I have never been able to understand my artistic moods...one day I can paint so easily the brush flies across the canvas the next it is a struggle from beginning to end and then....at the end...nothing to show for it. The last two paintings went that way for me.So since I believe in sharing my good ones (well, I think they are good....art is subjective you know!) and also sharing my failures.....here are two paintings from this past week.
The one at the top flew out of the brush in about 14 hours...pretty fast for me.. it is an 18x24 and done pretty much alla prima...which is what I like to do the most. The one below is the itty bitty failure....in all honesty I do not know what happened....except that I was not particularly excited about the subject. I do love flowers and don't even mind painting them. I used to really hate painting them...to me they were always more fun to grow, smell and admire. I had a mentor (Barbara Courtney) that absolutely loved painting them and did an excellent job too! But alas for me I had to learn to love painting them.
I picked the daffodils in the morning and thought I had an image in my head of how they would turn out...but...it was not to meant to be. On the other hand The Barn in Soft Spring Light came out almost exactly the way I had pictured it. I must say though that the image here never looks as good as the real thing! The barn is down in Pineville next to a friends (Marilyn Carnell) home...I took pictures of it a couple of years ago when I was living in Pineville and teaching my classes. She was nice enough to invite us out for a day of photos and if I remember correctly we also painted that day....my memory is vague some days!
Today I begin working on the paintings I have been keeping secret. I hope they work! They really aren't so different...it is mostly just the subject matter and some paint application. We will see....
Until another day,
Theresa
Daffodils 8x10 oil
35 comments:
Hi Theresa,
The funny thing is that I think both of these paintings succeed. What's so fascinating is that the top, complicated work flew off your brush, and it is totally amazing, and the bottom potentially much simpler work, drove you crazy. I love both.
Your are great
xoxoxoxBarbara
Hi Theresa,
Sorry rushing -- that should read "you're great." and you are!!!!
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxBarbara
Yes, I agree Theresa is great.
I am amazed the Barn came to be effortlessly and I think you're too hard on yourself with the daffodils.
I'm am reassured that wonderfully talented painters like you have moments I get more often than I want. Thank you for being so candid and sharing that with us. hugs!
Theresa, I like them both. The barn is wonderful, light and free, like a spring day. It looks effortless and I love the light you have on it! Bravo!
Maybe you were in a different frame of mind when you painted the daffodils, they don't seem as free and light, but the contrasts between the thick paint and the spots of canvas showing through, speak for themselves. I would welcome either painting in my home!
They are right of course. Most will not look at the flower painting as a failure. Myself included. But I know when one of my paintings has not measured up to the success I wanted for it and I also know when I've lost interest and the painting suffers. Case in point is the half done painting in my blog a couple of weeks ago. I like the daffodils but I totally relate to that sinking, waste of time feeling when a painting goes renegade.It'll go away when you knock out another that is effortless and conforms to your way of thinking. It's just the way we are when we're passionate about what we're doin. Yeah? :)
Eldon
Oh can I relate to what you posted! My impression of your first painting was WOW! Gorgeous color!
My very first impression of your second painting - daffodils - was that is so "Schmid" (as in Richard) it is lovely Theresa :) and I love the lost & found edges!
'resa, 'resa, 'resa. What are we to do with you? one 'bad' one every now and then? Remember the days most painters have when you only got one out of every 10? I sure do!
Problem is we have higher expectations these days and are tougher on 'us'.
As it should be.
I love your work, I grew up in Columbia Mo. This looks like Mo. in the spring.
Love the Born in Soft Spring Light and the flowers. Don't know what your mood was during painting but it should have cheered up at the finish.
I think they're both superb! The barn is beautiful. Gorgeous, harmonious color. But I love the freshness of the daffs. They're such tough flowers to paint, and you've nailed them. I love the shadowed ones sitting behind. Lovely!
Liz
Theresa- I'm guessing your readers are amazed to know you have what you consider to be personal letdowns in your work.
Maybe we're not even fit to judge ourselves.
Since we're not automatons, we can't be expected to turn out assembly line products and surely don't want to.
Your work is superb and the ones that don't meet our own standards are our lessons.
Your humble candor is a delight to this often struggling compadre.
I really GET the soft spring feel of the light. How great it would be to see the real thing. The photo does a lot, however, to capture it. Well done!
I love them both! Your style shows through in both ! Very loveley! If only my "bad" paintings came out this good!!
Your barn in stunning! Great composition and light. It looks just like spring time. Beautiful!
Your daffodils really aren't bad. Trust me, they are much better than I am capable of (I haven't painted any flowers yet). I do see a difference when I compare them to your other still lifes but, to me this looks like a nice study and studies are a necessary part of what we do.
veruy nice paintings!! i´ve gave you an award but i see you already have it...!!! is the passion for painting award. anyway i think your blog and your work is really good!!
Awesome rendering with feeling. "Barn in Soft Spring Light" really sums up that you got the mood you were going for. The mellow yellow sky casts an interesting quality of light to the painting.
Thanks for checking out my blog.
Thank you Barbara for always being so supportive!! I know I can be way to hard on myself....but I have a standard I must prove to myself. I will say the daffodils are okay...:)
Barbara...No....you're great!!
Thank you Sheila ...I 'll take the hugs...your are a dear.
Carol...you hit the nail on the head!! I had a lot on my mind that day...but thought I could whip out a little painting with out too much struggle...wrong..! I need a clear mind and an open ended day to work...with no distractions!! Thank you so much for your continuing support!!
Yes, Eldon...exactly! Your the man!!
Teresa...just mentioning me in the same sentence as the great one (Schmid) makes me feel better!!! I have admired his lost edges and bravura style for many years now! Thank you for your wonderful comment!
Yes Miss Vicki you are sooo right...I do remember when there were more turkeys than good ones...Thank you for reminding me!
Steve no kidding, Columbia....! Then you know what I mean about the light ....thank you for the conformation...and by the way I joined your blog and love your work!
Thank you on painting...I am definitely cheery now...:)
Liz you are right they are a difficult flower to paint! I just thought they were going t be so easy!! I am glad you like my work and most thankful for your comments!
Bonnie...you are a compadre and your struggles are my struggles! I am glad you can see the candor in what I have to say. I just speak my mind and paint. You are more than qualified to judge any piece of mine!
Thank you for being there...:)
Thank you so much Lynn the real thing was breathtaking!!
Thank you Lauren and I am glad to see that cohesive style is beginning to bloom...something I am trying to work on..!
Thank you Kim!! I am pleased with the barn also...thank goodness for the successes, eh?...I am also thankful for the failures...I know what not to do the next time...I see some things I like and WILL remember to add the next time...and just wielding the brush is a necessary activity to keep from getting rusty...it is...as we know part of the painting life!! By the way ...I cannot believe you have never painted a flower!!
Thank you Benjamin for your wonderful comment and the award...I received it back also from another painter here. I am happy you are enjoying my work and writings!
Cathyann thank you...I am happy that you see so many good things in my work! I am going to go right now and check out your daffodils!!
You are welcome Jill...I like to see what other artists are up to!! Thank you so much for your wonderful comment on the Spring barn!
I'm with you when you say sometimes things just come easily and other times they are a struggle onlt to be left with something your not quite happy with. I love the barn painting. As for the flowers, your work is so very good that you have created a very high standard for yourself I think that while the painting is still very nice to look at I can understand you not being absolutely pleased with it. It does work for me though.
I have not been too keen on flower subjects either and usually do not photograph them much, but I think that I would enjoy most anything that came off your brush . . .
Gary...thank you...your for the heartfelt and genuine comment. I can't express how much I appreciate it and you..
Post a Comment