Wednesday, 25 September 2013

Day 25 - Wading in the Shallows

                                          Acrylic on board 15cm x 15cm (6" x 6")

I thoroughly enjoyed myself with this painting. I have never painted figures before in acrylics but after today I think I will be trying them more often. I used a photo I took of my daughters about 6 years ago while holidaying at a fishing village north of Perth. I seem to recall having to bribe them with chocolate to do this photo shoot. The photo of the painting hasn't come out too great. It is a little more obvious when viewing the painting that they are wading through water rather than sand! See reference photo below.


I was thrilled to finally paint from this photo as it has been on my "to do" list since taking the photo all those years ago. When I decided to do the challenge it was one of the first things I put on my list but today was the day I felt most inspired to tackle it.


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17 comments:

  1. Lynette Smith25 September 2013 at 08:22

    This is BEAUTIFUL!!! and has a lot of meaning for you, i'm sure :)

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    1. Wendy Barrett27 September 2013 at 05:35


      Thanks so much Lynette! Yes it is a very special image to me.

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  2. art by Michael Perchard25 September 2013 at 08:47

    Wow! Wow! Wow!
    Okay now Wendy! This wonderful painting could be the best of your best! I don't like having favorites but this one could be my favorite of your great art!
    Keep on painting figures! Fantastic! Powerful! Beautiful!
    Everything about this work is on target! The subject, of course, is excellent. Having the two girls walk into the ocean one ahead of the other! Great! Not enough space here or time to write the so many wondrous sights and skills in this work. So Bravo my art buddy!
    So keep on painting anything and everything! Work furiously!
    I will get back to the other fine works ASAP. Hard to keep up with you!
    Cobbers rock!
    Michael (All the way from the USA!)

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    1. Wendy Barrett27 September 2013 at 05:44

      Hi Michael, Thank you for the rave reviews - I'm lapping them up!
      I certainly felt in the zone while painting this one which I took as a clear message that I should pursue this type of painting further. I guess the fact that my daughters were the subjects made it an extra joy to paint.I hope to paint a larger version of it down the track so this one will pave the way for making it easier.
      Thank you for the encouragement my American art buddy!

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  3. Unknown25 September 2013 at 09:25

    wow! wow! wow! WOWZA!!!! This is a cracker Wendy! You must definately do figures again, you are so good at it...just look how you have loosened up throughout this challenge...this is fantastic!

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    1. Wendy Barrett27 September 2013 at 05:47

      Thanks so much Sally! I haven't had a Wowza before so I feel very honoured by such high praise! I'm so pleased that you thought it worked so well! I've really enjoyed keeping up with your blog!

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  4. Kaethe Bealer25 September 2013 at 09:48

    I love this Wendy! It takes me back, way back. You did an excellent job with the shoreline water.

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    1. Wendy Barrett27 September 2013 at 05:48

      Thanks so much Kaethe! I'm intrigued to know how exactly it has taken you back? To your own childhood?

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  5. Anonymous25 September 2013 at 10:07

    So wonderful. Wendy!! I really LOVE this one! What a nice idea to make a painting of your daughters. I find it very good how you painted their hair, clothes and their body postures. I hope they were happy with the painting too! :)

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    1. Wendy Barrett27 September 2013 at 05:51

      Thank you for your very kind words Hilje! Yes they were both very pleased with the results which was nice. I am very pleased to have finally painted this scene after having intended to do so for so long now.
      I hope you are enjoying your latest painting!

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  6. Celia Blanco25 September 2013 at 10:27

    Wendy, I love this painting! Amazing work!! All this on 6x6 too! The hair, the figures, the light, the composition-everything just falls into place. By the way, they do look like they are wading in water. I particularly like the little splashy details near the feet.

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    1. Wendy Barrett27 September 2013 at 05:55

      Thanks so much Celia. I'm glad it looks like water rather than sand! I think the hair is one of my favourite bits in the painting. It was so much fun capturing the shine and the fly away nature of it. I think their hair flying in the salty breeze is what creates most of the painting's ambience.

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  7. Nancy Goldman25 September 2013 at 21:22

    It's amazing that these are your first painted figures. They are wonderful. And what a nice remembrance for you.

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    1. Wendy Barrett27 September 2013 at 05:59

      Thanks so much Nancy! I realised afterwards - when I wasn't so tired - that I had actually painted a few figures before in acrylics(see the following day's post). I have also painted a lot of cartoon figures in my watercolour illustrated children's books but of course they are quite different to working realistically in acrylics. But I did get quite a bit of practice through them with capturing shine on hair.

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  8. Jane25 September 2013 at 23:22

    The painting is awesome , perfectly copied, everything is just perfect ! Figure painting seems to come very east to you !

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    1. Wendy Barrett27 September 2013 at 06:02

      Thanks so much Jane! I don't know about easy but certainly very enjoyable!! I'm glad you liked it so much! I am about to visit your lovely blog in a moment!

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  9. Karen Johnston Daily Paintings28 September 2013 at 15:16

    Excellent Wendy!! Figures are hard but you have mastered them really well!!

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