Saturday, February 27, 2010

"Painting is so damn hard, that if it weren't for the occasional win, it would kill us."


Summer Dreams...Sold


Snow On Jenkins Creek....Sold


Scaling Eggs...Sold



Approaching Storm II....Sold


Well, as usual I am constantly playing catchup! Again I find myself with less and less time for writing...but spend a lot of time thinking about it. My thought process generally run along art...I visualize constantly...painting a picture in my head, considering the effects of light....color and edges...which brings me to MY big problem for this year.
Every year I paint, I consider certain key aspects of painting...in the beginning it was drawing, composition, color, handling paint, subject matter, mass, photo or life..each subject taking a self-imposed year of consideration....then how to paint from a photo and make it look like it was from life. Then I started painting a whole lot more from life....that took care of the photo issue....pretty much. I still use photos...but I don't like to.
Then came marketing...that took up a whole lot of time! The time I spent marketing has definitely helped....In the last two months I have painted three paintings...all sold and the few remaining from last year have sold also! I still feel weak in so many areas. That really is okay....since this is a constant learning process....and I will be learning for years to come..hopefully!
This year...it's edges...more and more I find my edges unsatisfactory...sometimes I like them...most of the time I am weak in that area. So this year I am going to concentrate more on edges...any advice from people out there is more than welcome. I find lifting the brush at the end of a stroke works well....painting wet into wet and also using a paper towel to scumble the edges...also a value change at the edges also works in many cases. At any rate...I still work at getting better....constantly!
Things have also been selling well....thanks to the marketing time I guess....I actually have a collector that has a "Theresa Rankin Room"...now that is an honor!! Here are some pieces that sold recently and the step by step I promised a month ago which got waylayed while I was sick and finishing a commission!
One can never know how grateful I am to have people actually buy my work!! I will continue to work hard...through the daily "stuff"...the hard times.....the emotional ups and downs..and the dreaded blocks! In the case of blocks I highly recommend Terry Miura's post and all the replies...well worth reading....we are not alone!!!!


The Start......Approaching Storm III



Some more work


Ugh....readjusting the composition (took out the foreground shrubs)


Adjusting yet again....Took out a hay bale....What do you think?....input please!

I will be heading to Los Angeles in the next week....so I may not post until I get back!!
Thank you, everyone who has joined up and who has commented....it really tickles me..I learn much from the other bloggers...every single one of you!!
Whole Lot of Shakin' Goin' On,
Theresa

12 comments:

Gary Keimig said...

Theresa, Like all us artists I think we are so hard on ourselves. I think you are doing marvelous work. I clicked on each of the last few paintings you have posted and they are simply great.
God bless and keep it up.

Unknown said...

Well it does my heart good when an artist I adore and admire has similar doubts about her fantastic work. Good decision on moving the hale bale. This is a gorgeous, bucolic scene.

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Theresa,

Your work is so beautiful, and I always appreciate your writing. Marketing is the part I really need to learn more about, and I am. I admire all that you do.

Have a great time in Los Angeles. I love visiting my relatives there.

Take care,

xoxoxoxoBarbara

Unknown said...

wunderschön, toll gemacht.


Viele Grüße Werner

Celeste Bergin said...

All these paintings are exceptional. Your hay bales look just right to me! I'll be watching to see what you do next.

TSL said...

Therea - congratulations! I love the work that sold, and I am so happy for you. I remember when you painted Summer Dreams and remember telling you so! Keep in touch, continued goodness your way. Tina

James Parker said...

Actually, Theresa, I liked the middle pic..with the center hay bale a bit to the right...the bottom seems to have a void in the middle. But what do I know...as a typical guy, I would've probably stuck an old pick-up in there :-)
You know Theresa, your work is approaching what I consider the quality of a modern day master...I would love to see a 5 page spread on your work in Artists Magazine one day soon. It would be deserving.

Diane Hoeptner said...

Theresa, the hayfield painting is wonderful. I so appreciate seeing your process. My favorite part of this painting is how the field seems to be glowing against everything else... it really does capture that before-a-storm feeling.

Sadia said...

Theresa your "Summer Dream " is gorgeous! Beautiful folds and very delicately done!
Great work!!

liz wiltzen said...

Really love the composition and mood in "Summer Dreams". So many of these pieces are wonderful, I'm sure you will master edges in short order!

One thing I find really useful for "losing" them is to create a similar value and color at an edge, for example, a shoulder of a white shirt with a white background behind that area so there is no edge. Can be really effective if done well.

Your work is great!

Marian Fortunati said...

All I can say is that all of your work is lovely..

Edges is certainly a key ingredient in all of the skills one has to master, but your work just seems so right already!!

Jennifer McChristian said...

Gorgeous paintings all around. Thanks for sharing your painting process!