CHROMA PAINT TRIAL - 9

Next I began adding some pink/magenta to the flowers on the napkin.

 All of the colors were deepened, and some of the stems and other dark areas were added to the tomatoes and leaves.

CHROMA PAINT TRIAL - 8

I applied yellow washes to the tomatoes and the leaves and flowers on the napkin.  Some greens were added to the leaves.

This layer was followed by some oranges and reds over the tomatoes and some darker washes over the tablecloth.

CHROMA PAINT TRIAL - 7

 For the next painting using the new Chroma paints, I chose an Ampersand cradled panel.

I drew this one onto newsprint the size of the panel (16x20) and then traced it onto the Ampersand.

I applied a wash of yellows and beiges using both the Free Flow and the Classic. 

CHROMA PAINT TRIAL - 6

Here is the finished painting.  I added some gold leaf to the vase.

Gardenia in Blue Vase, 30x22, Chroma Acrylic (Free Flow and Classic) on Arches 140# CP

I'm not unhappy with the final product, but would probably have been more careful with the gold leaf.  Putting that glue on is like putting on miskit, and you have to be very careful with the placement.  In fact, in hindsight, it would have been better just to have painted in the gold but, that's what experimenting is all about, isn't it?

I liked the products.  The only difference I thought I noticed was that the fluid paint dried out a bit quicker than the Golden and DaVinci fluid acrylics do, unless that was my imagination.  I should probably do a comparison to the G and DaV paints, but don't think that is really part of the paint trial.

CHROMA PAINT TRIAL - 5

More shadows were added and more color added to the gardenia.

Here is a close up of the gardenia with a second layer of color added . . . . . 

and here with even more color added . . . . . 

Then the background was added. 

CHROMA PAINT TRIAL - 4

Once the paint dried, I put tape around the edge of the vase and edge of the doily to protect them as I darkened the table area. 

 Some of the lace areas were darkened, as was the shadow area below the doily, and the creases of the doily were added.

The vase and shadows were darkened. 

CHROMA PAINT TRIAL - 3

Here is what the painting looked like when the first layer of paints had dried.

I then added some more of the reddish and blues to the flower and vase, and added the dark leaves.

A mix of browns and yellows was added to the doily and the table. 

Once the doily dried, I added browns in the lace areas. 

CHROMA PAINT TRIAL - 2

I began the paint trial by using the acrylics as I normally do, as though they are watercolor.

I created a simple still life from a gardenia in a beautiful blue and gold vase brought to me by one of my students using a doily that she had also given to me.  This was traced onto Arches 140# CP and taped to a board.

I miskited the areas of gold on the vase. 

Then I put out some "dots" of the fluid acrylics and one "blob" of the cobalt Classic, and I was ready to begin.

I added some colors of blues and reddish to the flower and down the vase, and then more of the blues in the shadow area. 

That was all I could do until the paper dried, so I sprayed some water on my paint and covered it with some cling wrap. 

CHROMA PAINT TRIAL

I was asked to participate in a paint trial for Chroma paints, way back in the winter.  Of course I said yes, thinking that it would be a great time to play and experiment, since not a lot was going on due to the horrible weather that so many of us experienced.

Well, there were delays galore for shipping due to that awful winter weather, so by the time the paints were delivered, I was busy.  But I finally got a chance to begin using the paints in late May.

Turns out that, even though I had requested only their Free Flow - liquid acrylics - they also sent me tons of their Chroma Classic paints.

Above are the paints and mediums they sent me - a full box!  The jars are their Classic, the small bottles on the right are the Free Flow and the 3 tubes on the left are Atelier Interactive - something like the Golden Open.

The next few blog posts will show the paintings that I have created so far.

A DAY AT THE HERB FARM

Yesterday Rhonda and I went to Stream Cliff Herb Farm for lunch.

If you are close to southeastern Indiana, this is a lovely place to go - very genteel, beautiful gardens and great food.

I used to go there several years ago and they have now added a winery (we didn't sample any, though!).

But we did have a beautiful and delicious lunch.  They always serve the food with an edible flower on the plate - except for Rhonda's.  Her flower fell off "en route" so I gave her my pansy!  Toward the end of our lunch a group of Red Hat Ladies came in!  This is definitely the place for "Ladies Who Lunch".

Very enjoyable day with a good friend.