I was having trouble with the tones. It finally dawned on me that a brown bag is a mid-tone, a "5" on a 1 to 10 scale, 1 being white and 10 black. I was making some of my bags too light. So I drew a bag on a bag, that way the mid-tones would be right--nothing could be lighter than that. I scissored it out and glued it into my book. As you can see it looks bad. Way too dark. The actual, living bag under the light has--here's my "Aha Moment"--has tones lighter than the actual "5" of the bag. Rather than a white highlight on a red tomato--easy to see that changing of body tone--the dull paper had a whole side as a dimmer highlight. Hard to see. I see them now.
I tried again, this time in watercolor, pushing up the tones for the lit side. This one looks better to me.
your top bag here is amazing! when i first looked at it i said, "that's a very impressive paper bag" but then i started looking closer to see why. it's unexpected. the tones aren't at all what i would have thought! i think i'm finally starting to see what you're jabbering on about with these tones. i'm inspiried to try something in color! ...i don't know that i'll actually TRY it yet, but the inspiritation is definitely there.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate the fact that a daughter can compliment you and yet still accuse you of "jabbering" in the same post....Nicely done Ellie! But i agree ellie, the top bag is amazing...in fact all of your recent posts have inspired me to try harder and be better. you have a way of capturing the "good stuff" of any subject matter.
ReplyDeletethanks for that.