Week Four--Antalya Antiquity

This photo is the inspiration for the painting I just finished today. I was visiting a friend this summer and she was showing me photos of their trip to Turkey. When I saw this photo, I was really haunted and awed by the face, the fact that this beautiful artifact was just left lying on the ground, and the weight of the centuries that had gone by as it lay there. My friend gave me the photo and I knew it would become part of my collage/left white series.

 

The first step is finding a compelling diagonal shape, then surrounding it with layers of painted shapes.

 

Next, I protect some of the white before using the mouth atomizer to add a hint of color to some of the white.

 

Then I bring out the sculpture with paint.

 

After the painting is done, I choose collage pieces to enhance the colors, shapes and spaces. The collage is done with pieces of my failed paintings and rice paper I've painted.

 

The last step is putting pure black in some areas to add drama. Then I look for places to add some line work. Here is the final product.

 

Antalya Antiquity 15 x 21

Revising Italian Market

On Friday, my critique group had a lot to say about this painting. I got high praise for the figures, but the background was not helping tell the story.

 

This figure was crowned "the star" of the painting.

 

So today I scrubbed the dickens out of the painting.

 

I painted eggplants to add continuity to the colors, added purple throughout the fruit, and repainted the background to create a setting that wouldn't fight for attention with the lower part of the painting which is where the story is. The male figure's shirt was given a bit of color, and the beige shirt on woman #2 got added detail. It may still need more color to make it less prominent.

 

January 2010 Before and After

Yesterday I attended my critique group with a number of paintings, hoping for some good advice about improving each to enter upcoming competitions.

I'm asking you readers for some good titles for a few of these.

So here is the before of Lookout Creek (working title). I apologize for the change of color--it's the photo and computer, not the entire painting.

 

It was suggested to keep the flow of the white branches to the edges of the painting. Also, I reworked the lower part of the stream with a new rock and a smaller flow of water to the right because the divided streams were to much the same. I put a wash over the right-hand corner to keep the eye from zipping right out the corner.

 

"Lookout Creek" is the working title, and the location, but do you have a great idea for a title?

I'm entering this landscape into The Living River juried art exhibit. Also, I will enter this next one.

 

The working title is "Take Off" but I'm open to a more interesting title.

The next piece is the "Cherry Blossom" abstract.

 

The changes I made on this painting were to add a few dark details to the blossoms to break up the white and a couple of new pieces of collage added to the upper left corner because the black shape was too symetrical.

 

I am entering this to the Watercolor Society of Oregon upcoming competition. Since it is going with "Orchid Eruption" it needs a much more dynamic title than "Cherry Blossoms." Any ideas?

Finally, the most painful revision of all. I succumbed to the many comments (not specifically from my critique group) that this painting had too much white, or that the painting would be stronger if the figures were given a clearer spotlight. I did a very light wash over the ends of the white horizontal band across the painting. Not a lot of change, but it certainly made me nervous. "Caribbean Cornrows II" will be going with "Sound Bites" (the sailor collage) to the Northwest Watercolor Society competition.

 

 

I'll be looking forward to some great titles. I'll keep you posted on what paintings get into show and which do not. Wish me luck!

Week Three-Italy

If you've been checking in each week, you know I started a new painting with a sketch last Friday. I added some pigment on Monday, continued to paint on Tuesday, went to town on Wednesday, and finished the painting today.

Of course, a painting is never really done until you frame it or take it out of a frame and rework it, then frame it again or. . .you get the idea.

I will take it to my critique group tomorrow and will report back with their suggestions/comments. In the meantime, here is the progress Monday-Thursday.

 

 

 

 

And as I walk in from the studio this sunset graced the sky.

 

Week Two-Weak Painting

When making my "a painting a week" goal, I didn't foresee a week of the painting time put in with the results being a big disappointment. It's silly that I didn't think of that possibility because I certainly have my fair share of failed paintings.

Anyway, that is what happened last week. I spent time daily out in the studio, but by Thursday, I had a watercolor collage that was very frustrating to me. It had potential along the way, but it fell apart on Thursday. I ended up with a painting that looked like 2 paintings. The top and bottom did not go together. I looked at it during the morning studio cleaning, but ultimately decided to put it in a drawer and start with a new concept.

I spent quite a bit of time looking through my photos of Italy and chose to combine 3 photos to create one painting. It has two women placed in front of a produce stand, with a man looking at the women. I ended up with a good drawing at the end of the week and a bad painting in the drawer.

Mike and I took off for Vancouver Friday afternoon to celebrate our granddaughter's birthday. Angelica actually turns 8 today, but the party was on Saturday.

 

Opening presents.

 

Angelica's friend from Springfield was a surprise party attendant.

 

Noah loved wearing his pirate patch and growling arrrr.

 

The eye-patch was a favorite favor--here's Marin.

 

Nothing ends a birthday party like a good tickle.

 

Followed by a nap.

 

And here's the birthday girl enjoying some of her gifts (a computer game) the day after the party.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch ...

I got a start on that good drawing.

 

Stay tuned for Week Three.