Paris is such a special place that even a cafe is a great subject to paint. Grab your cafe latte and join me.
As always, I will give five chances to win this original digital painting for free. See below.
Since my last Paris painting was liked so much. I decided to paint a cafe in Paris to see if it was the subject or my art. I had a few reference photos that I had taken while I was in Paris. I can still remember the sketch book that I had bought that day. Somehow I lost it on the way home.
As always I start with drawing to get the subject the way I want it for the composition and the contrast. This takes time but is very important for me to get it right or the whole thing will get out of place. Old habits die hard. I know many newer painters do it without an under painting or sketch. But for me it is a must have. I redrew this a few times until it was right.
I now lay my dark and lights down and add a slight dark brown that I smudge into the under painting. Always blending one color into the others.
I start refining the edges and the color pallet. I tried to remember the feeling I got while I was in Paris. This helps me get in the location so I can hopefully give that feeling to the viewer. I hope this worked in this painting.
Now let me say something about composition. Since the main subject is the candle lights, we need to have a few stopping points for the eye to follow. Or the eye will wander around the painting. Not knowing where to land. So lets lead the eye to the chairs, then to the window, and lastly to the green plant. A full circle back to the lights again. Let your painting flow. I start thinking of colors more now.
