15 February 2015

cubic

There are always a few older unfinished paintings in the storage part of my studio.  Sometimes I begin working with an idea that is ahead of my skill level, and although I remain interested in the idea, I cannot resolve the work yet.  Other times the original idea is simply not worth pursuing.

It's good to have these odd unfinished works around.  When I need a break from my usual studio routine I sometimes rework some of them; the results are not so important, it's just fun to explore with colour, pattern and shape.

Today was one of those days.  

cubic abstract paintings

I began by loosely brushing a white border on some abandoned abstract paintings.  Then I collaged a bit of white rice paper, and added layers of paint in varying transparencies.  My only parameter was to work in repetitions of loosely square shapes.

Six hours and many layers later, they look like this:

cubic abstract paintings

It was a fine studio day, doing something a bit different and re-visiting those little abstract pieces and, I think, improving them quite a bit.

I like that there are many aspects to my creativity in making images.  
There's the side of me that likes to explore things which are very deeply felt but cannot be expressed in words; not necessarily emotions per se, but a kind of mostly-wordless philosophy.  

There's the side of me that really enjoys the meditation of plein-air landscape painting.  There's the side that is intrigued with technology, making portraits through online video connections.  

And there is the side of me that likes to explore purely decorative work, playing with the formal visual elements, experimenting with materials and making no attempt whatsoever to imbue the finished work with any sort of meaning.

Today was one of those days.

cubic abstract paintings

cubic abstract paintings

cubic abstract paintings

cubic abstract paintings

cubic abstract paintings

cubic abstract paintings

11 February 2015

Alberta Landscape #85 and #86

A couple of weeks ago the weather turned unseasonably warm and we went out painting en plein air, this time near De Winton.  From a fairly high rise of a hill, I made two paintings.

plein air landscape painting steel sky woman
a very close crop of a distant view

plein air landscape painting steel sky woman
the view I focussed on is just visible,
beyond my easel at the left

plein air landscape painting steel sky woman
Alberta Landscape #85
oil on birch panel
10x10 inches
plein air landscape painting steel sky woman
about 90゜to the right of the first painting view

plein air landscape painting steel sky woman
here the view is visible to the right,
far beyond my easel

plein air landscape painting steel sky woman

plein air landscape painting steel sky woman
Alberta Landscape #86
oil on birch panel
10x10 inches
I adjusted this photo a bit to show the colours of the painting a bit more accurately, although it makes the actual landscape far too yellow.

Here's my palette.  I used the same colours for both paintings, though in different proportions:

plein air landscape painting steel sky woman

Until next time,
:)
V



08 February 2015

difficulty leads to play

This one is presenting me with some difficulty.  Hooray for photoshop, where I can try out a quick effect without making permanent changes to the actual, physical work just yet.

In studio:


In photoshop:


A definite improvement, hey?

So this is what happens when I begin a new series of works: the first ones are very playful and often very successful.  Then I try to make more, and it becomes difficult because, after the initial success, I begin to judge the work much more seriously.

Something to think about, hey?

Right.  Back to the studio; it's time for a sheer white glaze.

:)