September 25, 2011

Painting day 5: Refinement

Taking a good long look at the painting at this point...  
Is it telling a story yet?  
Is it hard for me to take my eyes away from it because I like looking at it so much?  

These are hard questions to answer honestly to yourself.  It is both an intellectual answer and intuitive answer.  In other words does the composition flow, are the shapes working together, and does the composition and color order of the painting transport me to an emotional place that is without words?


Examining the organization of color and shape on right side of the painting...



Adding a yellow line to bring balance and changing the color of the diagonal shape at the bottom right...



 These changes were not the answer!  Instead, I extended the line of the 
large dark shape down to the bottom of the painting and lightened the value, 
making it more substantial to hold the top strength of the painting. 

More refinement.  
Something does not feel right about the junctures on the right, though there is strength in it's new compositional simplicity. So after more looking, and getting another trusted pair of eyes to look, I extend the blue vertical line beyond the shape with the darkest value in the middle of the painting. The line is more diagonal, creating stronger tension within the composition, stretching your eye to look at both sides of the painting.  
It "works" in a way now that "feels" right.  


Reflection time.  
Is it "there" yet?
I will know in a while...

September 16, 2011

Painting day 4: balancing act

There are subtle differences in these versions of the painting. I am in the midst of 
balancing colors and shapes to achieve something in the painting I have yet to see.  
I will know what that "something" is when I see it...

The colors on the top and bottom are too separate...


Adding red into the dark value horizontal shape is just not quite right...


Experimenting with lessening the yellow horizontal and toning down the red/brown area in the middle...


Bringing back the yellow a bit and warming up the dark area...

Still not "there"! It's a twisty path I'm on...
It is interesting for me to look at the progress of the painting in photographs as I go. 
A practice I have initiated for this blog.  The colors and values are quite different in photo form. 
So the question is: do I paint according to what my eye sees in person or in image? 

It is an image world we live in and the blend of virtual and tangible 
has broadened the spectrum of reality.

My goal is to hit the mark in the middle here...

September 13, 2011

Painting Day 3: Immersed in the Journey

This is the "heart" of making the painting.  It is an alternating process of constructing 
and destructing paint surfaces and shapes, moving towards a whole that is complete.


Building a composition foundation...


Adding a light value...

Glazing all over with a white glaze to lighten the values...


Applying clear color glazes on top of the white glaze...


Adjusting light, color, value, shape...


Time for the question: "what do I want this painting to be about?"  
It now has a life of its own, separate from the initial thoughts driving the color choices and 
composition.  My stool is placed squarely in front of the painting, waiting for me to sit and think...

You'll see the results of today's work tomorrow!



September 11, 2011

Painting Day 2: going beyond reckless abandonment


The temptation is to stay in the "pretty color" realm...
but the texture of many layers of paint creates luminous color that is far more satisfying 
when I push beyond the first few seductive layers...





So the painting goes into its adolescent growing pain stage...



color is less important at this stage than creating a composition...


I had a break through with the composition at the end of my last work day.
At least that's what I thought... when I left the studio.  

You'll get to see it in the next blog post.

stay tuned!


September 8, 2011

Painting Day 1: Reckless abandonment

Unfolding the unknown.... 


random marks of yellow, pink, blue to start...


adding purple and prussian blue, then pulling away these colors to reveal what's underneath... 


turned upside down, light blue and orange came next...


turned around again with a glaze of quinocrodone red on top of the whole piece...





continuing the journey...


September 6, 2011

The Blank Canvas

So today is "the first day back to school"!  

The memories of starting a new school year whether it was in grade school or high school, or taking my daughter to her first day of kindergarten or her first year of college, bring a mixed feeling of excitement and angst for the unknown to unfold and become known.  

So in honor of new starts this time of year, I am starting a new painting today.  It is a 40" x 60" wood panel.  I am staring at the BLANK WHITE waiting for me... 

It's like standing at the edge of a swimming pool. Some people check the temperature first and sit on the edge for a while dipping their toes, letting the water surround them little by little. 

I like to just jump in...
What do you usually do?


I invite you to check back and see what happens after I jump in!