People on Canada Day
Posted: July 1, 2019 Filed under: Uncategorized 25 CommentsHappy Canada Day! The weather is perfect for plein air painting and since I had an errand to run in the same neighbourhood, I was back in Carré St. Louis today, painting the famous kiosk.
I’ve been trying to incorporate more people in my work, and the hardest thing, I find, is to not overwork them. I try to make them look like they fit into the scene. When I might previously have avoided this, I also included the guy sleeping on the bench. He’s part of the scene, after all, and part of what makes the park interesting. Although the Victorian houses surrounding the park are very beautiful and very expensive, there are a fair number of homeless people who sleep on the benches and on the grass, and on hot days cool off in the fountain too.
My aim when adding people is to draw the shapes to scale, to paint them simply without going over the details again and again, and then to avoid touching them again. When they’re not successful it’s because I went back into them too often with a small brush. When they work, it’s because I haven’t added more paint than in any other part of the painting.
Shari Blaukopf's Sketchbook 
Superb dear Shari!
xx
K
•••Karimobile
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Merci Karim!
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I love this painting. It’s so alive with light and life!! And, thanks for the reminders about painting people into scenes — sooooooo true!!!
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Thanks Denise!
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Really gorgeous!
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Thanks so much Susan!
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Very, very nice. and interesting. I love a painting when my eyes keep looking around and it is hard to stop looking at it. Thanks for the advice about painting people.
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Thanks so much Judy.
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À succès! Beautiful and with peuple it makes your sketch more alive. I love it!!!
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Merci Nicole!
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Comme si on y était! Tes personnages sont vraiment bien réussis. Je note: Ne pas revenir sur le croquis en essayant de rajouter des détails, les laisser grossièrement dessinés.
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Merci Jean-Pierre! I’m glad I gave you a few ideas for sketching people.
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One of my favorite places! Feels 10 degrees cooler under the trees, although I know that this year Montreal is craving warmth! Hope the rest of your summer stays warm! I’ll be there in early August with my 11 yr old granddaughter. Can’t wait to show her my hometown!
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Helen, one of my favourite places too. I always like a place that has shade, so parks are very convenient. Have a wonderful time in August with your granddaughter. Does she draw? I’m sure she’ll be thrilled to see Montreal with you!
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Happy Canada Day to you too! I’m from Calgary. Love your work.
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Thanks so much Jackie!
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What is the size of this lovely painting ?
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HI Barry, The size of this lovely painting is 14” x 10”. Painted on Winsor Newton watercolour paper.
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So good Shari! The instant message I get is kiosk in dappled shade, then the seated figures tell me it’s open and on looking closer the figure on the bench tells me how the haves and have nots use the same space in such different ways, often oblivious of each other. And just love how you draw my eye right inside the doorway! And all because you had an errand to run ….
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Tony, I have reread your comment several times. You have no idea how much this means to me. Much gratitude.
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Bravo, Shari! I love the way the guy sleeping on the bench leads the eye into the scene!
Amelia
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Thanks so much Amelia!
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I agree the guy on the bench seems to set the scene and the mood of a lazy summer day.
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Thanks for reminding me about going over things in a painting. A hard habit to break. But you have the ability to get the color right the first shot. Something I must learn. I’ve ordered your book, actually two of them, one to give to a friend.
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Good Evening dear friend Shari,
A very beautiful and pleasant scene.
Very well drawn. I love all your works.
Regards and blessings
Uma
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