Hi everyone. First of all I want to apologize for my lapse in posting. It's been about two weeks since the last one, and I don't even have a good excuse such as "I've been on vacation," or "The computer has been down." When I started blogging a few years ago I had planned to post two or three times a week, and I did that for some time. But, lately I've been badly budgeting my time, I guess, because the minutes needed to create art and post about it seem to fly by, with me the person still tying her shoes at the start line. I cherish blogging and connecting with all of you, and certainly we share such a wonderful bond with the joy of creating art. I will do my best to continue this sharing on a more timely schedule.
This little fellow and his pomegranate were caught in a photo by my husband on a morning walk. He is a Verdin, the bird, that is, and these birds live in the southwestern part of the U.S. and Mexico year-round. I wanted to do a larger-sized painting and this one measures 17 1/2" X 15 1/2 inches which is large for me. It was also done on U-Art paper which I used for the first time with this painting.
I love this pastel paper! It comes in seven different grades of roughness. This one is supposed to be the least rough, yet it still has plenty of tooth and can take a wash. I'm anxious to try a couple of different grades to see what they can do. I happened upon it at an art supply store in Tucson when I was wanting to purchase Wallis paper for a project. I guess Wallis is having much trouble keeping up with demand in the retail and online markets like Jerry's, ASW and Dick Blick. It was a lucky find for me, and I'll certainly buy more of it.
Here is another photo of the painting showing closer detail.
I don't know if you call it "style" or not, but I enjoy "playing" with the pastel stick by rubbing it over the tooth of the paper. I like the texture it makes and loose quality it leaves. If you look closely at the leaves you can see how some of them are defined, but others are very loose and undefined. Spraying with fixative between layers makes it even more receptive to this exploration. The paper shows through in many place. I always feel nervous with this because I'm afraid people will think I was negligent and/or messy. A couple family members prefer the details finished with precise drawing and a realistic look, and I know it's just personal taste. We all have our preferences. But, I love the experimental nature of it and the inferring instead of the readily seen.
Try not too feel badly about not posting that often. I for one am happy to read whenever you are able to publish something.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lucky find on the paper. Great to have an alternative to the Wallis paper especially since there seems to be a supply issue. Plus, your purchased locally:)
And lastly, what a lovely painting. Your birds are always so sweet and this one is hidden away in that lovely orange pomegranate. And I like that some of the paper shows through. That is one of the benefits I think of the pastels and rough paper combo!
Great job as always and I like the new header. It uses my favorite color after all:)
Thank you so much, Libby! Yes, it was a lucky find to be introduced to the U-Art paper. I'm readily looking forward to the next project.
DeleteThanks, also, for your kind words regarding the painting. This is quite a haven for many kinds of birds as we're on the flyway for their travels during the different seasons. Some, like the Verdin, are with us the whole year. Clair, my husband, takes many, many photos of them.
Well it was worth waiting for, Carol. This is beautiful in both color and technique.
ReplyDeleteWhen you were talking about technique and some family member liking a more detailed approach I have the same kind of comments too. It makes me understand what the impressionists went through when they first exhibited their work.
That is such a kind thing to say, Julie. Thank you! It must have been very hard at first for any of the art movements to get started. An artist needs someone to say, "Go for it!" somewhere along the line. Thank goodness they had each other.
DeleteBeautiful color and texture! It's really a struggle to move out of one's comfort zone. I love artists who are messy and create dynamism in their work and still find it hard to blur boundaries. It's like I've entered a trance and wake up and see that I've focused on accuracy instead of getting a color relationship to sing or trying to achieve a light effect. Then I need to mess things up and shift my thinking. And it's not even others who prefer a more finished look . . . it seems to come from my other self! Your hummingbird is beautiful, too! So amazing your husband was able to photograph it!
ReplyDeleteI think we have similar feelings, Lorraine, regarding "looseness." I love exploring and the impressionistic "look." I'm better than I used to be about putting my looser work out there, but often I tend to fall back "to my other self" as you so eloquently put it. Comments such as yours really support my efforts. Thank you so much!
DeleteLove this one, didn't know birds ate pomegranates! They grey wild in Spain where I used to live.
ReplyDeleteHi Diana,
DeleteSometimes, I think our little birds will eat a little of everything. One of their favorites is the flower pod of the many cacti that grow here in the desert. They love the juicy seeds inside, and I think they probably get some of their water through them, also. Thank you so much for commenting!