Sprouted Sweet Pea 2

Sprouted Sweet Pea 2

Oil Pastel On Steel Siding With Wood Mount

17 9/16 x 12 7/8 x 1 3/8"
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Even though I've been working steadily, it feels like it has been forever since I have produced a finished product. I've had several paintings on the brink of completion for months. Here is the first one that managed to make it through the finished stage. I love the composition of this sweet pea. It was really fun to watch this particular seed sprout, grow and then photograph and paint it. Pallet wood was used for the back and exterior edges of the mount and lath board from our ceiling for the interior "matte". 

I photograph the finished paintings in my studio using the natural light that streams in from the east windows with an extra window each on the north and south sides. I usually do the photography after the sun has risen above the house so that it is not shining in a straight line through the east windows, and most often I try to do it on a day when it is moderately cloudy so the light is not so direct from the source. I try to diffuse the light as best as I can under my working conditions. The lighting usually emphasizes the texture of the steel siding nicely, but distracts a little from the image. Even though I find this frustrating when trying to take a photograph, it's one thing I actually like about using recycled materials for my substrate. The look of the painting changes a little throughout the day with the change in light direction. Hopefully I will get a polarizing filter soon and that will help a little with the distracting highlights that I can't seem to even out.

*UPDATE*

I got a new polarizing filter for Christmas and I changed the location of my photography set up. I had been photographing the paintings upright on an easel-like set up and was mostly unsatisfied with the results. I couldn't get rid of the glare no matter what I tried. I realized that they were small enough to photograph flat on the ground using a copy stand-like set up. I am far more satisfied with the results for this. It has been easier to soften the natural light and reduce the glare. The polarizing filter has also helped in producing better color. 

With the painting laying flat on the floor I can rotate it and still emphasize the texture of the substrate without compromising the reduced glare.