Don't you just love the colors in this guy? This is called a Blue Jean frog, and he's one of the references in the latest challenge at Windows to the Words blog. There are actually 2 challenges happening at the same time over at WTTW blog. First is the July/August special challenge of the Pooch Portraits. I am in that one also but I haven't done my painting yet, so more on that challenge another day.
If you scroll down a bit on the web site you'll find the July Challenge for Frogs. This is the regular monthly challenge that ends on 8/1 (ok, again I am cutting it close, I know).
I had every intention of painting this little guy when I first saw the picture. The colors in this are just wonderful and I knew exactly what I was going to do. But due to other commitments, I couldn't get to this painting until tonight.
Painted in a single evening, I did this with only a handful of colors. 1 Yellow (Cad Yellow Light), 1 Blue (Cobalt), and 3 reds (Grumbacher Red, Cad Red Light & Vivid Red/Orange). A bit of Paynes Gray for shadows, a bit of Titanium White for hightlights & poof, a blue jean frog on a colorful leaf!
I loved working with all these vivid colors!
Acrylic on 9x12 canvas
7 comments:
Looks like one gorgeous photograph, Nancie! Beautiful colors!
It's incredible that there are creatures this colorful in our world, isn't it? You did a great job. Love the colors.
This is fabulous!!!
I love the WTTW challenges but never seem to be able to paint for them. Love your waterlilies!!
Your colors are fabulous! So is that shadow! I always scare away from such dark shadows thinking they will stand out more than what's casting it! Your shadow is what makes the frog stand out. You don't even notice the shadow at first because it should be there, just as it is! I would love some hints how you did the stipple effect. A technique or just patience and a small brush?
Nancie, you did a great job on this little Dendrobates Pumila. He's now happily perched on a ficus leaf over at WTTW Art. Thanks so much.
Thank you all for your kind comments, and that you James for a fun challenge. Paula, I know what you mean about the dark shadows. I'm always hesitant to put in any thing extreme (dark shadows or very bright highlights). But the few paintings I've done it on, boy they really make a difference! I have to learn to push past that mental block I have on the extremes! And there is no special technique for the stipple effect - just a small brush & some patience! Since it's not a large painting (only 9x12) the patience needed was not extreme! ;)
Wow, beautiful colors!! The shadow really does make it pop. Great job!
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