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Another of the Let's Paint New Mexico paintings. 12 x 12 Water Soluble Oils. As usual, comments appreciated and taken to heart!

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Comment by Candi Hogan on September 24, 2015 at 4:15: Thanks Jeri, you are a sweetie! I put this one away! I get down, but then pick the brushes up again. I'm keeping at it, all the really good work that I see inspires me to keep going till something finally clicks!

Comment by Jeri McDonald on September 24, 2015 at 3:11: Candi do not get down on yourself. I can't tell you how many paintings I've reworked and then was still unhappy. I've learned not to worry about it and post them anyway because people here are so talented and always help you see what you didn't see so you can do better next time. This process you are going through is so important of just painting and painting and not fearing if it does not come out as planned. I am just now beginning after 3 solid years of painting almost full time, some of this stuff everyone is pointing out here. Keep all your beginning efforts to look back at when you get further along to compare to. It's amazing how you can see your progress and it is so rewarding!

Comment by Candi Hogan on September 19, 2015 at 15:13: It sure was Cristina, and it sure still is...trying to make changes, and I think it is getting even worse!!!

Comment by Cristina Mihailescu on September 19, 2015 at 15:03: Great job Candi!! What a challenging subject!!

Comment by Michael J. Severin on September 19, 2015 at 14:23: Good decision Candi. :)) Very much looking forward to seeing the completed piece!!

Comment by Candi Hogan on September 19, 2015 at 11:31: I'm going to keep the light coming from the left and behind the structure, so I don't have to change much in the front, just more color to the cat, and a little more pop to the chiles, and warm up the background. Also push the back bush back further

Comment by Michael J. Severin on September 19, 2015 at 11:06: Ok, what direction have you decided to have your light source come from?

Comment by Candi Hogan on September 19, 2015 at 9:14: Hoping my plein air work shop will help me?!?!! Going back in and re-working parts of this. Too many others to do to start over!

Comment by Michael J. Severin on September 19, 2015 at 8:43: One more thing Candi. Always assign what is NOT IN THE LIGHT, to the dark family. Everything IN THE LIGHT, to the light family. Do not cross over!!!

Comment by Michael J. Severin on September 19, 2015 at 8:37: Sorry Candi. You are a gifted artist ...your reference photo is so doggone challenging on so many levels. I, personally, would not have attempted to paint this unless I could have actually visited this spot and got the "feel" of it. If you are going to redo this, may I suggest a strategy? ... first, print the photo in black and white, take the photo that is in your computer and convert it into a 2 value and then a 4 value posterized version. If the 2 value (Notan) is not interesting, then try to make it so. Then do some thumbnails using different compositions ...use only the 4 values from your 4 value posterized image. THEN, when you are satisfied with a good composition, paint a gray scale painting in just 4 values: Dark, mid Dark, mid light, and light. Next, paint a small color sketch in a poster like version ..staying with your 4 values. Then paint your painting ...turn the photo and your sketch upside down so you only see shapes. Make sure you show where your light is coming from, and make sure you stick to your 4 values ....this is very important. Think ..always something dark, against something light ..light, dark, light, dark, etc. Make sure you indicate the reflected light from the sky and the ground!!! ..so important. ...Now, make sure you have either dominance of dark or light ...NOT EQUAL. This is what you will work out with your notan sketches. Try to develop a WARM DOMINANCE ..everyone loves warm and this is sunny New Mexico. Avoid using white as much as possible. Paint an imprimatura of a warm color like Raw Sienna over your entire canvas ..let it dry. If you have acrylic, then use that for the imprimatura ..if your canvas is oil primed, don't use acrylic. When you start your painting, take a color like burnt sienna or burnt umber, and scrub in all your dark shapes ..keep it thin ..but not washy. This will give you an idea where your dark and light shapes will be ..and this color will glow when you paint the darks on top. Remember always ...paint what the color of the light on each object, not the local color. The last thing you want to paint will be the sharp highlights and dark accents. BTW, after you have blocked in the dark shapes, put down your lightest light and your darkest dark ..if they are next to each other, that is your focal point. All your other values will go between these two extremes. I am really looking forward to see how you paint this!!!!