New photo of Around the Bend

The first photo is the new photo that I took yesterday under the correct lighting. When taking photos of my work I try to either take them outside on a cloudy or overcast day with direct lighting or in my dark room in my studio. The studio situation works much better since I can control the lighting. I use two Ott lights set up at 45 degree angles to the painting so that the light is even across the surface. I also put the painting in my black box set up to take out all distracting colors from the room. The camera is set up with the lens in the middle of the painting and I make sure the tripod(which the camera is on) is level. I also have a setting on my camera that will take successive photos of either 3 or 7 while changing the apperture and fstops. This gives you a better chance of getting the colors to be real.

Hope this helps, you can definetly see the difference. The second picture, with all the golds, was taken under regular incandescent lighting in the studio.

There are of course other options for taking photos of paintings, this is just mine.

Happy painting,

Jennylynne

Lazy Day Lion

Years ago, I took a photo of this lion at the KC Zoo. This was right before they started remodeling and updating the zoo. This guy looked so bored. All he had was a small patch of earth to roam on and the rest was concrete and rock. They have improved the exhibits and also the places where the animals are kept and live. I'm sure this guy is thankful!

This is a pastel on velour and will be available for purchase on my website soon.

Thanks for looking,

Jennylynne

New oil painting from Augusta

This painting was done from a photo that I had taken in Augusta, Mo. just down from our cabin. I laid in a monochromatic value sketch and then painted over that in an alla prima style. I put a time constraint on the painting process just like I would have when painting this scene outside on location.

This is good practice for those rainy days when painting outside is more of a challenge than you want to endure. I also worked on a new surface that I had not tried before. Jury is still out on the surface!

The photo is a little different in color than the actual painting. I took the photo just using the track lighting from the studio and not my usual photo set up. But, I'll take another photo later under better conditions later.

Fun day at the studio-finished a cat portrait commission(first one in oil since I started painting in oil again). Did this little painting and drew out my next project on the canvas. Rainy days can be productive afterall!

Collaboration on a painting

While in Augusta, Mo. at the cabin this year, we all decided to collaborate on a painting for the owners of the 1870's cabin we stay at every year. I had never tried acrylics and neither had Chrissy. With Erlene's encouragement and guidance, we all worked on the painting while sitting on the cabin porch. The sun, which had been elusive, was shinning brightly and the weather was beautiful. Chrissy painted in the sky, I did the trees and foreground and Erlene did the cabin. Then I framed it and we all signed it.

Bob and Judy loved it and were very touched that we had done this for them and the cabin. We all had input into it's design and how we should approach our subject. We tried to keep in style with other decor of the cabin. Judy and Bob have done a wonderful job of decorating the cabin and making it look like someone has owned it and been there for years. It is a wonderful mix of the old and new.

If anyone is looking for a quiet place to chill out and relax, the cabin is the place. They offer it for romantic getaways, friends or family reunions, and much more. The cabin can accomodate up to four people, three comfortably. I think it would be a great place for sisters to go and re-connect. (hint to all my sisters-sorry brother.)

To find out more about the cabin just google "Critter Cottage" in Marthasville, Mo. Bob and Judy would love to have you.

Thanks Judy and Bob, cant' wait till next year!

Jennylynne Gragg