Watercolor on Arches 140 lb cold press paper 8×10″
To enlarge, click image, select All Sizes
I was determined to try again with the marbles. I just wasn’t happy with the previous version that I painted when I was way too tired. I’m not satisfied with this one either, and will try again for the fresh transparency I’m wanting to capture.
Marbles present an interesting challenge — they’re glass, reflective, transparent and round. And it’s even more challenging when a big cat named Busby insists on sitting with his chin on top of the cigar box (covered by a paper towel) on which the marbles are perched. He kept bumping them off or blocking the light, making the reflections from the window keep changing.
I’m not sure if he’s attracted to the little halogen lamp I use on still life set ups that gets nice and warm, or just to annoying me. I finally put a sketchbook between the box and the cat so that he could at least rest his head on something of mine while keeping his distance from the marbles.
On the other hand, this gives me an idea. Next time I want to draw him I’ll set up a still life and then ignore it and capture him instead while he’s actually holding still for a minute. (He actually holds still much of the day, snoozing on a blanket in the closet but it’s too dark in there to draw.)
Jana Bouc, Artist 
20 replies on “Marbles Again”
OH JANA! These absolutely GLOW! The shine and reflections are perfect!!!
I tried my hand at marbles tonight … can’t compare to yours … I just love what you’ve done here!
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Oh i do like these much better…especially the clear one…its just lovely…and i am a big fan of that green the others are…the yellowy green…cant live without that color!
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Wonderful painting! The reflections are great! I like these a lot. We have at least 100 marbles rolling around the house (my hubby plays marbles every evening with our kids) and I just didn’t feel like taking on such a challenge! I opted for something else that was round – and like you said, less reflective, transparent, etc. I’m glad you, however, persisted with your marbles – and I hope you think they are as wonderful as I do!
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These are luminious! Beautiful colors and highlights. Love the marble series.
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These marbles are fantastic. Great job Jana!!
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Lovely!
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WOWEE, these marbles are fabulous and stunning.
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wow. these are really good. they do look like real marbles and are waaaay better than the last. there is something about the shadow which distracts me from the marbles too much. i wonder what it is?
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Thanks for all the nice comments. I agree ksklein…I think it’s the line around the shadow or the shadow’s too definite shape. I’m not quite sure but I had the same reaction.
Jana
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WOW, Jana, you’ve done a magnificent job the second time around…..well done indeed! š
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Great, especially the ‘simple’ blue marble – I agree these are quite a challenge and maybe I will give them a try – you always inspire me.
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You are so good at rendering transparency, Jana. The blue marble is an absolute masterpiece.
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Jana, you are right. The shadows look much more like a shape than a shade. But I just noticed that the shadow of the marble in the back really looks good and a lot softer.
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Boy you have chosen to bite off a big one here Jana.
Doing very nicely I might add. Keep experimenting and you will train your eyes to see the clarity. Just don’t forget that they too are round and all of the spherical rules apply on top of the transparency. Very very difficult subject.
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Now these are definately shiny, definately translucent and definately round – they just jumped out of the screen – really lovely
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Funny you should be posting about cats and marbles. My beloved cat (sadly long gone) was named Marbles. š
You definitely caught the glassiness this time – these are fabulous! I understand and admire your need to keep trying until you have something you’re completely happy with, though.
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These marbles are jsut glorious…you really got down their transparencies, the colors of the big ons is stunning..and yes, although I liked you previous painting of them, these just have that little edge that makes them clearer and more defined in their transparency. I am anxious to see the next one…it is like little series you’re presenting to us!
Ronell
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I had to laugh over your cat because mine does the same thing. I think they do like the heat from the light.
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absolutely LOVE these. i can’t believe the difference in transparency between these and the previous ones. great job!!!
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This reminds me of when I tried to paint bubbles being blown by a child. The bubbles were so difficult. I took photos of bubbles that I blew and also tried some photos from Google images. Marbles might be even harder, especially cat’s eye marbles. Keep painting them.
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