6" x 8", oil on linen.Some days they just don't roll off of the conveyor belt quite so easily, do they? This little piece took me days to paint, of course not due to its complexity...and I was reminded of how much our mental state and our focus affects our work.
During the workshop David spoke of this focus in terms of our energy, and how naturally it will wax and wane over the course of a painting. So what to do when we hit that "painting wall"? I asked him, and he suggested moving on to a new painting, or moving to a part of the painting that requires less of us (perhaps the background) in order to regain our momentum. Or maybe, go home and begin anew the next day.
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14 comments:
WOW Karen !!!
Cobalt is your thang...
maybe apricots too...
It was worth the struggle.
ooooh...what a beautiful contrast! cobalt blue jar to apricot and then those little green dot, dot, dot that say"focus in" and of course you can't go farther with the chiaroscurro enveloping you! Nice!
Karen, this is really beautiful. And I love the cobalt blue jar. Looks to me like you got way past that "painting wall"...great for you and us. :)
Beautifully composed Karen, and love these dark backgrounds which seem to have lurking shadows. Hitting the painting wall? Good advice from Leffel. I guess if you paint everyday, you know where you want to be even if it is against a wall. r.
David has so much wisdom. I think I like the idea of going to a easier part of the painting.
This is another wonderfully thought out painting. It's not ove-worked. And it doesn't show any of the struggle you expressed in your blog. I particularly envy the treatment of the leaves.
So now what's your favorite subject matter, city-scapes or still lifes?
Beautiful painting and I love the blue and orange. I agree, so much of painting is mental. Just like everything else in life!
I think what Leffel's saying is to get your mind off of what's right in front of you. Let your subconscious work on finding the answers. Doesn't hurt to help it find the answers over a pitcher of margaritas, either.
Lovely use of compliments, Karen. The glass is very nice. -W
Ha! That's funny Jill...I do like the cobalt.
Loriann, glad you like the dot, dot, dot...that's a funny way to put it, and right on. I've been told to be obvious with things like this (look here, not here, etc.)
Kathleen, thanks, yes, it took a bit to get over that wall (too bad they're always around!). I always think of you now when I paint glass and cobalt glass.
Hi Rahina, that's so well put...that it's good to know where we want to be, even if we're against the wall at that particular moment. oh yeah, and to just keep painting!
Hi Susan, agreed, David does have a lot of wisdom. I liked that idea of going to an easier part a lot too, so we're not stopping, just relaxing a bit. I just left you a comment about how much I loved the leaves you just posted. These are your leaves that I borrowed a long long time ago.
cityscapes when I'm painting cityscapes, still-lifes when I'm painting still lifes. :)
So true Leslie, the mental part of it applies to everything! So did you feel any sort of lull after your marathon of boats?
Hi William, Agreed!! I like the margaritas idea best of all! But it is hard to let our (my) subconscious take over...I guess it goes against my obsessive nature (also could benefit from a margarita [or 4]). :)
Is that a pic from Hawaii? lucky...
I'm glad you persevered with this piece Karen! The jar is most striking against the oranges. And you really got the sculpted feel of the eucalyptus branch. Well done!
Oh, my gosh! I am so happy to find this site. Your paintings are amazing. Great work.
Quite stunning, Karen! This is so dramatic and confidently painted. You DO have a gift for blue jars and you are mastering composition too.
Chocolate. Lots of dark chocolate...maybe a cup of green tea. Oh, and a walk-away for a bit to get a little distance--then look with fresh eyes. Yes, agreed.
Hi Deborah, thank you, I'm glad I stuck it out too...sometimes they seem like more work than they should.
Hi Joan, Welcome, and thank you! I look forward to your feedback!
Hi Melinda, thanks so much. I have been working on the composition thing so much lately! Sometimes it clicks, sometimes, no. Finally I think I'm understanding the idea of grouping more.
I will get very very heavy with all that chocolate...
You are the blue-jar master.
Ha!Jala that's awesome, and encouragement enough to keep on adding to my growing blue-jar collection!
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