First, let me say that it is hard to shoot cobalt blue hue. It looks different in every light. This can be said for any color, but I have found that cobalt blue hue is especially tough. It is hard to capture a satisfying, representational photo. What I have begun doing is capturing photos with both indoor and outdoor lighting. When it comes to most of my paintings, the photos taken in overcast outdoor light are almost always more true to color than anything else. But with cobalt blue hue, the reverse is true. However, both of the photos below are very representational of the environments in which they were taken. I worked hard for that.
Second, I will let you in on a secret. When I completed Through a Rose, I was happy and satisfied with the results. I was also concerned because I had used a lot of colored pencil. After some nervous thought, I decided to finish the piece off with a matte medium spray. I had reservations about this—you just cannot be sure if the finish is going to really deepen the color of the painting in a vibrant way, or just flat out darken the painting. As it turned out, this time the technique really darkened the rose and astronaut. I was upset. I began to research whether I could work on top of the particular finish I was using. Then I let the painting set for days and tried to convince myself that it was fine. I was worried that I would make it worse if I went back in. Last night, I decided to chance it. The result has been wonderful. The vibrant colors of the rose and astronaut have been restored. The image pops the way I intended. I am relieved and overjoyed about this.
Through a Rose, 2022, outdoor light
Through a Rose, 2022, indoor light
