The latest assignment for my college acrylic and oil painting students was to paint from your own reference photograph. The photo had to be a still life of a cup of take-out coffee, a classic donut, and a cheap paper napkin. This was a demo I did using the Zorn palette. Zorn was a well respected 19th century european artist who worked with a limited color palette of white, yellow ochre, cadmium red, vermillion and ivory black. He painted a wide range of beautiful and subtle hues from this simple palette. So my demo was painted in the "same" color palette in acrylic with titanium white, yellow ochre, cadmium red, ivory black, and phthalo blue...oops!!...my bad! There was no phthalo blue back then. Why did I add it? I dunno. It seemed to work, though. Maybe this is the same dump luck process whereby cottage cheese was invented! Cottage cheese is great with fresh cut chives thrown in! Nixon liked his cottage cheese with strawberry jam. Under no circumstances should you mix phthalo blue with your cottage cheese.
NEXT DAY....added more color and steam coming off the hot coffee (top painting).Then played with more color again! (very top painting)
The latest assignment for my college acrylic and oil painting students was to paint from your own reference photograph. The photo had to be a still life of a cup of take-out coffee, a classic donut, and a cheap paper napkin. This was a demo I did using the Zorn palette. Zorn was a well respected 19th century european artist who worked with a limited color palette of white, yellow ochre, cadmium red, vermillion and ivory black. He painted a wide range of beautiful and subtle hues from this simple palette. So my demo was painted in the "same" color palette in acrylic with titanium white, yellow ochre, cadmium red, ivory black, and phthalo blue...oops!!...my bad! There was no phthalo blue back then. Why did I add it? I dunno. It seemed to work, though. Maybe this is the same dump luck process whereby cottage cheese was invented! Cottage cheese is great with fresh cut chives thrown in! Nixon liked his cottage cheese with strawberry jam. Under no circumstances should you mix phthalo blue with your cottage cheese.
NEXT DAY....added more color and steam coming off the hot coffee (top painting).Then played with more color again! (very top painting)
26 comments:
Hi David,
Like it -- and the thalo blue. What did make you do it? Artistic intelligence? Creativity? It works.
Take care,
Barbara
Some experiments really work well!I wish I knew so much about art,as you do David..would like to meet you some time!:)
nice touch of blue..!
I think the devil made me do it, Barbara. I think the devil is also behind cottage cheese.
Arti: Maybe we can meet next year during Holi:)
Just trying to play with colors like you do so well, Milind.
Great idea for a class assignment, it's got me thinking. I went and ordered some acrylics thanks to you and Milind's inspiration.
You are a fabulous artist David...Really wonderful..:)
Hi David!
Mmmmmm what a yummy painting!! Is that a jelly filled donut!? What I wouldn't give to have one of those right now!
Oh, and I think you mean "My bad" right? That's us young folk's slang for "whoops or oops" if that's what you're saying.....?
Will you be teaching your Plein Air class this summer? I wonder if Sac city will let me register for it even though I've taken it like 4 times already!
P.S. cottage cheese with pineapples is amazing! :)
Hi Amber! Hey, gimme a break! I'm 62!! Note my title edit. Yes, I am teaching my good old summer plein air watercolor course at City. "Special Studies' perhaps?
HAHA! Don't worry, you're still the coolest 62 year old out there!!
Yes, I'm gonna try that special studies! Can't wait! :)
I saw Zorn Palette and then saw that luminous turquoise blue. That's when I said I'd never paint the way you can. MY Zorn palette looked quite different.
Aha- the pthalo blue confessional.
Love the steam of the coffee and the luster of the jelly donut.
Starbucks and Krispy Kreme can thank you for the free endorsement.
Again, wonderful painting work David.
Go acrylics, Kathy!
Megha, I'm never really satisfied with my painting, but hey, that's what keeps what I do interesting! Thank you for dropping by!
Good luck, Amber...love to see you again this summer.
Thank you, comrade! Not the Zorn colors with that Thalo blue but painting with a limited palette reeeealy teaches one how to mix colors and so many of them!
Always inspiring work David...and yeah for Zorn!! Because you continue to challenge and inspire students I have passed on the Passion for Painting award to you! Check my blog for details!! I know it's hard to make selections and if you are not comfortable forwarding...it's fine!
Thank you so much Theresa!! I love painting and teaching, limited color palettes, and periodically checking out your blog. Those photos were terrific!
Theresa again: I'm going to informally list here a few artists that really inspire me: Karen Jurick, Colin Page, Carol Marine, Jennifer McChristine, William Wray, and William Moore the Crazy.
Theresa yet again: And for watercolor, Milind Mullick, Myrna Wacknov, and Mike Bailey.
Wonderful painting, David. Great brushwork. I really admire your work.
Thanks, Ed. I too am a Sargent fan and boy, could that dude lay down the brush work...sick!!
I really dig the coffee and donut, love this one allot. The brushwork reminds me of Sergi Bongart, nice and buttery. Great color choices too.
Wow, Tony! I never heard of Bongart. Checked him out and love his colors and brush work. Thank you!
Ah! Good ole cottage cheese! I love it. Under NO circumstances should it be consumed with thalo blue, fool!
Jus checkin in whichew. Hope alls gud in yer nayberhood!
Excellent painting for an artery clogged donut eater.
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