Grape Watercolor Painting Completed by Deborah Boyet Artist

Wild Grapes I

12 x 16 Watercolor

Original and Giclee' (edition 150)

Original & Giclee'

Original $300.00 Giclee' $55.00

I have added some green to a few of the grapes, deepened some shadows and added a strong magenta in some of the grapes shadows to add vibrancy. I painted over two of the large stems and finished the details on the others. The grapes breaking the border were completed with less vibrancy, and detail, yet they add a nice balance to the border breaks.

This kind of painting looks wonderful with a mat and frame. The right mats will bring out the color and enhance the areas that break the borders.

Please visit my website, my blog, and my AIG and DPIAG galleries for other available works.

There is a definite change in the weather. The days are growing shorter, and one of my favorite seasons is fast approaching. I love the feel of the nip in the early air and the warmth the sun brings in the afternoons. The leaves begin to change and fall, and the birds in my yard are quick to eat up the seed. I leave in a week for New England for my annual Maine, Vermont, and New Hampshire trip my husband plans for us. I am so excited, and hope I catch the peak of the leaves, and that they are beautiful this year. I will start looking tonight at the foliage forecasts and keep my fingers crossed. Being a photography buff, I have gotten some of the most beautiful shots in that corner of the U.S. I have so much to look forward to and be thankful for. As always thanks for stopping by and enjoy your journey, my friend!

Work In Progress - Use of Figure 8's in Design by Deborah Boyet Artist

Ready for Picking!

Work In Progress

12 x 16Watercolor on Arches Art Board

I have added a lot to the grapes in terms of depth and layers, and they are close to completion. I filled in the lower right corner to balance values on the left side of the painting, and to keep it from drawing too much attention away from the grapes. I will need to complete the stems and grape details and will likely fill in the stem on the lower right of the painting. Right now it is very distracting. The completed painting will be one for my series I am submitting for license.

I like to break the borders in my paintings. It adds interest, and is a great way to lead a viewer into a painting. However, if you are not careful, it can also lead a viewers eye right out of the painting. To prevent this, I keep the border breaks lower in contrast values, and often use figure 8's in my design to keep the viewer moving through the piece. In a copy of the image below I have put in the general figure 8's to show how they make movement. Go back to the one without the figure 8's and see if you can now see the movement and how it helps keep your eye from leaving the painting. The grapes on the right are incomplete and will stay that way until I finish the main painting. I will then complete them. I want to be able to keep them balanced and slightly less attractive, again to keep them from being too much of the focus of the painting. If the contrast is too high, they will become the center of attention. I will also need to add some sort of path from the main grapes to the ones in the border break on the right.

Design is so important in a painting. I don't always succeed in getting it right, and quite frankly, I often break the rules if it feels right, but it is a very important piece of planning, and remains a focus while I paint.

Figure 8 examples

There are three sets of figure 8's in this painting. Many more can be found and used, and it is easy with grapes to visualize this. As the painting continues to develop, I plan on using a cruciform or X as my main design pattern. This will be accomplished with the darker greens in the leaf/background area. I have not decided yet where I will cross the grapes.

I work slightly different in that I have a general plan, but also look for alternate ideas as the painting develops. Being flexible with my plan helps me get through difficult passages, and allows me to easily change my course.

Please stop by my website, my blog, my AIG or DPIAG galleries to view other works for sale, or to check out my use of design.

Please email me with any inquiries or questions.

Thanks for stopping by.

This is "World's Best Friends Week" so take time to stop and give your friends a hug, or if they are far away, then a virtual hug and a kind word will do!

"A friend is one of the nicest things you can have, and one of the best things you can be." ~Douglas Pagels

Arches Watercolor Art Board by Deborah Boyet Artist

Grapes Watercolor Painting Work in Progress

on Arches Watercolor Board

I have found a new love! Watercolor Art boards. I am using Arches Coldpress board.

Here is a link with an interesting article about the boards on the Artists Network (The Artists Magazine, Pastel Journal, and Watercolor Artist). artistsnetwork.com Here is the link for information by the board manufacturer

I use a good quality two sided tape to secure the middle of the board to a painting board, and then tape the edges down as well with packing tape, or artists tape. Using the two sided tape down the middle prevents the center from starting to bow up.

I have always disliked stretching my watercolor paper. When I decide on a design, I don't want to wait for stretched paper to dry. Now, I simply draw my design, tape the board, and start painting.

It is slightly different than regular watercolor paper, but I enjoy how the board handles.