Sheila, This is cool idea. I wish I had collected some ice covered branches for the freezer. Did you get any pictures of them before you cut them off the tree? I found the ice picked up color from the sky and surrounding area. There were bubbles and cracks that formed contour lines. The bottom edge of the ice was white while the part closer to the branch, berry or bud was clear. The side of the ice closer to the light source was whiter while the opposite side was appeared slightly grey,
Sheila, you do set yourself up for some challenges! My god, Ice?!? I can’t remember a drawing I ever did of ice. Glass yes, ice no. I’m thinking it is all about making those ice highlights sharper edged and lighter than the highlights on the more matte parts of the twigs not covered with ice. Also, push a bit more what is happening with the color and value of the twigs under the ice as compared to the color and value of the twigs not covered in ice. I see that you done this a bit and have softened the edges to indicate a distortion. That’s a good start. I think I want to see highlights on the ice that have more to do with the surface of the ice and less to do with what is happening underneath.
Panaena, thanks for your comments. You really observed those ice covered branches. It was wonderful to be outside in that moment. It’s harder to recreate under a light, but I’ll keep working. Another ice storm ice coming Friday!
Beautiful, Sheila. The ice is looking very believable to my eye. We are heading up to the mountains this weekend where it’s using really cold. I’m hoping to find some icy branches to study while we are there. Fingers crossed.
Well, only one or two branches left in the freezer. Boy, I’m struggling trying to get highlights on ice.
Sheila, This is cool idea. I wish I had collected some ice covered branches for the freezer. Did you get any pictures of them before you cut them off the tree? I found the ice picked up color from the sky and surrounding area. There were bubbles and cracks that formed contour lines. The bottom edge of the ice was white while the part closer to the branch, berry or bud was clear. The side of the ice closer to the light source was whiter while the opposite side was appeared slightly grey,
Sheila, you do set yourself up for some challenges! My god, Ice?!? I can’t remember a drawing I ever did of ice. Glass yes, ice no. I’m thinking it is all about making those ice highlights sharper edged and lighter than the highlights on the more matte parts of the twigs not covered with ice. Also, push a bit more what is happening with the color and value of the twigs under the ice as compared to the color and value of the twigs not covered in ice. I see that you done this a bit and have softened the edges to indicate a distortion. That’s a good start. I think I want to see highlights on the ice that have more to do with the surface of the ice and less to do with what is happening underneath.
Panaena, thanks for your comments. You really observed those ice covered branches. It was wonderful to be outside in that moment. It’s harder to recreate under a light, but I’ll keep working. Another ice storm ice coming Friday!
@katylyness thanks for your detailed suggestions. They make perfect sense. I have a few branches left and an ice storm is coming Friday!
Beautiful, Sheila. The ice is looking very believable to my eye. We are heading up to the mountains this weekend where it’s using really cold. I’m hoping to find some icy branches to study while we are there. Fingers crossed.
@pgthompson Thanks, Pam. I hope you find some branches. These were broken off bits on the rail trail. Beware, they melt Inter lights!