OCTOBER 18, 2016

In this project, we had to find a leaf that we thought had an interesting design, and then cut it into either a square or a rectangle. Then, after making sure that they were covered with tape and attached to a piece of paper, we had to make a macro painting of them.

To start off with, I sketched out the important lines: namely, the border and the veins. After that was done, I started to go over it with watered down acrylic paint, since I thought that it would be easier to achieve the desired texture and blending. I began with the yellow-orange side, first painting over it with a lighter shade of yellow and then layering it until it was about the color that I wanted. After that I skipped over to the right side; this side went fairly easy, since I left my paint a bit thicker for this color, and thus it was quicker to fill the white space. I decided to go for texture that was sort of reminiscent of shingles on this side, and I think that it worked out. Once the basic colors for both sides were completed, I started on the details: adding some black to the yellow side, dotting it with some black, and then going in and adding the line to the veins as a finishing touch.

I like the way that this came out, for the most part. I was trying to achieve some unique textures for both sides, and I think that I sort of accomplished that; I like the way that it looks, at any rate. Furthermore, I think that I got some nice colors out of this project—I like the red and the yellow, and I like that it looks rather fall-ish. My favorite part of this piece would have to be the veins, though; I like that it came out looking vaguely like something that Dr. Seuss would draw, and I think that it works as a uniting component for both sides of the piece.