‘Art is not what you see, but what you make others see’. Edgar Degas This is one of my favourite quotes and what I am always trying to achieve with these narrative, figurative works. I am painting what I personally see, but I know and hope you, the viewer, will make up your own mind as to what is happening in the painting. I used to paint solely portrait commissions, but discovered I was more interested in painting a story with my own interpretation stamped on it. I have finished the above piece with some alterations in the final week. I have simplified the area around the three glasses, painting out the purse and a glass to the left of the painting, both of which I felt added nothing to the overall composition. Best of all, for me, is adding what my tutor used to call ‘spirited touches’, my own additions of colour right at the end; so a touch of the orange here and there and splashes of the turquoise on the leather jacket, the table and in the hair etc, all of which pull the composition together. Next week I shall be putting up a small piece I…
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The first thing I see as I look at this photographic image of my painting is that the girl looks as if she has a beard, something I didn’t notice from looking at the actual painting, and which will be sorted by next week 🙂 As an artist, I get so absorbed in the painting of the piece that sometimes I just do not see the wood from the trees as I am too involved in the creating of the work and I am sure other artists will identify with this. This is when the camera is such a good tool. Taking a photo of the work will show up any areas that need resolving and which have not been noticed before. Strange how this works, but it just does. It’s the same when I hold up the painting to a mirror or just hold it upside down, any points needing to be sorted out are shown up instantly. I hesitate to use the word ‘mistakes’ as that involves negative connotations and I have had enough of negativity… We artists are sensitive souls at the best of times, so we don’t need negativity thrown at us! Looking forward to getting…
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I am beginning to add depth to the painting starting with changing the green shade of the walls subtly and then incorporating that shade into all the other colours; in the flesh of the girl’s arm in the foreground, in the glasses for the Margaritas ( or are they Mojitos ) and in the wood of the background seating, etc. It is amazing how, by doing that, the whole painting starts to come together, unifying the composition. I spent years painting individual parts of a painting separately, compartmentalising them, and the end result was a piece that to me, lacked form and seemed static. I always seem to find my way the long way round, but I am getting there with this work and I particularly like the vibrant colours in this scene. Most people will identify with that Friday feeling, of finishing work and sitting in a bar, restaurant etc., with friends relaxing over a glass of wine and looking forward to the weekend ahead. Next week the detail starts; in the meantime if you would like to be kept up to date with what I am up to in the future, please sign up for my Newsletter at…
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