Friday, March 15, 2013

Recovery Room, Part Four

If it isn't working, fix it!

Because I've been playing with the cows, I've been neglecting the painting in the recovery room. It did need to do some drying, but I've also been waiting to hear the status of Johanson's request for a building permit. At this stage, it's anyone's guess whether he'll get permission to build within this painting.

I wasn't pleased with the large rectangle of water in the lower right. It was an unsatisfying shape, but I'd been avoiding the issue. Finally I decided to take matters in hand, and I've designed a river bend. All the grasses, etc., on the bank at the bottom, and on the jutting peninsula, are just initially laid in with a mixture of Prussian green and brownish madder, and all has been kept semi-transparent. When I'm satisfied with the shapes, I'll set about painting them.


Because of the conditions under which this was photographed, and because of its size (36x60"), it's difficult for me to light it properly. Thus, the clouds at the top are much lighter than in reality, and most of the bottom, especially on the left, is much too dark. It was ever thus.

Perhaps I should have heeded that fellow in the toga, calling out in the market, "Beware the Ides of March!" 





6 comments:

  1. Indeed!...I was fortunate to have seen this painting today and this photo kills the true color..."Et tut, photo"....hehee...I would add that the sun light on that distant hillside on the right is a subtle collection of exsquisit color choices...This beast needs to be seen in person. Donald, maybe photograph it outside...wait, I mean maybe your monitor can photograph it outside. Or perhaps post a few select photos of close up areas...there are so many harmonious notes in and about this canvas. Great painting!!!

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    1. Wishful thinking about a monitor stepping up, Todd. You know better than anyone about the issues there!

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  2. Lucky you Todd. I wish I could see it in person. Closeups would be great. Please?

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    1. Hi Deborah. I'll try to take some today. BTW, you still have time to come from Texas to tomorrow night's demonstration, as my guest. Why not?

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  3. I'll stick with Todd's suggestion. Could you just send me the original for a look. I promise you'll get it back some day. OK I can dream.
    But in spite of colour, the details DO help, especially with your notes on which paints you used for certain areas.
    Happy St. Patrick's Day.

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    1. I once participated in a program called Art in the Embassies. A large landscape spent a couple of years at the U.S. embassy in Islamahbad (sp?). Maybe you could start a program of American Art in French Villages? Let's discuss at the June workshop in France, over a petit rouge.

      Happy St. Pat's to you, too. In honor of Patrick, tonight's demo will have a lot of green.

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