Juicy Plums

Juicy Plums

by Jaime
(Melbourne, Australia)

Juicy Plums

I recently took up water colour painting, after using oils for many years, and have fallen in love with it. This was one of the first paintings I did, and even though I was using cheap paints and paper, am really pleased with it. It is a portrait of two ripe plums, which I painted from a photograph I took many years ago.

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Juicy Plums

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Apr 25, 2009
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Thanks
by: Jaime

Thanks for the feedback, guys, it's great to get some advice from others artists. Yes, it has been hard changing mediums, because it requires such a different approach to planning the work, I've found that reading lots of books on chinese watercolor painting has been very helpful, as the techniques are very thourough, and I use a lot of chinese brushes now in my work. I'm still mastering light and dark techniques with watercolor, and think I might have achieved contrast with the plums if I'd planned it and applied a wash for the background. The speckling effect was done with masking fluid, which I'm addicted to :)
thanks again
Jaime

Apr 25, 2009
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Juicy Plums
by: Mary Ann

Very well done, especially since you were an oil painter. It is very difficult to switch from oils to watercolor, as the thinking between the two mediums is entirely opposite.
About the plums, I would like to see a bit stronger color in them, but am not criticizing your effort.
Isn't it fun to allow the watercolor to work for you? Watercolor is the only medium that creates passages without having to do it all with a brush. I let the water work for me, and am usually pleased when a "happy accident" happens. Enjoy it. Life is short.

Apr 24, 2009
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juicy, yes
by: Delilah

Yes, you certainly have juicy down pat. I absolutely love this painting but... there's that word. I would like to see a roundness to your plums. Personally I would have more contrast from the highlights to the back or outside edges. You know what I mean... How did you achieve the speckling?