Marcia's Blog

Further adjustment of the background to less defining of the leaves up top. and eliminated distracting branch at bottom. 

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I have added shadows on some of the curled up edges of the plumerias on the right and darkened the background with another layer of paint. The leaves will not be defined realistically. My plan is to darken the yellow of the flowers on the left and keep the background on that side light.

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I will be at the Church of the Pacific in Princeville on January 14 and also on January 28 from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Our group of artisans will be at this location on the second and 4th Saturdays of each month and at other locations on other Saturdays. I always enjoy meeting visitors from around the world. If you are on the island, please drop by.

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I have the first layer in for 3 of the 4 buds. I decided to start in on the background to see how dark to make the plumerias. There will be more layers of background - slowly. 

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The first layer is in for the yellow plumeria. The buds are next and most of the petals still need veins. I will probably work more on the background before finishing the flowers just to make sure I like the look. Paper size is 22 x 30 inches.

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Am going up to a mountain cabin in Kokee with family for 6 nights.  No technology for phone or internet up there. Not much painting is happening lately with my children home but we are taking acrylic paints and supplies up with us and I have watercolor reference books on painting loosely, something I would like to work on in the New Year.

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I deepened the pink band to a hotter pink and started on the petal veins and curled up edges.with more detail. I will upload a larger photo in the next blog post tomorrow.

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I think we are back in business. I have not painted in a few days. I am learning Google Chrome (instead of Firefox)and Windows 10 (instead of Windows 7) plus Adobe Photoshop Elements 15 (instead of Microsoft Media). I am not a techie that is for sure.  I have removed the 'Temporary Blog' link on this website and have dropped a couple of posts where I had trouble loading photos. Thank you for your patience. 

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I decided to crop the painting after all.  I generally preserve a white border with drafting tape before I start painting for a cleaner presentation and so that the framer does not have to place the mat too far over the painting. I drew a line to mark the new lower edge of my painting and applied drafting tape inside the new border over the painting. Using a piece of wet squeezed out Mr. Clean Original sponge, I gently scrubbed out a new border. Then I removed the tape and let the scrubbed out portion dry. When dry, I applied a new piece of drafting tape on the white border to mark the new edge of the painting. So in the photo, the tape at the new bottom edge of the painting covers a white border and I will cut off the remainder. 

Note: I use Scotch drafting Tape #230 which does not peel the paper when I remove it at the end. I have found that those labeled 'artist tape' come off  if I use too much liquid near the edges and masking tape tends to peel the paper because it might be too sticky. I do not find this Scotch brand tape in our island hardware stores or Walmart, etc. so I order it from DickBlick.com. Your larger art stores on the mainland probably carry it.

Note: The scrubbing with a wet sponge only works with thick watercolor paper. That is the reason I use 300# Arches paper.  I like it because I don't have to stretch it first and it can handle the scrubbing. You might get a hole in your paper if it is too thin. 

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I may be changing this centered look of the group of flowers. I worked on the flower on the right and have a closeup here. The background will need more work definitely.

 

 

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Plumeria Don -Two layers of pink edges are in. Darker centers will be next as well as turned up edges. These petals have fine veins which will be added after the centers are in. I have decided to do shadows a little later, perhaps after I work on the background.

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The 'Plumeria Don' painting will have a changed look the next time I post a photo.  I have decided to make it all about the blossoms and less about the composition with the leaves and will probably cut off the bottom portion a few inches.

My new computer will arrive next week and I intend to use a browser other than Firefox because their upgraded version is not compatible with my Homestead website and I have not been able to upload photos. Meanwhile, I will post on this Temporary Blog. 

Had a great fair today and sold my 'White Plumerias' original painting. Two more fairs for the rest of December - 
Dec. 10 - Church of the Pacific in Princeville from 8 to 2
Dec 16, a Friday, Kauai Marriott Hotel in Lihue from 9 to 3

Thank you for following the progress of my paintings. Don't forget, I am now on Etsy at
paintingsbymarcia.etsy.com in case you would like to purchase small prints or note cards. I also have 5x7 matted small prints on this website. Etsy has the 5x7s and 8x11s.

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Just a bit more to finish on this painting. Darker stems in the middle and darker background there. More on the opening flower at the top and more shape to those buds.The small opening plumeria has to be pushed back with a gray glaze. There will be more highlights on the leaves so we don't have too much of a bull's eye look with the flowers.

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We will be in Poipu tomorrow from 9 to 3 for a big tent fair with around 35 craft vendors. The park is located on the open field next to the Poipu Beach Park parking lot. My fairs for the remainder of the year are listed below.  The fairs are a great place to shop for holiday gifts and support the local artisans at the same time. I am on Etsy for the small prints and note card packs and of course, my art may be purchased through this website! Hope to see some of you.

Nov 19 - Poipu, Garden Isle Artisan Fair - 9 to 3
Nov 26 - Kapaa Beach Park, Kapaa Middle School PTSA - 9 to 4
Dec 3 - Kapaa, All Saints Church - 9 to 2
Dece 10 - Princeville, Church of the Pacific - 8 to 2
Dec 16 Friday -  Lihue, Kauai Marriott Charity Fair - 9 to 3

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