Rebecca Nipper

Here is the preliminary sketch for what will become Crimson Wings.  The October EVP theme.

Almost done with the painting.  So  I will have that up for you soon.

Here are the first three WIP pics of Adrift.  I am really liking where this painting is going and it has been coming to life easily and exactly as I pictured it.  Enjoy.

Here is the drawing up on the board.  With Mr. Booboo holding it up for the photo.  He is such a good helper.

Here is the most recent WIP pic.  I am almost there.  I have some more detailing work do do, shadowing and shading,  and his shirt left. 

Here are a few more WIP's of Midnight Masquerade.  I was able to complete the background and the tree, lamp and bench.  I am really having fun with this one.  I am also really liking taking the WIP photos.  I love to see the progression of my work.  It helps me to better understand my methods when I am able to step back and reevaluate them later.

After much contemplating, sketching, erasing, re-sketching, starting over I finally got the initial drawing for my August  EVP painting where I wanted it.  Friday evening when it started to come together I said I am not going to bed until this is ready to be transferred to the watercolor paper in the morning.  Well 2 cups of coffee and 3 am later I was finally happy with the drawing. Saturday it took me a few hours to get the transfer made and put it on the paper.  Got her all outlined and then penciled in the cobblestone road that I was planning on doing.  Little did I know that the cobblestone road would later almost be the death of me.  Just before I started to get set up to paint I decided that I wanted to take Work in Progress (WIP) pics along the way.  I thought that it would be interesting to see how one of my paintings develop along the way.  Here is the initial drawing on the board ready to go. 

What would soon happen is I would spend another night with several cups of coffee and six hours of working on the cobblestones.  Holy Crap.  By the time I was done I had a major back ache and a love/hate relationship with that cobblestone. 

First I laid in a layer of grout.

Then when to work on the stones.  Decided the grout wasn't dark enough so I went back over it a second time to give it more depth.

I must admit that I love the way  the cobblestones turned out.  I cant wait to see how the rest of the painting turns out.  I still haven't decided on a lot of aspects.  At this point I do not know what color I will be making the Lady's clothing or mask.  I have a vague idea about the man.  I guess that will be a surprise for all of us. 

I also learned some the very valuable about WIP photos.  The photo changes you perspective.  You will see things in the photo that you will not necessarily looking at the painting.  Especially one that you have been staring at for six hours.  I guess this shouldn't have come as such a surprise to me.  But at 2 am a lot will surprise you.  I think from now on I am going to try to take WIPs. I say try because who is to say I might not get carried away and forget to take them.