Wheeew it has been a month and a day since my last post... First off I would like to dispel any rumors that my blog is closing down and that I joined the peace corps or taken an apprenticeship with Ravi Shankar... In all honesty I have been working real hard on accessing where I am with my painting and what I need to work on to move forward.What I have come up with is Values... I have always been pushing colors as far as I can and as a result my work has always stayed towards the middle of the road value wise. The side effect of this mid value bias is less impact visually and can sometimes (OK alot of the time) lull you to mental sleep.. Don't get me wrong I feel that a near white mid tone and almost black value scheme is the absolute worst. The lack of mid tone finesse can push away even the greenest of viewers on to the next image. So here is a collection of a few pieces in Color and Black + White. Let me know which ones you think worked out better or worse and if the value patterns seem too busy.... I think that's my next focus
I also would love to hear how the photos are looking compared to before, the bottom one is one I have had a few "re photo" requests for, so here it is.
Two Quote Tuesday. Both Paul Cezanne.
Quote: "Painting is damned difficult ... you always think you've got it, but you haven't."
Quote2: "I want to die painting."
8 comments:
I was just thinking this morning that it has been a month and a day since your last post.
That top piece is great Dan. I think the slightly wider value range works well in that one especially. You are still doing good things with the color too.
The middle one has a nice value design too. I learn a lot about my color- hue- chroma- value choices by looking at my paintings in black and white. There is always some color that I THOUGHT was a different value than it actually is.
As someone who struggles with achieving a suitable range of values at times found this post fascinating, not least because I enjoyed the images. My fascination is particularly found in looking at the first two images. If I can use a musical analogy, the first contains contributions from the top end and middle range of the orchestra but doesn't give the double basses anything to do, seen as a single piece that might not be so noticeable. However when juxtaposed with the second image it is immediately apparent that the whole orchestra gets to blow in the latter. Another question that struck me was in relation to my perception of the colour images as having wider value ranges than the black and white. Maybe I suffer from deficient squint technique. Lots to think about here.
Dan--Frank and Mike have made great comments here. I'm one that pushes color and thus automatically end up with wide ranges in value--not always to the benefit of the image. I like the first especially, though in the second you've captured beautifully what I take as an early morning feel even though the colors are a tad subdued. Hope we can paint together soon!
Hey Frank, Thanks,, Color intensity to me is the real trickster.
Hi Mick, I think the squint is very usable but only if you believe what you see when you squint. I have seen many people (including myself) squint, then paint what I know is impossible to see if they were honest to what was visable thru thier squint.
I have heard of certain painters spending at least a year on just black and white work to truly learn. I think once in awhile is a great idea for all of us.
Hey Jack, I think if your going for representational work then values hve to be first on the list. But I have seen some work that the values might be bit off but the colors make an image that is very pleasing to the eye. I think some of the best work in the history of painting is a result of misunderstanding of basics and lack of "ART" education. So Im in no hurry to master it all, just enjoying the process nd some of the results. ok Im done rembling.. I would love to paint sometime and the weather is on our side.
Hi Dan,
With your emphasis on values, you have still given us sparkling color. I will say that these do have more "punch to them", and specifically, the house witht the tree. To paint such a scene, looking through a tree, is no small task. Your value work here has created a nice frame, it has allowed the sun to shine.
Are those lobster boats out already?! And the pics really do look great.
Finally, the fact that you are adressing these things, is the best thing that you could do to move forward. I would give you a hard critique if I could, but I can't, these are all beautiful. Looking through your work over the past till now, you have made huge strides. One thinig that I've always enjoyed about your pieces is the way you use broken color. It sparkles!
Kyle
Hey Kyle, some Lobster boats are here 24/7 but the "fleet" will arrive shortly.(Get out here to paint!)
Thanks for the kind words on my work! I think any "strides" I have made has been mostly due to harsh self-critique and great examples/role models in Art world past and present.
Love the trees. Your work has an almost dreamy quality. Nice to see the b&w and the color. You can see its really working when you see the b&w. Did they have margaritas at the Addison Gallery? I used to live in Orleans and visit the galleries.
Hi Heather, Thank you very much.. Yes they had Margaritas and put on a great show!
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