Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Virtual Paintout 4: Vevie Goes to Lithuania!


This is my 4th painting excursion with the Virtual Paintout gang (HERE). For the month of March we took off for Lithuania, via Google Street View. What a beautiful country!

Here is the Street View that 
I picked for my inspiration 
(can click on any pics to enlarge):




I played with it in Photoshop, 
and came up with this mock-up:



Here is my finished painting:


"Moonlit Dreams Come True"
Vilnius, Lithuania
9 x 12 acrylics 
on wrapped canvas




And now as usual, the "making-of" pics...


I started with an Ultramarine 
Blue underpainting on my canvas. 
Yikes! That took some getting used to! 
Then sketched with a charcoal pencil.




Here I have started blocking in 
major areas with color, going 
from dark to light.




The picture continues around the edges.




And the left edge.



Put down the first cloud layers, 
and continued layers and 
detail below.




Added Vevie looking up at the 
moon, and finished the sky, 
stars, clouds and details.





A couple of close-ups:




And here again is
"Moonlit Dreams Come True"




In conclusion, I wanted to say how humbled I felt at the beginning of this month after reading up on Lithuania. Being my 4th time out with the Virtual Paintout gang, and I am realizing just how much of a geographical ignoramus I truly am!! 

Lithuania has such a rich history, and has been through so many hard times over the centuries. Yet they endure. 

As I "traveled" the countryside away from the big cities, I saw modest homes surrounded by beautiful vegetable and flower gardens. Clean and neat, lush and obviously well-tended. And not just utilitarian, but beautiful to look at. 

After reading their history, I have nothing but respect and admiration for the strong people of Lithuania!

Happy painting and virtual traveling,
Retta

26 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. Thank you so much, 700, I appreciate that.

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  2. I love how you are using Street View to make your own unique art! Yay Vevie!
    Since learning about Street View, and doing much 'virtual world touring', I feel as you do about being 'geographically challenged', but moreso 'culturally challenged'. I have learned so much and will continue to 'tour'. Wonderful what you are doing with your paintings. Very creative!

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    1. Hi Leslie,
      Yes, you are right. Learning about the various cultures has been fascinating to me, too. I feel so... provincial. I will most likely never get to physically go to all these fascinating places (being in a wheelchair makes it more unlikely for me) so I really appreciate getting to travel virtually.

      Thank you for your kind compliment!

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  3. i LOVE your paintings and how you see Street View . Congrats!

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    1. Thank you so much, Murilo. :-)

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  4. Anonymous12:01 AM

    οοο!!Ιncredible! I like it!!

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    1. Thank you, Damaskini, I appreciate that. And I got a real kick out of your painting of the birds nest high atop the telephone poles and wires, in Lithuania!

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  5. It's stunning, Loretta. Vevie sure gets around. :)

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    1. Thanks, Mary. Yes, her passport is well used. ;-)

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  6. Love the feeling of your painting and admire the creativity even more so after seeing the original scene. Your clouds have a very Thomas Hart Benton character to them.

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    1. Thank you, Artybecca. And I had to stop and remember Thomas Hart Benton... I've seen his work and admired it, and never thought about that until you pointed it out!

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  7. Anonymous5:11 AM

    Your painting has a very personal look and feels like the embrace of actual moonlight. Gorgeous!
    That ultramarine underpainting is inspired. Enjoyed the step-by-steps as well.
    Beautiful work.

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    1. What a wonderful comment to start the day off with... thank you so much! :-)

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  8. Wow! What beautiful work! I sat and looked up at those clouds for at least a good three minutes. They are captivating the way they wrap around the moon. I see why Vevie is looking at them. LOL!

    I am curious to know why you paint around the corners. (Of course, this is coming from a non-artistic folk.) Is it to make sure the edges are finished?

    Fantastic job!

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    1. Thank you, Karen!
      I painted this on gallery wrapped canvas, which has the staples hidden in back. When the sides are nicely finished, there is no need for a frame, unless one just wants one. So I just continue the image around to the sides, which I enjoy better than just a solid painted color. More fun this way, to me. :-)
      I'm getting excited... in a couple of days our new destination for the next Virtual Paintout will be announced. Vevie is curious to know where she will be going next! ;-)

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  9. This is beautiful! A beautiful work from a beautiful person. Way to let your soul shine through the paintbrush. I think this is my favorite Retta creation so far.

    I love the idea of traveling via Google and painting a scene you would otherwise never see.

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    1. Thank you SO much, TCA! What a beautiful comment. I think I will be smiling all day. :-)

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  10. Hi Loretta! You're quite magical!

    :-) Marion

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    1. Aw, thanks, Marion. That's sweet of you to say.

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  11. Loretta! I love how you show the process of the painting. Wonderful!

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    1. I'm glad you enjoyed seeing it, Debby. :-)

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  12. Hi Loretta! Thanks for post about my post!--super nice and I hope that it REALLY helps you. Thanks also for the wonderful comments on my blog. I haven't answered them all yet, but I think I will make a more detailed post about how I understand my eating issues from food journaling. You're right, I haven't really done that.

    One little thing I disagree with--I think that you DO have your answers, Loretta. I think they are all within you, you just have to find them. And when other people, like me, say something that resounds in you--it is because you are recognizing something *inside yourself* that you know to be true. :D

    :-) Marion

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    1. Thank you, Marion. Once again, you've given me something to think about! :-)

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  13. Hi Loretta! I want you to know that I've saved all of your blog comments on my email. For some reason, you are so heartwarming to me. Thanks for that. I've had such a rough time with demanding clients this week, that your spirit shines brightly over all the other stuff. You're just like that. I wish I could pop over to knock on your door and say Hi! :D

    :-) Marion

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    1. Aww, thank you, Marion. You made my day, truly!

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