Saturday, November 13, 2010

Short Bursts

** UPDATE BELOW**


There is always the underlying feeling and drive to paint/draw/create. However, the time to act on it really only happens in short bursts. Sometimes it's something I see, like a photograph or even advertisment, or something I read. This recent burst came after something I read.

The book is called "The Forest Lover", by Susan Vreeland. Vreeland also wrote "The Girl in Hyacinth Blue" and "The Passion of Artimesia". I have yet to read "The Passion of Artimesia", while I have read the other two. Both are fantastic page turners that really get into the art and passion of the artist. This isn't a book review, but rather identifying the source of my inspiration. "The Forest Lover" is based on the life of Canadian artist Emily Carr. I had never heard of Ms. Carr until this book. He subject matter was based on the First Nation's art of the northwest Canada, as well as the surrounding wilderness. I started and finished the book during my trip to Boston for a conference. Once I returned home, I busted out the paints again.

My current work in progress is a watercolor my first lobster dinner during my first trip to Maine. I've posted the orginal photograph, as well as my current progress. I want it to be a little on the 2 dimensional side. My main objective is to continue to work with the colors and re-learn basic painting techniques. I'm quite happy with it at this point, and I can't wait to see it finished!



Monday 11/15/10: I've made some progress. I want to call it finished, but I think something is missing. I'm tempted to go back and add violet washes to the lobsters to give them more depth. However, I don't want to "over work it". I had a friend give me a brief critique and she suggested ultafine tip ink to add details with hatch, cross-hatch, and stippling. Keep in mind variations to color due to these images being taken at difference times of the day.







2 comments:

  1. You've done a good job of building a foundation for the piece and the composition is pleasant to the eye in both the original picture and the watercolor. I see you're building in washes and doing a great job of it. Keep up the good work.

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  2. Thank you! I've made some great progress since then. I will be posting the latest update date very soon. Thanks again!

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