8"x16" - for my show in July at the Wally Workman Gallery. I'm really digging this tall skinny format. I think I might try it wide next.
So the thing I figured out about ellipses, is that if your ellipse is round (so this doesn't work for oval shapes, etc.) and your object is sitting flat on the table (cup, plate, bowl, etc.) you should always be able to draw a perfectly perpendicular + just like this through it, no matter what your vantage point is. Wherever the vertical line of the + meets the top of the ellipse should be the highest point of the cup. The same goes for the sides and the bottom. So when I am sketching out my composition and just getting placement to start with, I draw 4 short lines to indicate the points where the + and edges of the ellipse meet. Then once I have the placement right I round it out. If you look at yesterday's sugar bowl you'll see how it's a little off - but I ... I did that on purpose ... yeah, that's right. ; )
15 comments:
Great hint for ellipses! Also,Laura Robb (laurarobb.com) points out that the horizontal part of the + should measure exactly the same distance to the bottom of the canvas at both sides of the ellipse to keep the cup or bowl from looking tilted.
Love your vertical format too!
Carol, great tip on ellipses. I've been using a lot of glass in my daily still lifes, any hints on painting glass? Yours always looks just right.
love you paintings! thank you very much for the tip.
Thanks for the tip about ellipses.... I'll have to think about that for a bit....
You are right the tall canvas is nice. Glad to see more of the Morandi point of view too!
your... never seem to learn to proof read!!!
Absolutely right... and way cool! And I LUUUUVVV the vertical format - always have! I think I like it best, actually. Try the horizontal, it's great, too, but there's something about the vertical - it's like peeking through a cracked open door! Wonderful painting, too.
I actually enjoy your deviations from absolute duplication of "reality". Artistic licence. Heck, if I wanted a photograph, I'd take a photograph.
Thanks for sharing this info....and helping many of us with this annoying problem of painting ellipses
Thanks so much for the tip! I love the format of this painting. What fun! It is beautiful ... as always.
The colors in "The Tall One" really sing. I love the composition, as well.
LOVE the oranges and the green cup and that's a handy trick for elipses.
I also enjoyed the humor in your class handout where you say, "then one day you forget how, and this is called a block ;)"
That handout is a bible of great information, Carol.
"The Tall One" is great, Carol!
I love the long rectangular shape too. Nice job on the yellow flower and getting the stem to "bend" in the water it's sitting in.
Nice mix of being impressionistic and detailed.
-Dean
I love the long canvas, but see no way to respond to it. checkk out my blog. i would love your critique.
Thanks for the tip on ellipses and for sharing your delightful paintings. Your work is so fresh and colorful and you have a unique perspective. Love it.
Great paintings-if you email me at neil@ignitionart.eu I can show you how to construct any angle of ellipse with a piece of paper.
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