Yesterday I went to the local botanical garden, Smudge on leash, Fuji X100V in hand. Smudge is really good about stopping and sitting and waiting for me as we take a sniffy walk around for her and a looky-lou walk for me. It is a stop and start proposition.
As any photographer know, dappled light is hell to try to catch, especially if there are flowers under the foliage, a bit of wind, and so on. The cameras just cannot do it justice and our eyes see more than the camera in many instances, digital or film. But, I was determined to find something to both photograph and then paint.
I doctored it a bit in post as I wanted fairly strong contrast and warm / cool balance. This one pleased me. It is right at the gateway to the botanical garden and the path zooms off uphill, which we see ahead and to the right, and downhill, which is behind me. I always enjoy this section as I can choose my adventure.
I tried to keep this painting fairly close to both the values and perspective of the photo, but as always what I see and want is not necessarily what I paint. My sense of depth is not good and I often find it happens when I paint. I know a few tricks, but that is not always something I “get” – oh, well. Nonetheless, I rather like the dappled light I did get even if the end of the path ahead is rather wonky.
This took me a bit of time to do, and I did it in my sketchbook. Sort of a “serious” study, but because it was a sketchbook and I did it at my desk I didn’t take it too seriously. Cramped and messy space to work in but it did work out fairly well. I wonder if this ability to work in limited areas, such as my desk rather than my drafting table, will also help when I decide to go plein aire . . . .
Ink, Yarn & Beer 