Monday, March 4, 2013

Recovery Room Part 2

Finding the Big Masses

Yesterday's post was about an initial, hell-for-leather laying in of a new motif on a previously-enjoyed canvas. Lots of slashing brushstrokes. I wound up with this:













Today, it was time to establish some of the big masses, and to begin to get a sense of the light, time-of-day, etc. It's still painting from the shoulder---no wrist, no elbow---and it can be very tiring as you try to keep a five-footer all in constant flux. A stroke here, a correction there, then the need to balance a third or fourth thing, too.

Here's the way I left it this evening, day two.


As you can see, I kept my promise about thinking about George Inness. But it seems however that Georgie wasn't thinking of me. 

Among other things, I have to decide how big I want that cashew-shaped tree to be. It's the same size as the original, but seems bigger now. Of course it will be modeled, and have sky holes, but I must think about it. At the moment its value isn't correct, and it's barely begun. Lots of designing to do, no matter the height. 

Let me know what you think.
D

PS... for AH, a New York Yankees fan who particularly detests New England accents:

Heard at a convenience store while buying milk today. 
A young man, behind me in line, is carrying several dozen tootsie pops.

The cashier looks quizzically at the tootsie pops.

The young man speaks, with a classic Boston accent:

"Girlfriend's pregnant." 

Pause.

"You knowah. Ghetto Eddie's sistah Carolyn."


(Gotta be a Sox fan)
 
  

4 comments:

  1. Donald. Lately I find myself picking out canvases that need more definition from my "miles of canvas stack." No breath, no life. I take that deep breathe and jump right in. Thanks for the idea of re-thinking them and showing us how to leap.

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  2. I guess that big dark cloud from the other day blew through over night. I stand in awe over what you can do in a couple of hours. My wife's comment after a three hour blitz is usually " is that all you did?"

    PS I rather liked the drama of that big black cloud, but maybe the painting was tilting a bit to the left with all that mass.

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  3. I just realized that the one I preferred was the later version. Have to read more carefully in future!

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  4. I love the big black cloud, it gives the whole composition so much more drama and shape. The sky color seems more intense also. Can't wait to see what you do with the tree.

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