Essentials Cafe

I've been having a play with the artists pastels. The only blending I did on this piece was on the vase.

The original photo used for this painting was one that I took in one of my art classes using a lamp and a daylight globe to get some nice shadows.  Then I played around with various compositions.  Whilst I feel this particular piece has turned out ok I don't like the white background and should have tinted the background first I think.  Not quite sure how I would go about this but will have a play with it on the next one.

Nice composition, nice colours. I see what you mean about the white background, I cannot handle a blank white canvas either, perhaps you could have used various blenders to push background colour into the white areas, and then stroke them into alignment, and I will do a few experiments and get back to you, there has to be an easy answer.

this might be worth a try for you Dianne, create a document in draw and paint mode, exactly the same size as the photo you want to work on in pixels, flood fill it with colour of your choice, then you could use various brushes to scrub it into shape,and even add other colours, or use subtle eraser to add highlights, now switch to auto paint mode leaving your background on screen, go to pen and ink sketch and let it run on your pre-prepared background, you now have a sketch on a coloured background, to which you can add your own mastery using the dropper to pick chosen colours from your palette. I have spent a few seconds doing a rough demo using a pic I did last night of the dead poppy.

Wow you've gone to a lot of work.  I re-ran the video tutorial that was downloaded with the trial.  The tutorial is called sketching from a photo.

I think the simplest way is to clone the picture like they say.

Then move into the painting and drawing mode and use tbe bucket tool to fill the background before I start to then paint by hand over it.  To me that seems to replicate what I do in real life more. So I'm going to give that a go and see how that works.  Thinking back I think that's how I did the one of my dog (on my gallery).  But there's been a lot of art pieces since then for me to remember clearly now.  Thanks for your ideas 

I've sinse had another very quick attempt.

I cloned a photo then moved it across to  the drawing mode, then chose a colour and used the bucket to fill the background. I was then was able to draw over it very nicely. 

I agree about the white background; but don't forget that you can set a paper color easily when in painting mode. Just go to File-New; clock on paper color, and set it on the color you want. I like a light grey if I'm doing a still life in watercolor, and a dark grey if I'm using chalk or pastel. You can also unify a piece by using a complimentary color mixed from two colors you plan to use in your painting. for example, if you are painting a blue vase with yellow flowers, a reddish paper might make a good base, red being the compliment to green which is mixed from blue and yellow. Try it!

This is an example of what I mean: I did this with a classical palette, and used a pink paper with a bristle oil brush. What do you think?

Looks good.  I didn't realise that you could set the paper colour before you start. But I will give it a go now that I know about it. Thanks

Love both still lifes (lives???) - giving dynamic motion to a static subject.  Great colors too.  Thanks for sharing your techniques.

I like the art work on this thread, but I have really enjoyed the exchange of views and found it very inspiring, thanks guys.