Inspiration for a Fun Piece

Just by getting out and painting everyday, I have broken through the block I was feeling a couple of weeks ago. I produced two nice realistic pieces, one loose, quick figure study and continued into a more abstract creation yesterday. My inspiration for this piece was a green, one pint berry box and 11 pound of blueberries my husband and I picked on Saturday.

 

I started with a white shape, and pulled out a couple of collage sources.

 

Next I started a background, keeping in mind the round shapes of the blueberries.

 

I continued to add color and more circles to the background.

 

Then I added the basket and berries.

 

Here's the piece with color added by the mouth atomizer.

 

Now the collage pieces have been glued on.

 

Red, White, and Blueberries 14 x 21

Just before leaving the studio tonight, I taped on a few pieces of black paper. I would use black acrylic paint to make permanent marks. Now I have to decide whether I like the additional black or will I leave it with only the reds and blues. I'll sleep on it and take a second look tomorrow morning.

Am I Done?

As with the painting "Sisters," this picture of the two Italian ladies continues to be fine-tuned.

 

After cleverly changing the hand using the flip/mirror image trick, it was obvious that the hand was misplaced. Her arm was awkwardly elongated. Yesterday I scrubbed it out, to replace it closer in on the figure's lap.

 

I also removed some of her right shoulder that was too angular and broad. I also scrubbed out some of the back to add back in some variety I'd lost with the many washes. I also let some warm color wash down through the bottom part of the painting.

So is it done now?

 

From Tight to Loose

Yesterday I once again joined my friend La Vonne to work on another painting from Italy. You've seen it before, but I took it to La Vonne's for her expert critique. Although I felt it was done, she was able to help me improve it in one large way and several small.

Here is "Sisters" before.

 

The large improvement was to wash down the street to get rid of the "connectors" I had added and lightening the street in the distance and to the left. I did a bit more of a wash in areas and then redid the splatter, ending up with a much better street.

I also curved the skirts, blouses, pants and nun's wimple, changing the rather straight, stagnant shapes.

 

I also worked on softening the edge of the shadow to light on the left, reshaped the plants, and finally added the touch of color several folks mentioned a lack of by adding a red logo patch to the backpack and red trip to the nun's bag.

 

And here is the result--I consider this painting a job well done!

 

Sisters 18 x 21

So after finishing this rather tight, realistic painting in my studio, I took off on a different approach to a figure painting--loose and juicy. This is my interpretation of Liz, poet/gardener--done in one afternoon.

 

Liz 21 x 18

"Sisters"--The Painting Process

In June I traveled to Italy with a group of family members, including 2 nieces. Of course, I have many photos, but I was drawn to an idea based on several photos I took in Ovieto. My long-legged American nieces were walking along the same street with some short and stout Italian nuns. All were dressed in white and black, so the theme of "Sisters" was irresistible.

Since I am working in a more realistic style for awhile as a way to ease into my more abstract work, these Italian photos are perfect inspiration.

Here is the drawing of the concept--two pairs of "sisters" in a shadowed street, with sun bleached buildings on the left, providing contrast potential.

 

I began the painting with an under painting of all areas that will be in the shade.

 

The next step was painting all the darker areas, including the figures skin tones--warm tans for the nieces, cooler protected skin for the nuns.

 

At this point, I have added some details, darkened areas, but have left the figures blank.

 

After putting several washes on the street, I have a very buckled paper, so I wet it down on the back and stapled it down on a board.

 

The painting is almost done at this point, but I've waited to put a pattern on the backpack and bag the nun is carrying. I want something to tie them together and add a modern feel against the old Italian background.

 

You'll see I stuck with the black and white. After adding the zebra print for a whimsical element, I had to go back to other areas to add more dark and readjust so that the zebra print didn't "stick out" too much.

 

Sisters 18 x 21

I'd love to hear your thoughts about the painting--critiques are always welcome.

Staying With A Painting

This painting is based on a photo I took in Italy earlier this summer. I was fairly happy with the figures, but I felt the background was presenting the same problem I have regularly with figure paintings--it just doesn't do anything to support the figures.

 

Queen Bee and Friend, 17 x 17 (before)

Last week I took it to my friend La Vonne's open studio, hoping to get some help with it. She is a great "fixer" and does wonderful backgrounds. She noticed several minor problems with the figures, and I worked on those. She showed me a nifty trick of using the shape of one hand to create the other hand with the mirror image. I copied the left hand onto a piece of clear plastic and then flipped it to create the figure's right hand. The background got layers of washes, pushing it further and further back. The lines I'd created to show the marble blocks mostly disappear (a good thing). Now the painting is clearly about the women and their conversation. What do you think about the improvements?

 

Queen Bee and Friend, 17 x 17 (after)

The working title is "Queen Bee and Friend." I'd love some suggestions. Something Italian, perhaps?