Church On The Corner
11" x 14" Acrylic on 3/4" canvas
available: libbyfife@ymail.com
I finished this one up yesterday. It took longer than I expected. When I start these things I tend to look at sections; the number of sections to work kind of tells me how long it may take to complete the painting. Everything in good time though; there is no hurry here for this.
I thought I might show this one in progress. I started with a gray scale painting using 4 values plus the option of some white areas. I could see right away when I finished that I was going to have a very "high key" kind of a painting-lots of light values. That was fine since I really wanted a morning kind of feel. The other thing that came up was the white building. So far to date, portraying a white building in shadow has been my biggest challenge. Everything in shadow is darker than anything in the light, including the color white. And white isn't white; there are colors there to be dealt with whether the white is in shadow or in light. I decided that the white building with sunlight on it was the way to go. Anyway, I am learning.
The above shot was as of Sunday. The staircase was an issue. I have learned a lot of solid concepts, some of which are really transferable to any art form practically. Everything is made up of a shape. Square, rectangle, circle, etc. Shapes go together to form larger shapes and then larger forms. Shapes can also be picked apart to get down to a more finite and accurate rendition of the object. Incidentally, I think the reason sometimes that people think they don't know how to draw is because they don't know where to start. They want to draw the outline of something. (This is my problem.) Recognizing how things are built, that they are built on shapes all in relation to one another, is one of the first steps in learning how to sketch and draw. Anyway, I got down to business with that staircase and once I saw what it was, that it was sort of a parallelogram with a triangle, I was able to paint it. And lastly, at some point you have to be finished otherwise the tweaking and fiddling could go on endlessly. I am not suggesting that you accept shoddy work but instead bring it (the work) to a point where you are satisfied that it meets your current skill level, learn from it, and move on.
OK, I am off for more coffee. I am having a sort of "office" day today: finances, Xmas cards, sketching, idea forming and firming up. Let me know what you are up to and thanks for reading.
Libby
It's a beautiful piece, Libby! It definitely feels like "morning"...a quiet, peaceful morning. I was thrown a little by the street sign which I initially thought was a mailbox at a quick first glance (because of the height in relation to the foreground). It doesn't register as a "mistake", but rather as being a little curious addition to the painting. i.e.: Did the highway department make it this way...or did the artist add this in? The sign itself is very, very well done.
ReplyDeleteSome artists do tweak and fiddle endlessly. I was reading a book the other day where an artist drastically modified an oil painting he had done after ten years of it being "finished". And in a magazine not too long ago, there was an artist I read about who never considers her work "finished", and does these major overhauls as part of her process. I think it's an individual thing from not only one artist to the next, but even from piece to piece.
Have fun with your "office" day, Libby! I'm hoping I get a lot done today in spite of the rain that's coming down pretty good here!
This is beautiful in color and mood. I agree with you on shape but the angles to get the right depth perception is the real challenge. Steps to me are difficult due to this factor and you were totally successful.
ReplyDeleteI am really loving your shadows now and how they add interest to each of your paintings.
I think the time you spent on this one was well worth it.
Another lovely piece!
ReplyDeleteI think your work, Libby, has a freshness and crispness that I really enjoy. It's been such a treat to read about your process with each work of art!
ReplyDeleteNice painting, Libby ..it looks like a lovely clear day...a good day to be grateful for! I am having an office day too :)
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