Saturday, January 28, 2017

New Work, My hike, Color Theory and Value Practice

Soft Storm
16" x 16" painted papers collage/landscape


Red Hills Area of Critical Concern, Jamestown CA


Added value!
The above piece was completed last week. It is the final piece in my Storm/Weather series. I say for now because who am I kidding? The rain is coming back! While making the piece though I was thinking about our red/brown dirt here and the gray skies that sometimes appear "bruised" before the storm starts wailing down on us. It's more of a romantic view I guess of what the sky could look like. Certainly the concept of a "soft storm" is fanciful.

The second photo shows where I spent some time this week. I went over to Jamestown which is about an hour southeast of where we live. I walked on those rocks for several hours! It was a perfect day though and as I stood there and looked around, I thought about the colors that I was seeing. It occurred to me that the colors were very "soft", for lack of a better term. The light wasn't so harsh for starters and the contrast between colors wasn't tremendous. I have gotten used to the big contrasts where I live-bright green grasses and hillsides contrasted against deep iron rich reds and dark, wet tree trunks. The light too is particularly stark because of the sun's angle I guess.  Anyway, as I stood there, I thought about how perfect the colors were side by side. Very harmonious. It made me consider color theory which has always baffled me (and kept me back at times). It started to dawn on me (finally) that I could simply think about color theory in other ways rather than of hue relationships. I tend to consider other things anyway: chroma, value, and the proportion of one color to another. I think about placement as well. It's all governed by how I feel about the overall proportion of things. I have kind of had it with opposite colors and worrying about that particular issue anyway. I just want to slide the colors around mentally until I get what I want or get surprised or both. And besides, I believe in the presence of the Almighty Creator in our universe. Looking around at the landscape on Tuesday, I felt that really the colors couldn't be wrong together in an inherent sense. I just had to figure out what was right to me since really, all of it was just fine "as is", if that makes sense.

The last pic shows where I am starting with the next group of pieces. I painted some gray scale papers this afternoon. Tomorrow, I will start to paint the colored papers, matching the colors up to the particular value that I want. I think it helps to keep things consistent. I am trying to learn. Honestly. It's just a painfully slow process!

Hope everyone is having a good weekend.  Thanks for reading and commenting.
Libby

7 comments:

  1. I reallly enjoyed your thinking on this piece and I love the piece too. Feeling a little incoherent today, but your words really touched me "Looking around at the landscape on Tuesday, I felt that really the colors couldn't be wrong together in an inherent sense. I just had to figure out what was right to me since really, all of it was just fine "as is"..."
    so true

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    1. Carol,

      I am sorry that you had an "off" day. I call those my "awkward" days and I have them frequently!

      I am glad that what I was thinking resonated with you. I really did stand there out in the middle of nowhere and sort of wonder why I have been struggling all of this time with putting colors together. I only had to look around to see what to do. The revelation is just part of my evolution as an artist I guess. Just learning.

      Hope you have a more solid day today:) Thanks for reading and commenting.
      Libby

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  2. Dear Libby - I like the idea of a soft storm. Lavender is a lovely color to use in portraying this thought too. Beautiful photo of your visit to Jamestown. Looks like there was some sunshine and that is always a welcome treat. Isn't it odd how where we live dictates the colors we choose to use when we create. I know that I am certainly influenced by my surroundings. Well take care and have a super week. Hugs!

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    1. Debbie,

      I suspect that we just can't help but be influenced by our environments. It's impossible to overlook this source of inspiration. Why not look around to see what is impacting your creativity?

      The weather was totally perfect! The irony of where I live is that the months that you think would be bad to be outdoors because of the rain and cold, are actually the best months to be outdoors! The weather is perfect for hiking or walking. In just a matter of 4-5 months, it won't be as pleasant here anymore. Gotta get while the gettin' is good! LOL:)

      Hope you had a good week. Looking forward to another one!
      Libby

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  3. I love the title, Soft Storm, and also the really beautiful colors. They fit together just right. Looking forward to seeing the next piece you are working on.

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    1. Thanks Julie! We have had some real whoppers lately when it comes to storms so I was sort of fancying something a little more gentle!

      I painted some papers yesterday and feel good about the colors so far. Matching the values and chroma to my gray scale papers is so instructive. Do your students ever do any exercises like this? Maybe start with a gray scale underpainting or something? It's so helpful.

      Thanks for your visit and comments. Hope all is well
      Libby

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    2. Another storm on the way I hear...
      The artists I teach have had the basic of values drummed into them and guess what - sometimes it is good to let go of all that and just respond to color and boy, do they really get excited with color. You have been utilizing both methods with great success.

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Thank you for taking the time to comment. I appreciate it! I reply back in an email if you are signed in and I can see your address. Otherwise I will post the reply here under your comment. I tend to cut and paste my emails too so that others can experience the back and forth which I think is integral to blogging.
Libby