Sunday, July 21, 2013

Virtual Paintout 8: Vevie Goes to Charleston!


This hot month of July Vevie and the Virtual Paintout gang went to Charleston, South Carolina, USA! What a history this picturesque southern city has. As I "traveled" the city via Google Street View, I was charmed by the horse-drawn carriges, lovely old columned homes, and the sense of history.

But it was this little modest home that caught my heart. The old yard swing, sitting there beckoning one to come, sit a spell, and share a mint julep. With it's lovely moss-laden tree with pink blooms, it sang out to be painted. (Click on any pics to enlarge; I kept most small so the page will load faster for you)



And as I listened to my music while searching, I knew I had found "my" spot when Annie's Song by John Denver started. Here are the words, and now you know how the title for my painting came to be... it just fit the picture:


Annie's Song
by John Denver

You fill up my senses
Like a night in a forest
Like the mountains in springtime
Like a walk in the rain
Like a storm in the desert
Like a sleepy blue ocean
You fill up my senses
Come fill me again

Come let me love you
Let me give my life to you
Let me drown in your laughter
Let me die in your arms
Let me lay down beside you
Let me always be with you
Come let me love you
Come love me again



John Denver was a senstive soul, and I invite you to listen to this touching song on youtube HERE. 

Now without further ado, the photos:


You've seen the original location above. 
Here is my Photoshop mock-up version:





Since the scene felt warm and inviting, 
I was in a Burnt Sienna mood 
for toning the canvas, plus 
a little Indian Yellow glow:





The drawing, with values painted:





Blocked in the sky first:






Blocked in the first of the greens 
and started cloud play:





Continuing with layers, textures and, 
oh yes, Vevie wanted to sit on the 
swing instead of on the grass, 
as originally planned!





                            And here it is, drying on the easel:





Some fun close-up details:











"Come, Let Me Love You"

Main Street 
Charleston, SC USA
9 x 12 acrylics
on wrapped canvas



As always, thank you to Bill Guffey, our leader of the Virtual Paintout gang, for all the hard work you do to keep this train chuggin along!




Vevie (rhymes with Stevie), 
my Virtual Paintout muse


Happy painting,

Retta


6 comments:

  1. Hi Loretta! Oh, I love Annie's Song. I've sang and played it MANY times (probably a few hundred times) on the guitar. I love your little whimsical touches to your paintings. This picture would not be as lovely without the kitty.

    :-) Marion

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    1. Thank you, Marion. It's fun (and challenging at times) to think of ways to include Vevie in each scene every month.

      I played Annie's Song many times while painting this one. It is so moving. I didn't remember reading on your blog that you played guitar! I did, too, til my hands gave out. But I still am so fond of the sound of acoustic guitar. :-)

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  2. Love, love, LOVE! (I always loved John Denver, too!)

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    1. Thank you, Margaret, I'm glad you enjoy it!

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  3. Love this! I really need to play with photoshop and do this too for planning! In particular, I love the way the tree in front came out!

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    1. Hi Kyra,
      This is the first year I've started adding Photoshop "thumbnails", instead of all pencil and quick color thumbnails. Both have their advantages, but Photoshop is certainly faster for this type of image, taken from the Google street views, since you aren't starting from scratch, but have a pre-set scene we are supposed to work from.

      As you see, I started with a different cloud formation, but wasn't satisfied, and went back and experimented until I liked the flow and shapes better. And I was able to see how the scene would look if I moved in the swing closer to the center, rather than too far off to the left, as in the original photo. Photoshop is very helpful in quickly trying out different composition ideas, and colors, etc.

      Thanks for stopping by, and I hope you do try it out with photoshop, it's fun!

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