Day 248

Cloud Study 3, 6 x 6 inch oil on panel

© 2013 Kathleen Coy

I gave myself one hour to paint this, and I'm extremely happy with the outcome. No preliminary drawing underneath, just straight to the paint. I often sketch out a very detailed drawing on the canvas first, and while I enjoy that, I think it can inhibit me from being as loose as I'd like, so this was a really good exercise for me. 

Day 242

Red Landscape, 4 x 4 inch oil on canvas board

© 2013 Kathleen Coy

The day sort of got away from me today, and as dinnertime approached I started thinking about what I could paint quickly, which made me think of using only one color, which made me wonder what an all red landscape would look like. Apparently, it looks like this. 

Day 230

Buster Value Study, 6 x 6 inch oil on panel

© 2013 Kathleen Coy

Here is a more refined value study of Buster. I decided to go with the lighter background. In the end, I felt it was a stronger design. I can go forward with this 16 x 16 inch commission now, knowing I have everything worked out ahead of time. Remember, value is more important than color. Getting the values right beforehand puts you a step ahead. Which is why I love these value studies.

Day 229

Buster Value Roughs, 4 x 4 inch squares on canvasboard.

I'm getting ready to start a large (16 x 16 inch) commission of this dog and thought I'd use today's painting to show a little bit of my process. These are some quick little value thumbnail "roughs" that help give me an idea of how I want to approach the background before I start the real painting. I like to look at them and squint, thinking if these were abstract paintings, would they look good? Are the shapes and design pleasing? Which one works best? I'm leaning towards the one on the left.

Day 228

Pointer Value Study, 6 x 6 inch oil on panel.

© 2013 Kathleen Coy

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I felt like doing a value study today, and once I started I remembered how much I enjoy these. Sometimes it's nice not to think about color, and just focus on form and value.

Day 134

Westie Walk, 6 x 6 inch oil on panel

© 2012 Kathleen Coy

I wanted to do a color version of day 129 to see how close I could get to matching the values in the study. I turned the finished painting black and white to compare:

The original value study: 

I'd say I came pretty close with the dog, but the shadows and the road are darker. All in all, not too shabby. I like the stronger values better, they really set off the white dog.

Day 133

Cloud Run Value Study, 5 x 7 inch oil on panel

© 2012 Kathleen Coy

And here we have my dog Cloud doing his best greyhound impression. Once again, this piece was great practice on judging values of white fur in shadow. And this ends Value Study Week. It was really fun for me, hope you enjoyed it, too. 

Day 132

Goat Itch Value Study, 6 x 6 inch oil on panel

© 2012 Kathleen Coy

The reference photo for this painting was taken by my friend Pat VanOutry. We visited a dairy goat farm a year and a half ago and both got great photos, however, I really loved this one of hers, and she was nice enough to let me paint it. So it sat on my "to paint" list for all this time. I decided there was no time like the present, as it would make a great candidate for Value Study Week. White fur in shadow can be tricky - I have the tendency to want to paint it lighter than it is. 

I really enjoyed this study, and look forward to painting a color version. Thanks again, Pat!

Day 131

Sunset Value Study, 6 x 6 inch oil on panel

© 2012 Kathleen Coy

Because some days you just need to do something quick...

Day 130

Boomer Value Study, 6 x 6 inch oil on panel

© 2012 Kathleen Coy

I'd like to introduce you to my 19 year old cat, Boomer AKA The Queen of the Universe. Boomy is the longest I've ever had a pet, and we've been through a lot together. Through it all, she constantly reminds us how lucky we are that she allows us to live with her Royal Self. I don't think I've ever met a cat with more of an attitude. In case you were wondering, she is named after Boomer Esiason, back when he was playing for the Cincinnati Bengals, which will give you an idea of how old she really is!

I approached this painting a little differently - instead of trying to get the details down from the get-go, I blocked in the painting using only four values, then went back in and refined it, adding the details and pulling out the darkest darks and lightest lights. Much less fussy, much more loose, and a really fun way of working. 

Day 129

Westie Value Study, 6 x 6 inch oil on panel

© 2012 Kathleen Coy

One of the things I wanted to work on with this daily painting challenge is strengthening my values. No, not those kind of values. Those ones are all right (depending on who you ask, of course.) I'm talking about lightness and darkness - the whole range of tones from black to white. 

What better way to practice value than to forget about color for a while and paint some studies in black and white? I had so much fun with this one, that I hereby declare (in my best Mayor Quimby voice) this week to be Value Study Week.