The Painting Process

The initial inspire

What initiated me to start begins with a image of a vase of flowers. The image was originally pretty vague in my mind. I want to paint a plain one, in single color tone (with a little color variation), elegant but not too feminine, simple, clean, in classic form, with oil painting texture, with a little details but abstract for most of the irrelevant. After a little research on Google here is the image that inspires me most. It is in pretty low resolution (I have tried the image search function already but still in vain) but I like its abstraction which gives me freedom to express in my own form. The "right" feeling it gives me is its cleanliness, simplicity, and that monotonic color range that can well captivate that raw light and dark shadowing effect in a fine and delicate way. I always believe "right "shadowing makes the whole artwork blossom. Last but not least, edelweiss, the white and clean little flowers, reminds me my first choir song when I was primary one, makes me so pleasant. :)



The first attempt


Here is my first acrylic attempt after the brief sketching. I used mao bi to paint it in a very watery way, because it is still in experimental process. Thick paint can make the latter process more difficult because the painting marks underneath hinders the variations of the top construction. But later I believe I used the wrong painting brushes - the Chinese Mao Bi - which is absolutely not for acrylic / oily texture. Originally I thought the painting brush should not matter a lot if I could master the painting skills well. But I was wrong. Correct tools catalyze the whole process muccccccch, this was my lesson learnt. Anyway, regardless of the unfinished brushstrokes, I quite like its abstraction it gives in this stage, yet the color seems a bit reddish now I would rather turn it into the warm yellowish tone.


The second attempt


I painted it in a really really happy way, but it ends out become a disaster, hoho. Finally I realized the importance of using correct brushes for oil painting, to express that sort of thick and strong, energetic texture that Mao Bi cannot provide. Honestly I like the vase, I like the flowers (I appreciate the right hand side, except the leftmost part, seems not feathery enough). Firstly I used dark green with that lovely blue, and ground yellow to paint the underneath leaves part. Then after it was dried I added the highlighting white with warm yellow on top for the floral details. I used the remaining color to construct the vase highlighting and shadowing, and also the background. (Originally I thought a darker background can prominent the main character, but it ended out looking like a disaster Haha, too much prominent colors popping out together, loosing the harmony of the whole color tone. ) Yet I know the brushstrokes I want are almost there, I just need to fine tune on the color tone of the whole picture in my next step.


My third attempt, oh I missed this one

Oh dear I in fact really like this version. I thought it can already be the finished piece. It fulfilled my desires, in harmonic tone, abstract with a little delicate details, calm and peaceful, well presented. Yet I hesitate if it missed the energy that a painting can give to the viewers. A bit dull and sad, that I don't want it to be like this. I want to add a bit purple to highlight the whole piece, making it more energetic, vivid and interesting.


My fourth attempt, a strange starfish

To me, making an artwork about enjoying the process of creating something you feel really happy with. My white acrylic paint is drying, thus I moulded it using fingers like clay, and then stick it on the artwork as the highlight, see what's happening:



Background has been redone, not quite work as what I want. And that funny starfish sticker, so funny. BTW I added this lovely pale violent complement to the green tone to give the contrast on the whole feel, making the whole artwork more "energetic". (Contrast can make the whole presentation more eye-catching.) Also I cut it into square size because it presents it in a more interesting way.


A reference on the background presentation

This is the birthday cake box left after my 19th December, 2015 birthday. Thanks my dear, deep from the bottom of my heart. My love dedicates to her forever, my mother.

I love this image, the color and presentation is great.

I wonder if I can put some inspiring elements from it to my unfinished work.




Second last attempt

Still not finished? Yes... I am the one to strive for perfection though it will never be achievable ... only on my work, not on the personality I dare I have tried my best ...

Almost there, except a bit "dirty" on the background ... starfish removed, flowers more delicately constructed ( rather than dot dot dot) ... Lovely ...





Finishing

Ar ha, signature signed.
Fine-tuned on the background and table shadow. Done! Background is a bit darker on the left than on the right, I used the cut-out piece for comparison.



The final presentation

Here it is :



Hope you enjoy reading it, apologize if this is too long ;P