Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Finishing "One Sunday Morning"

On my way out to the studio today, I had to stop and smell the roses. As lovely as this looks, without the fragrance, you really cannot appreciate how wonderful this rose is.

For those of you who know me well, or have followed my blog for awhile, you know this is the fence covered with my deceased sister's climbing roses. As I went by today I had to say again, " Thank you Mary Jo!"

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When I entered the studio, here is the painting as I'd left it a week ago.

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One Sunday Morning, 10 x 14 inches

Several of you out there had sent me suggestions about where to go from here. Some ideas I followed, others I ignored. But the first thing I did was get rid of the plant.

I had originally included it for two reasons: it added to the creation of an interior space and it was there in the photo. (Just because something is in a photo is the WORST reason to include it in a painting!)

 
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After the plant was gone, I could really see that it did not add to the story. So I moved on to other improvements. I had to reclaim the exterior horizon. I also lightened the floor to the right side, and lifted some paint from the table legs to keep the negative space of the table legs which I really liked.

 
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As I looked at the painting, I was very happy with the really strong design elements, but felt the colors were too harmonious, making the painting dead. So I picked cad orange to add pizazz. It is scary to start adding an accent color, but I just kept telling myself that I was the artist and that I needed to follow my own instincts.

 
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I then put it in a mat--always a good way to look at a piece near it's finished point--and smiled.

 
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One Sunday Morning, 10 x 14 inches

What do you think?

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

I think getting rid of the plant was a great idea. The dark leg of the chair that Mike is sitting on is riding high...too much contrast between the leg of the chair and the negative space. What do you think?

It seems to me that all your darks are on the left. Is that what you want? I like the composition of this painting.



Linda

Anonymous said...

Good changes!....Removing the plant really worked...isn't gouache wonderful. lv

Margaret Plumb said...

I like this painting, and as far as Anonymous' comment about the darks--perhaps you could darken under the table, but I think it works well-- very poignant moment.