A Pretty Kitty

The chili ristra was initially washed in with a thin mix of Alizarin Crimson + Liquin. Now I come back, with opaque oils, to paint the peppers. The corner of a medium Bright (square) brush is used to sculpt the individual chilis with lots of thick texture. If you’ll enlarge the picture by clicking on the image you can see this better.

The little kitty casts a shadow on the back of the bench. Looks like “Bat Cat” is here!

Our pretty baby lounges comfortably, basking in the warm sunshine. A fine liner brush is used to add the details.

As the steps go back, ascending the hill, the risers are made bluer or cooler. Those closer to the foreground are warmer following the simple rule: Warm Colors Come Forward, Cool Colors Go Back.

Next the tops of the steps are made. When painting steps the flat surface is lighter because the light from above illuminates the top directly. Less light hits the upright riser or side of the step; therefore it’s darker.

Several of my readers have asked, “When do you sign your paintings?” I always do my Cadmium Red Light Signature when the area it’s going to be placed is painted, even though the piece may not be finished. Working wet-into-wet allows me to easily make the lines of the calligraphy smooth. I brace my left hand on the easel, resting my right on it to give a steady support as I sign with a fine liner brush.

Shadows are cast by the Salvia and Agave on the adobe wall to the right of the steps. I have to put them in before the plants are there, we’ll do the planting in our next session. Hope you’ll come watch. HUGS,

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