Thursday, May 06, 2010

Giant Argentinian - WIP



As promised back in March or April, I wanted to paint this cactus that is so prevalent in our community. I decided it spoke to me in Yupo-ese and decided that was the ground I would use. After three sessions at the Art Club working on this, here is my first submission of a WIP. I have changed my mind of how to do this 3-4 times already, and there are probably that many indecisive moments to come with this one. But, that is the beauty of Yupo, one can change one's mind on a whim and re-do it. That is why this is the first WIP I have shown you after three, three-hours sessions working on it!

But, I am liking this iteration best of all, so maybe I am on the right track? At any rate, we are preparing for a month long trip back to Chama, so this might just have to marinate on my home easel until we get back. Since it is a full sheet size (Watercolor Paper sizes, any suggestions would be appreciated, although I realize it is early days yet. Stay tuned!

10 comments:

Vicki Greene said...

Wow, this is impressive. The colors look great and a full sheet!

RH Carpenter said...

This is looking gorgeous - the runs of color in the greens are beautifully done - I'll be waiting for this one to come together (I have to wait a month???). Oh, well, patience will be rewarded, I'm sure.

Watercolors by Susan Roper said...

Thanks gals. I am liking this third version myself. When I first started it, I went for too much striping the cactus for those ribs and ended up what looked like purple-striped pickles! So, I went over each one with more of the greens, golds and purples and then lifted some of the ribs out of the conglomeration on the Yupo. Much better now. I am now on my second try at the flowers, and have changed how I do them and will wipe the first ones out and re-do them, too. Another good thing about Yupo...if you discover a better way while you are painting you can go back and redo fairly easily. That is another reason this has taken me three sessions to get this far!

Unknown said...

I'm loving this! Isn't Yupo fun?

Watercolors by Susan Roper said...

Yes, Norena, it is! What I end up with will probably not even resemble this version, but that's the beauty (and curse) of Yupo. I need to do something about those too narrow ground shadows, but will wait until I see what I do above them to change them. The more I look at them, the less I like them!

Thanks for looking and following...

StilinStudio said...

Hi Susan - this is going to be great!! I'm adding Yupo to my next order of art supplies, and I can't wait to try it! Wasn't Death Valley great? And to think people think the deserts have no color. :-)

Lisa Crone said...

I agree, this is impressive. I got lost in it for a minute, how cool! I wanted to stop by and thank you for the RV encouragement :)

I can't wait and wish it were not just for a 5 day vacation, but for a longer period of time. :) I really need a vacation!

Watercolors by Susan Roper said...

Stilin and Lisa...thanks for stopping by. I am so busy packing the motorhome for our monthlong trip that I just give this painting a glance as I sail by the studio. It will just have to wait until I get back though, as it is too large to take along with me.

Stop by again as I, when traveling, turn this art blog into a traveblog, complete with photos of what we are up to. The area we are going to is near Abiquiu, which is where Georgia O'Keefe painted for so many years. Wonderful photo ops await!

Anonymous said...

I love, love, love the rich colors in the cactus. Have a great trip--I wish you could have taken this with you so we could see it finished sooner. Sue

Watercolors by Susan Roper said...

Thanks, Sue! I wished I could take it also, but knew there would be no place to put it or work on it in the motorhome. Unless some gremlins work on it in my absence, it will wait until I return!