“I am always doing what I cannot do yet, in order to learn how to do it.” Vincent Van Gogh. This quote was completely right for this week’s post. I was certain this morning that the painting would be finished today. However, the more I painted in the detail, the more I realised I am still learning and that I have a way to go yet. Each time I thought I had completed one area, I would look across and see another area unfinished. I would work on that and then look back at the piece I had just been working on, and realised I still had more to learn. But at least I am learning. I think with a larger canvas, an artist can be freer, more expressionistic in style, using larger brushes and being braver with colour. With a smaller canvas like this one (10 x 8″) however, one has to tighten up, smaller brushes, more detail, less room for mistakes. Both canvasses work for me, and I enjoy the challenge of both. So it will be one more week on this piece to get all the details and colour right. Still not sure about a name yet either…
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Very much enjoying this smaller piece (12 x 9″) on Ampersand board again, which gives a smooth, controlled finish. Not sure how it would work on a larger work as you would lose that control but for smaller paintings it is a great surface to work on. I apologise in advance that this young woman will be smoking a cigarette ( to be put in at a later stage when underpainting is completed ). I was myself a cigarette smoker for years, and I am well aware of the health risks, hence giving up a long time ago. However, I do think it makes for a good composition and I feel the same about placing a glass of wine into a painting every so often; sometimes it just completes the piece. I haven’t decided on a title yet, but I feel this woman is thinking quite deeply about something; she is weighing up the pros and cons of something important to her and she has come out to the hallway to be on her own, have a quiet cigarette and just…….. reflect. The colours in the dress will be much more vibrant and jewel bright as time goes on and I…
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I love starting a new painting, always so exciting working out the composition and the colours. Sometimes I think I should leave a work at its first stages, as there is that loose impressionistic look to it which can be very appealing. However, the perfectionist in me then weighs in and I have to be very careful not to end up with a too ‘tight’ finished piece. Wish me luck. The model I worked for this time came and worked with me one evening alongside a wonderful potter/sculptor who had some great ideas about styling and lighting. We used his home as the backdrop to the photos and between the three of us came up with some fabulous images. My model just seemed to know which poses to settle into and turned up with beautiful dresses and accessories. I am delighted with the results as you will hopefully see in the next series of paintings beginning with this one. I went to see the ‘Beyond Caravaggio’ exhibition in London recently and yet again was overwhelmed by his use of chiaroscuro, the lights and darks in the paintings and this is what I am aiming to achieve myself. A long haul…
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