Wednesday 2 December 2009

Shells by candlelight


It was such a wild stormy night over the weekend. The lights were flickering and we thought we might lose our electricity, one part of the village did last week. So I lit candles and put one next to me as I was drawing. I was only playing, seeing what the shells would look like on the brown tags.
I painted them in acrylic paint, which was a little thick and didn't spread too well on this "new" paper. So I just carried on, not seeing too well, paint not mixed too well and colour matching by candlelight. It gave me a sense of what it must have been like years ago, writing and drawing in the evening.
So three painted tags, I could improve them but decided to leave them, they are what they are....painted by candlelight. Press for close up.
Thank you for the lovely comments, it is so nice to read them.

9 comments:

Frances said...

Milly, I do like these tags. It's fun to experiment, and just see what happens.

How interesting to try painting by candlelight. While visiting museums, I have also let my mind wander and wonder how it was possible for some great painters and printmakers to have created all the work they did. Under what conditions.

Your shells are lovely, and I like the composition in the hinged box, too.

xo

Pondside said...

Good morning, Milly. I was online when your comment popped up - how nice for me!!
Your shells are beautiful - all your tags are.
I'm glad you enjoyed the show on BC. A lot of it was shot in this area - it really is one of the most beautiful places on this earth.

Acornmoon said...

I have often wondered how people coped without electricity, it must have been so gloomy working by candlelight.

I have been watching the news with despair, poor old Cumbria, what a horrid time you have had.

Your labels are beautiful, I have one sitting here in my studio.

Gwen Buchanan said...

Gorgeous.. If only I could paint that well by candlelight, I'd be mighty pleased... the colors are lovely...

we had 3 power outages last week too... some big winds went through...

sea-blue-sky & abstracts said...

That's what I call determined! The paintings are a real success and enhanced by the brown of the labels and look lovely displayed against the actual shells themselves. BFN. Lesley

Carolina said...

Hi Milly!
It's been (and still is) kind of hectic lately around here... now I have a little time for myself...
I love your candle-side seashells :) They couldn't be lovelier. And the way you've put the display, is brilliant, really eye-catching (have you ever worked as a window designer?)
Best regards,
Carolina

Lucille said...

I absolutely love those shell tags. I'm very fond of tags anyway!

kookaburra said...

Painting by candlelight!

I am very fond of Haitian tree snails & have a few of my own (not as many as you, though!). They remind me of ribbon candy.

Ruthie Redden said...

what unusual shells, i love the colours, the painted tags look wonderful. WE forget how lucky we are dont we having elevtricity at the flick of a switch.