Sunday, January 30, 2011

The Rest Of The Story.......


The previous blog dealt with the central image of a violinist for a suite of ten paintings requested by a collector.
In this blog I will put together the rest of the images. As I chose the pictures I had it in my mind that they should all face toward the center image.....as if he were the Soloist and the rest of the musicians were in the symphony. Here is were I had one problem....aside from just putting paint on canvas in a mature and direct way.
My client had requested certain instruments. So I looked through my file of what I had and traveled the internet for inspiration. I would say all of the paintings came out pretty much the way I wanted them to......except one. I had found a picture of a trumpet player. I really loved the image and could see it translated into paint immediately. There was only one thing wrong....he was facing the wrong way. What to do....I flipped the picture.....problem solved....right??? .......Nope...wrong! What happened was he ended up playing the trumpet in an impossible way because the instrument cannot be played that way....and I had completely painted it and thought it was fantastic (if I do say so myself)! As I brought it downstairs and out of the studio for Max and I to gaze upon and contemplate it's beauty.....Max, a trumpet player, noticed something. Yep....that's when I got the word....! Darn...darn...darn! What to do know? Only one thing....find another image and do it right!
I sent the image and an email to my client and explained what happened...in good conscience I couldn't let it out of the studio with it so wrong. My client emailed me back and said whatever I wanted to do was fine with him.....but he really like the painting anyway....felt it was very strong and I would have to agree. Well.....two weeks later after I had finished two more pieces for him......and what do you think happened? He still had to have the painting because he liked it so much! What's an artist to do??? Well....for me the truth never hurts, first of all. I did have another person interested in it...but explained the issue....and her son was a trumpet player also. So, of course she declined. In the long run...it all worked out. Everyone is happy!
Lesson learned......if you are going to work from photos.....check everything twice and beware.....there really is no substitute for painting from life. I have done my fair share and still do paint from life or studies from life for the most part. I just didn't think about how most musical instruments (I am aware of a few left-handed instruments...but not many) are only played one way. It won't happen again!!! I have added the rest of the images in the progression they were done below. Let me know your thoughts!


The first painting and the inspiration for the suite was sold several months ago. When I painted this I had not thought about a series.
My client was inspired to order several more paintings in a symphony series.


The second piece...a pianist.....One of my favorites.



The third....there must be a conductor! Hands....arrgh!
I need practice....so good to have someone who has faith in the fact that I will just get better!

I next decided to get the big one out of the way. This is a 16x20 the rest are all 8x10.
This makes the fourth piece.


The client was anxious for a classical guitarist....this may well be the best one!
This is number five. I believe I am getting better!!!

Before I got to this one I had to stop on the series and produce a few other pieces and some other plein air activities. I did a still life with a stuffed turkey....more on that turkey later!!
The client requested woodwinds...I chose the Bassoon...I just like the shape of it! This makes number six.


My client then asked for a trumpet player. This is the painting that was wrong.....but sold anyway! He should be reversed. Number seven.


This is the replacement for the backward trumpet...also sold. I like it!!! Learning a lot!
Number eight.


Tuning the Timpani....number nine.

One left the harpist...she is giving me fits......:)
See you later,
Theresa

12 comments:

SharonWrightArtist said...

Fantastic series, strong powerful images, I like them a lot.

Theresa Rankin said...

Thank you so much, Sharon!!! I surely appreciate the support!

Barbara Muir said...

Wow! Wow! Wow! You are such a good painter, and have so much energy.
I am dazzled. Lucky client. And such a saga. Painters are brave people. There is no question about it.

Bravo!

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoBarbara

Marian Fortunati said...

These are absolutely wonderful paintings. So uniquely beautiful, but wonderful together too.

Dianne Mize said...

I love this story, and oddly, I love your backwards trumpet player. Sometimes it's the oddities in a painting that brings us into it, a mystery that somebody not knowing the story is either going to be irritated by (because it can't be like that) or be fascinated by (what's really going on here...). Bravo!

Theresa Rankin said...

Thank you Barbara....I really love trying to put the energy into the paintings....and as I have been told I seem to have a lot of energy. It does scattered though! I will get on a kick doing genealogy for awhile or think I need to clean and cook a bit more. The upside is Max is happy to cook.
You know I am really honored by your comment and so many others....I still see the need for improvement and learning in what I do...I guess I will be a forever student...I think that's a good thing...:)

Theresa Rankin said...

Thank you so much Marian for your continuing support!! When I paint them....I hoped they could stand alone...yet also work together..thank you for seeing that!

Theresa Rankin said...

Hello Diane....and thank you so much for your respected comment! Frankly, the backwards trumpet player is definitely one of the best pieces in this group. I have had several more subsequent offers to buy this piece...I will have to ask the owner if I can scan it and sell the prints...although many times I am loath to do that. I want everyone to have the original.
I will go with fascinated ...because of what's really going on here...:)
Thank you!
Theresa

Narayan Pillai said...

Lovely story and excellent paintings!! It is a pleasure to look at your work. I liked all of them in the series.

Bruce Sherman said...

Hi Theresa!... A wonderful series... full of brassy colour and fanfare... lush with deep and mysterious resonant woodwind sounds!

Each piece does in deed work with all others... the way a symphony should... contributing verve and differing compositional values and techniques!

I really enjoyed my visit!Let the music continue! I must get back to my series as well!

Good Painting!
Warm reagrds,
Bruce Sherman

Bruce Sherman said...

Hi Theresa!... A wonderful series... full of brassy colour and fanfare... lush with deep and mysterious resonant woodwind sounds!

Each piece does in deed work with all others... the way a symphony should... contributing verve and differing compositional values and techniques!

I really enjoyed my visit!Let the music continue! I must get back to my series as well!

Good Painting!
Warm reagrds,
Bruce Sherman

Rhonda Hurwitz said...

So glad to encounter your blog! I am about to do a trumpet painting and was planning to flip some images I found online too. Had no idea about the right/wrong direction!