That Fancy Peacock

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Ta-da! Here he is in all of his crazy colorful splendor. I wanted to paint a peacock, not an entire peacock, just this much, and I wanted it to be artistic. I think I did a good job in thinking through the composition and drawing from many source photos, but what I had in mind for the final piece is not exactly what I got. But I still like it, and other people like it so that's cool.
What I was imagining was something much more loose than I usually paint, that kind of deconstructed as it faded into the top left corner especially. Since I have been such a tight painter and don't really know how to loosen out that much, I think that what I got was a good stepping stone. I wanted the body of the bird to be perfectly realistic, which it is, but among all of those feathers it doesn't stand out quite as much as I had hoped. He ended up with more eyes than is realistic, but it is an artistic representation, so it's all good. Definitely not something to toss out. The colors are very bright, lots of orange and blue streaks mixed in with the bright green in the feathers which was fun (not sure how much of that you can see in the photo). It is definitely a Whabam piece, I'll give it that. It would be an amazing pop of color in someone's home or office. What do you think?

This piece is for sale! 22x28 oil on canvas $450.00 contact juliamillerartist@gmail.com

Gibraltar

This is a 6x6 painting, oil on canvas, of a Betta fish named Gibraltar. These fish are so gorgeous, so I took some photos of this one and did a little painting. :)   For the background, I wanted to do something more abstract with water type movement. I started at the top and got something I really liked with a couple circles and swirls.... but then.... I wiped most of the background off at least six times. Hah. BUT! I finally got out onto canvas what was in my head :D  I had to darken around the edges, and I finally succeeded in getting some depth....it was so much fun. It was one of those nights when I stayed up late painting after work, because that's when it came to me.
I really really like this painting and I was so pleased with myself for actually doing something more abstract like. I want to do more backgrounds like this, and now I have proved to myself that I can do it. Now I need to make a series......

Roses painted from life

So I finally got the book Alla Prima by Richard Schmid and read it over the past few weeks. I have really loved learning more about painting this year, and I can see myself growing and becoming more confident. I still have so much to learn and master, but at least I'm not afraid to try :)  If you are serious about painting, READ THIS BOOK! He paints completely from life, almost always in one sitting, which is the best way to paint. I don't think I will always be able to paint from life, but I definitely need much more experience from painting from life. Sooo.... Yesterday, I picked some knockout roses from our garden and set up a little box and a light in my studio and started painting on an 8x10 canvas. I had actually picked some other smaller roses to compliment, but they have so many petals etc that when I got to them I said phooey and got a couple more knockouts and painted them solely instead. It was a good decision. They are really pretty easy to paint I think ;) The harder part for me was today when I had to paint the leaves and the background. I'm still not amazing at that.. but I think it turned out ok. The roses themselves are still my favorite part :)
So here it is!

I did notice that I painted differently this time, partly because of my studying and partly because I painted from life with a smaller amount of time (5 hours yesterday and 3 1/2 today). I am becoming more lose and confident..... that I am learning and progressing....and I'm quite enjoying it :) 

In other news, I'm getting stuff ready to start going to art festivals! Purty exciting stuff right there, lots to do to get ready.... Got a tent, got most of the wall/hanging stuff, starting the process of getting prints made etc. All lots of money up front, but I so hope that I can sell paintings! I'll post an update about that soon. I'm going to be doing as many paintings as I can pop out, and I want to do some things other than flowers also, something interesting...still haven't come up with a good idea yet, but look for it! haha. 

"Cherry Blossom Puff" For Sale!

"Cherry Blossom Puff"

 Oil on canvas 8x10

FOR SALE $250 FRAMED $185 UNFRAMED

I will post pictures of it framed soon, it will be a super nice frame. 

Don't forget to click on the picture for better viewing!

Rhododendrons Final

Here it is! "Rhododendrons" is finished and is For Sale!
14x14 oil on canvas

For inquiries email juliawichmanartist@gmail.com
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