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| Trouble in Callville image size 12" x 16" acrylic painted papers on watercolor paper |
My inspiration comes from my reading about Hoover Dam. I am particularly interested in the author's descriptions of the various accidents, hazards, working conditions, and subsequent deaths from working in the desert on this huge project. What an undertaking the dam must have been. Really, I don't think a written description can do it justice.
In any case, I learned a little bit about the group of companies that came together to build the dam. No one company was able to fund or build it so six companies/individuals came together to form a conglomerate. They called themselves Six Companies, Inc. and were responsible for working with the Bureau of Reclamation (US Government) to get the project completed on time. It isn't hard to imagine what might have occurred on the job site when a group of high powered men, working under tight deadlines, tried to make as much profit as possible.
The title for my piece references a small town, now submerged under Lake Mead, that was quite near the railroad line operated by Six Companies during the building of Hoover Dam. My original idea for the piece was simply the two figures, one standing and one falling, and some references to railroad tracks and the name of Six Companies itself. It came together at the end when I read about Callville. I sort of made up a little story in my head, connected to the workers at the dam and the hazardous conditions. There actually was a company town called Boulder City I believe and so I built on that idea too. It all makes sense to me at least!
Lastly, I am having real trouble with using color. I stalled and stalled and even when I finally decided on something, I still changed my mind. I don't actually know what is wrong but I know it is connected to how I started to learn to paint. I learned from direct observation of color, trying to recreate those ideas. I also learned in an academic way, studying the color wheel and learning a little bit about color theories. I also mix my colors from the primaries-no black and no earth tones. I have some hang ups to be sure! So, now I am trying to figure out how to sort this out and to use what I see as a negative as a positive instead. And incidentally, I am not sure how people have managed to show up in my work. I have an idea though and I will talk about that in another post. Maybe!
Thanks for reading and commenting.
Libby
Wow Libby. I am involved getting one piece finished and you get 5 finished! I love the new ones with the figures in them. It reminds me of something but I haven't figured out what yet. It will come to me...hopefully! I love the colors I really like "Precarious" a lot. Lots of movement. Love it.
ReplyDeleteBarbara,
DeleteI can only manage about one a week! Wish I could work a little faster to get my ideas out. The sketching helps with that though.
I'd be interested to know what the figures remind you of if you think about it at some point. They just sort of showed up!
Glad that you are liking the work. It's making me happy too:)
And I thought about you this weekend. We got to visit with some chickens. Those girls were so sweet!
Libby
The more you know the harder it gets.
ReplyDeleteThese words become truer each year of being an artist.
I have no words of wisdom on color because your path is so firmly on track it is individual to
You. I do trust your intellect to work through it.
One question I can answer is, yes, I ALWAYS have trouble connecting to a piece after a trip. It always takes me a
few days to get back into the flow of my painting.
Thanks for the interesting story about Six Companies and Callville.
I love your body shapes in this piece and I enjoyed figuring out the symbolism in your different shapes. Did you get to the Hoover Dam on your trip?
Julie,
DeleteThank you for answering my question. I suspect a lot of artists must connect and disconnect from their work as time passes. I shouldn't be surprised!
As to the color issue, I am on the fence I think about using pre mixed colors and their versatility. Can I successfully place them next to my blended colors? will they all go together? And lastly, can I use a premixed color and "boost" it with my primaries? How versatile will that be? They are questions that need to be answered through actually doing the steps. I paint differently now but am afraid of changing my "look".
See, you helped me already to articulate the problems! Thank you!
Libby
I see both "advancement" and "danger" in your image. It was really interesting to learn how it came to be! I can't answer about returning to a painting...I finish my in one sitting generally. That, I guess, is one advantage of alla prima. :)
ReplyDeleteCeleste,
DeleteSmarter than I am that is for sure! I do try and focus as much as I can while working and so it just took me a day to get things back together to finish.
Advancement and danger sound just right tome me:)
Thank you for your visit and observations!
Libby
I think your color choices work well in this intricate piece. The neutrals showcase the complementary pairs of red/green and blue/orange. As far as color goes I have found that if I choose a preliminary palette before actually painting the piece, it keeps me from choosing colors on a whim that may not be so harmonious. The "mother color" concept has helped the "floundering." This method makes sure all colors are connected to each other and are harmonious. A single color from your chosen palette is added to each of the other colors. All colors then will be related and harmonious. "Mastering Color" by Vikki McMurry and "Landscape Painting Inside and Out" by Kevin Macphearson both address mother colors among other methods. Best of luck in your efforts.
DeleteCarol,
DeleteI know I can always count on you for good advice. Thank you!
I think I am doing the same thing that you suggested above-choosing colors prior to getting started. The papers get painted prior to any placing and gluing so it's possible to see right away what works and what doesn't. It's also possible, as the piece progresses, to try out other painted papers from past projects. Sometimes that works. And the concept of the mother color is a good one and one I had forgotten about.
I think I have solved the issue of premixed paints versus mixing colors. Now I am on to exploring some of my other habits to see what I might find out:)
Always good to experiment right?
Thanks again!
Libby
Hi Libby, this work and the similar ones previous are fantastic. I love the stories in them and the description about Hoover Dam makes it come to life that much more. Your compositions are always strong.
ReplyDeleteI always have trouble getting back to a painting if I have left it for a time. Even for a day it can be hard. I have learned though that I cannot be afraid of it. I have to tell myself what ever happens, happens...color changes...face changes...or a tree might bet moved from left to right. I suppose if we were watercolor artists we wouldn't have that freedom.
Looks like 2016 is off to a great start for you! Blessings and more Libby!
Lisa,
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for your kind words about these pieces. I really am trying to learn a little bit more with each piece, composition-wise, while learning a little about the things that interest me, such as Hoover Dam. I like to be able to tie those things together somehow.
Don't fear the painting! LOL:) I am with you on that one. It's best to shoot first and ask questions later??? Something like that! Just attack it head on like you said, regardless. which is why I suppose we don't work in watercolor-more flexibility.
Thank you as always for the visit and comments. I'll be making the rounds shortly:)
Libby
Dear Libby I can identify about coming back to something after I have been away. It is hard to reconnect and to pick up the plan that was freshly started in the beginning. Still friend you pulled it off. I think you chose your colors well too. I must read about Hoover Dam - you are inspiring me to do some research on this part of history. Take care and have a blessed day.
ReplyDeleteDebbie,
DeleteThank you so much for your kind words. I was pretty happy with the completion of this one. Funny how we get distracted and lose our way a bit but manage to come back to finish eventually. Must be something about human nature:)
I have read three books now connected to or directly about Hoover Dam and the Colorado River. Everything surrounding the dam tends to interest me. There is just so much that I don't know about the region where I live.
Hope you are well. Let me know how you are doing. Thanks as always for the visit.
Libby