From the sketchbook

[IronPawn]

Hello again folks... after a while. Recently, I've been trying to change a style from more controlled brushstroke to little bit more relaxed and had this idea in my head but just couldn't do it while working on painting, so I'll post a progress from the sketchbook from time to time until you get bored with it

This little sketches were done on watercolor paper, the heaviest I could get - then primed with gesso and finally painted alla prima from life. Painting from life is a real treat and I started enjoying this because it is simple, quick and maybe takes me faster to where I intended to be when it comes to original idea. Practice, practice, practice. Size is between 5" and maybe 8" in general and I prefer somewhat square format, maybe slightly longer on one side.

Today, I'll put them in chronological order to see if there is any changes since I didn't really have time to look at them next to each other, so this will be convenient. First couple of them that I tested were just awful and since there is nothing to see but mud and some strange shapes - I will be more then happy to omit them .

'Till next time - have a good one! All the best.

Zoran



Pears

Garlic

Strawberries 1

Strawberries 2

Fennel

Fennel and onions

 

[snoball]

Quite a different style for you but very, very effective. I love them and the light you've put in with such a few strokes.

 

[Enyaw]

Very enjoyable Zoran.
The XL Acrylic and Oil pads are wonderful for oil. No need to gesso and they hold up real well.

 

[Donna T]

Thanks so much for sharing these, Zoran, it’s interesting to see how your backgrounds developed as you went along. I like that you laid different colored strokes next to each other and left them. They are all beautiful but I love the fennel with its one defiant stroke of blue paint!

 

[ams]

I like how these came out. It looks like they were fun to do too.

 

[Enyaw]

Had to come back and look again on my pc this time instead of my ipad. Absolutely exquisite stuff. When I grow up I want to paint like you.

 

[IronPawn]

Thank you @snoball , much appreciated - you are always so kind! Yeah... trying to see something different in simple objects before I move to something more complex. Fingers crossed!
Hey Wayne @Enyaw , hope all is well... will try that paper XL - didn't even cross my mind. Thank you for your kind comments! Ha ha, I wish we can go in reverse now at this age, right?
Hey Donna @Donna T , thank you so much... the idea was to lay them down as a mosaic, more of a "impressionist meets pixels" with realism joining the party Fennel is my favorite as well, so far, with single blue stroke as pure esthetics that somehow fills the void.
Hello Anne @ams , thank you very much... yes, way too much fun, although it seems that I've spent more time in prep and cleaning then actually painting . Nevertheless, love doing this small paintings.

Thanks again guys, hope all is well and wish you all the best!

Zoran

 

[IronPawn]

Just finished this morning another one...

Plums and lemon

 

[Enyaw]

Wow. Viewed from a distance these are more real than realism. Super technique. Best of the crew.

 

[snoball]

Yes! Amazing how much detail there appears to be, yet it isn't really there! Tone does all the work and color gets the credit.

 

[Donna T]

Gorgeous! The lost and found edges are so beautifully done and I love the effect of the “pixelated” background. These latest of yours remind me of the work of one of my favorites, Jon Redmond.

 

[Artyczar]

These are AMAZING!!!! I am in awe! I love this style, but they are still YOU!

 

[IronPawn]

Thank you Wayne @Enyaw , sno @snoball , Donna @Donna T and Ayin @Artyczar - you guys are being too kind!

Donna, just looked up at Jon Redmond - great staff, but unfortunately I am not there yet... thank you for a compliment!

 

[Jo Castillo]

These are scrumptious. Both in the artsy way and the edible way. All are beautifully done. Applause.

 

[IronPawn]

Thank you Jo @Jo Castillo for you kind comment, much appreciated!

Hope everyone else is doing fine and thanks again for your comments...

Today I made another little sketch with some lemons in a same manner as above... and bellow you'll see where I used them as value study with values 3, 5 and 7 (Munsell value scale) to see if I am drifting away too much from drawing and value seeing in the old way (sorry for the glare, can't help it). For the value study I used old bristle filbert and to my surprise, there was no too much blending, although it looks like I was blending it like crazy; basically, it was just laying stroke after stroke next to each other and just smoothing transitions. It went really fast and it was a good exercise. There are some other sketches that I was experimenting on, but it didn't turn out the way I wanted them (mixing some glazes, etc) - so, I'll post only these.

Until next time, have a good one!

Zoran

 

[Enyaw]

Well done. The lemons have nice volume and colour due to your values.

 

[Triduana]

These are awesome! Plase keep them coming. I love those big brush strokes.

 

[Donna T]

Beautiful work, Zoran! The limited values in the monochromatic study work so well! Thank you for mentioning that only a little blending was needed - I would have thought you had to do lots more.

 

[Terri]

These are all beautifully done, Zoran. Dramatic yet understated in style. Pure eye candy!

Keep 'em coming!

 

[Jo Castillo]

Oh my, so lovely. I like the stroke application.