comments Katy. I am a bit puzzled by your question about the highlight. Surely there would not be a dominant highlight on a flower with multiple planes as this has?
Good question, Ishbel. I have been thinking about this a little bit, and while I do think that your rendering here is excellent, there’s something to be said for that light source emphasis that will really turn this from something that appears a bit flat into something more 3-d. I think you’re right that this would not have one clear highlight, since there is so much going on. But, perhaps some of the flowers are lighter, for example, and others a bit darker, with regard to a light source? And perhaps the central “cluster” of itty bitty flowers could have a lighter area and a “shadow side?” You could do this with a layer of gray pencil, maybe. How about trying to lay a piece of tracing paper over this whole thing and do some sketching to see if some more dark/light play would make a difference? I think the detail here is stunning. The flowers at all different angles, the curling leaf in the back–I love it all. But I do think it’s worth testing out some more dramatic shadows. 🙂
Wow, this is beautiful Ishbel!
Lovely, Ishbel! However, I like your other hydrangea better. This one doesn’t incorporate the feeling of the inflorescence as a whole. The light source is vague. Where is the highlight? Where is the darkest shadow? And I see the individual flowerettes drawn too much in outline. Granted, this is a difficult subject with the grouping of tiny flowers close to the stem. Then the almost floating flowerettes above them, but seeing your other hydrangea, I think you are up the the task.
I also like the tinge of fall on the leaves!
Thanks for your comments Katy. I am a bit puzzled by your question about the highlight. Surely there would not be a dominant highlight on a flower with multiple planes as this has?
Amazing detail. Really beautiful.
Good question, Ishbel. I have been thinking about this a little bit, and while I do think that your rendering here is excellent, there’s something to be said for that light source emphasis that will really turn this from something that appears a bit flat into something more 3-d. I think you’re right that this would not have one clear highlight, since there is so much going on. But, perhaps some of the flowers are lighter, for example, and others a bit darker, with regard to a light source? And perhaps the central “cluster” of itty bitty flowers could have a lighter area and a “shadow side?” You could do this with a layer of gray pencil, maybe. How about trying to lay a piece of tracing paper over this whole thing and do some sketching to see if some more dark/light play would make a difference? I think the detail here is stunning. The flowers at all different angles, the curling leaf in the back–I love it all. But I do think it’s worth testing out some more dramatic shadows. 🙂
Thanks Vern…makes sense now. I’ll experiment a bit and repost.