Thursday, May 10, 2012

Penumbra



'Penumbra'
6" x 6" watercolor
$100 plus $7 shipping

I love shadows. I love the contrast between the darkest darks and lightest lights. It's why I so often paint a face in full sunlight, letting the light side be practically overexposed.

 I like leaving some of that information blank, because so much of what makes a face look like a face when in sunlight is what's revealed in the shadows.

And of course colors in skin tones are quite simply bea-U-ti-ful in shadowed areas.

One of my favorite things to do is to paint a simple face, with a simple pattern of lights and darks, with some basic, simple primary colors.

I'm kind of a simple girl I guess. :)))

Huzzah my peeps!

23 comments:

  1. wow crystal.. beautiful!!! love the highlights and of course the gorgeous shadows...
    you area very talented lady!! ((()))

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  2. You're portraits both inspire me and frightens me. You should give me private lessons. This is lovely.

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  3. Another beauty, Crystal. Your portraits have a candid, almost snapshot-feel to them. They look relaxed, never posed and never stuffy. That's a tough thing to pull off, I think.

    Your control over shadow and highlight in your paintings never ceases to amaze me :). I hope you had a cookie after you finished this painting!

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  4. Outstanding! I am blown away by how you've got the light reflected in her eyelashes. Superb. This is a two cookie painting at least.

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  5. Very beautiful and with intense feeling!

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  6. Crystal, this is really exquisite! I love her skin colors, and the almost over-exposed look you have given the portrait.

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  7. this is a GORGEOUS portrait, Crystal...I love the shadows and the perfect skin tones...you should be so proud of this one.!!

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  8. I love this one so much!!! The expression on her face is amazing!!! I want to study with you crystal...

    I love the brushwork on her hair -- so fresh and effortless-looking. It's watercolor at it's best...

    Did you use wet-in-wet at all in painting the soft shadows of her face? And what is the color palette you used for this painting?

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  9. Your paintings never cease to amaze me, the effects you create with water color a medium that I never could master, you are the queen of the water colors!

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  10. Nothing simple about what you do, but something very masterful!
    Gorgeous painting and scrumptious shadows!

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  11. The eyelashes (like the dog's whiskers) are a master touch, Wonderful picture!

    Now......as for SIMPLE ....the simple bits .... I got the bit about how I'll need brushes, water and paper ...it's the next steps I found difficult!! :0)

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  12. I know I keep on saying it, but I have yet to come across any one that can pait a portrait like you can! Every single time you paint a new one I find my self newly astonished! You seem to be able to paint the inside of the person as well as the outside - Take my Codi for instance, you captured her soul, not just her expression. It's a gift that only you seem to have :0)

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  13. Hey Simple Girl, somebody said this..
    "Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication". How about that. :)
    And it is that simplicity, that lights and shadows of course. But most importantly it is the emotion that you have in your paintings is what is pure awesomeness.

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  14. Crystal, I need to learn new adjectives to use when I comment here!!! Love how you have painted the beautiful eyes!

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  15. I just love rim lit and backlit portraits. I just love how you have been able to define form with so little work on the lit side.

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  16. Very beautiful, Crystal but is she from your imagination or a real person.

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  17. I know exactly what you mean about the lights and darks and leaving parts almost over-exposed by the sunlight. Your paintings always exude a feeling that they were painted with pure confidence -- the beautiful, juicy washes that were put down with the knowledge that they were the perfect color and value for that particular part of the painting. Whether or not that's true doesn't matter, because its what your paintings convey. They are terrific. You really are a pro . . . and handle watercolor just beautifully! :)

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  18. Simple? SIMPLE? lol. Simply exquisite, like all of your portraits.

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  19. this is outstanding crystal on so many levels. it drew my attention immediately when i opened the DP page! absolutely STUNNING!!!!!!!

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Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a comment they really do mean so much to me! Because not all bloggers have their email enabled so I can reply directly through email I will try to reply here in the comments. If I don't please forgive me, life must have been hectic that day! :)) Huzzah!!

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