Wednesday, May 24, 2017

New Work/Two Versions: Change in The Weather

Change in the Weather
version 1
16" x 16" painted papers mounted to wc paper

Change in the Weather
version 2
16" x 16" painted papers mounted to wc paper
Some of the hardest colors to photograph well seem to be reds, blues and greens. Hmmm...

This week I have been working on the above two pieces. My goals were to work with proportion of color and temperature and to see what would happen. The red and green together didn't excite me right away until I included that violet blue color. If there is anything about art making that interests me it is the little surprises that happen along the way. The surprises for me have to do with color-what happens when one color is placed next to another, say an orangey red next to a supposedly neutral green. Then place that green next to a red that has a little more blue in it or is almost neutral. What happens when you throw a violet blue into the mix? See what I mean? And it's almost always a surprise for me since I paint these papers individually and have no idea what is going to happen when I start cutting and placing them. Sure, I paint them all at once on a big table. This doesn't really tell you much though. Often times the colors look like they won't play well together at all. Then you start working and lo and behold, everyone gets along!

The offhand, well meant comment is often the one that you continue to consider isn't it? A friend mentioned to me earlier this week that she still really enjoyed some of the earlier landscapes that I painted. That's great isn't it? Positive. But, it's also a little like being misunderstood, for me anyway. probably I am connecting things wrongly like I tend to do. Still. I love my current work and hope I am on the right track.

Hope everyone is having a good week so far. My Monday and Tuesday sort of sucked. Couldn't we just skip directly to Wednesday? I always feel better by Wednesday!

Thanks for reading and commenting.
Libby

4 comments:

  1. Well, Wednesday is here...has there been a change in the weather? I am drawn to version two with the "textured" color in the warm red and the addition of the contrapuntal light orange with the blue. :)
    Just my opinion on your explorations.

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    1. Well, it's Friday. Feel any better? I do! Pooh on the first part of the week!

      I like to think that there is a little something for nearly everyone with these two pieces. They were both interesting to put together though like Julie, I prefer the first version. It's probably because i struggled with the second version!

      Anyway, hope everything is well. Thanks for your comments and visit.
      Libby

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  2. Another couple of exciting combinations. I see Carol Beth prefers the dominant red one and I am more drawn to the version 1. It is the left side strip of violet blue next to the same value, strip of green that gives me goosebumps with that wonderful red accent.

    I don't think the comment from your friend was anything but a genuine gift of her feelings. I loved your faceless people series. Still do, but I treasure seeing the journey you are sharing with us of your explorations with paper and paint. Your thoughts written so clearly and well.
    So it is possible to be just like Picasso, dear Libby, and have your admirers like different parts of your journey based on their indifidual emotional response at where "they" are at that present time. I started off loving his Blue Period for example. Then his ceramics knocked my socks off. Then seeing Guernica...and so it went on... in other words he was an artist with many stages as he advanced along his path. I can't recall if I have ever read he felt misunderstood. He knew he had to do what he was feeling at the time.
    Interesting stuff - as always. You get us all thinking.
    Enjoy your week.




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    1. Julie,

      I like the first version better too. It feels more cohesive to me, somehow smoother. The second one was harder to put together. Red is a difficult color to vary the value with. Orange is a little easier. I had to switch gears on what I wanted to have happen and work instead with the colors I had. Mostly I just wanted to reverse the dominant temperature. I let the value patterning sort of become secondary.

      I appreciate your input on my friend's comment. I sense that Picasso had a healthy self esteem! A person really has to have a strong conviction when doing anything. As an example, I don't care too much if folks don't like my cooking (vegetarian-low salt and healthy). Too bad, I say. My art is a little different I guess. My friend who made the comment is a fellow artist too. But no matter-stay the course!

      Hope your transition to your new space is going well! Thank you for your visit.
      Libby

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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