I began this this morning it measures 36x48 inches I imagine the work before painting, and it's always a bit short from the result I expect. Either I don't measure up , or I can't get away from myself
I am a French Canadian amateur artist from Montreal focusing on acrylics and trying to develop a loser style (more in the line of expressionism). I located your blog after having seen one of your stunning paintings in a gallery ad on television. I like everything you do. Looks like this painting is off to a good start. In my continuous saga to learn more about contemporary art, I came across Alex Kanevsky (www.vivianite.net/?id=1514) an excellent contemporary figure and landscape painter who has an interesting way of looking at the painting process: "I can't do slow and methodical accumulation painting: I get bored with careful, planned sort of activity. I also depend on freshness of perception, what zen-buddists call "beginner's mind". That is difficult to sustain over a long period. After a while you are just not a beginner. So I work fast, trying to hit the right note every time. That is nearly impossible, so I constantly fail. I keep coming back to a painting. It accumulates layers, each one - more or less a complete painting. Complete but failed. The layers are sort of like Swiss cheese - they have holes through which in right places you can see the previous layers. Eventually there are enough of "good holes" and also, because of all the repeated attempts, I manage to do a good top layer. And then I have a painting that has enough intensity in every passage to satisfy me. Then it is done." Bonne chance pour le prochain vernissage.
Hi Ron good to hear from you. I understand what you mean about being able to get it right -right from the beginning in my experiences, if a painting requires too much effort it usually doesn't turn out The trick for that problem for me is to REALLY be excited about painting the subject then it comes naturally too much planning like you said can be blockages--I'd love to see your work Do you have an online site? amber
Thanks for the response. I am planning for a blog next month but for now can share with you some of my works via a Picasa web site to give you an idea of my evolution or perhaps my devolution: http://picasaweb.google.com/ron.gravel/RonSPaintingSelection02
I have been painting sporadically since the mid 70's with a 15 years hiatus from 1983 to 1998. Since September 2007, I have decided to spend most of my energies on art (I work as part time consultant in medical marketing). My preference was watercolor but I needed to move to a more popular medium, and moving to acrylics seemed more natural (I like to paint fast but noticed that your style in oil is conducive to that as well). Getting it the first time is certainly the rule with watercolors so I sympathize with your position. I try to spend no more that 7-8 hours on canvases up to 30X40. Kanevsky is at the other extreme as he seems to thrive to the power of 1000 failures per painting and still retain some freshness! With watercolors my objective was to loosen up (I meant "looser style" in my 1st comment above!)from a more technical early approach. I felt Chinese painting would help. I am trying to do the same with acrylics. Ironically, my first acrylic paintings were done with Chinese painting techniques...not very conducive to developing a unique style. Lately, I have been combining fluid acrylics with opaque acrylics leveraging both transparency and opacity). Perhaps the real me will emerge by the end of the year to the tune of 2-3 paintings a week. For now some professional artists I know like my sketches better than my paintings. Reaching your status would be a noble objective. Thanks for your inspiration.
Amber, my Picasa web address above seems to have lost of a few digits (although selecting from left to right seems to incorporate them when copying and pasting). At any rate, if you have any problems here is the last part of the address between quotation marks: "/RonSPaintingSelection02"
I think the proof is in the pudding...people are interested in your work and you sell lots so, you are definitely doing something right I'd say ! I do agree, it can be frustrating or what seems to be a struggle at times but, when it comes down to it, your amazing Amber ! :)I love the size, colors, composition and subject of this piece.
Thanks Sheri I guess I know what you mean, but it doesn't change how i see the work How are things going in your painting? Are you feeling inspired by any particular subject lately?
Ron! I got to see your work Thanks for the link I really like your travel sketches It seems to me you are not an amature You've been painting for a long time:))) You watercolors are very good too You capture the mood of the scene with minimal effort Well done! :)
Amber! Thanks for the encouragement. Despite the fact that I have been around painting for quite a while...I want to be just like you when I grow up:) Figuratively and artistically of course! I am sure there are few artists who can cover large canvases at the blink of an eye with such vibrant colors with the most unusual tools with results that look more real than reality...you are one of them. I will get back to you when I have a blog. All the best.
amber...if your still stuck with this one, try putting a chair or two in the upper left corner (as per your reference photo) seems a bit empty up there...just a suggestion, might spark something.....
I began this this morning it measures 36x48 inches I imagine the work before painting, and it's always a bit short from the result I expect. Either I don't measure up , or I can't get away from myself
16 comments:
I am a French Canadian amateur artist from Montreal focusing on acrylics and trying to develop a loser style (more in the line of expressionism). I located your blog after having seen one of your stunning paintings in a gallery ad on television. I like everything you do. Looks like this painting is off to a good start. In my continuous saga to learn more about contemporary art, I came across Alex Kanevsky (www.vivianite.net/?id=1514) an excellent contemporary figure and landscape painter who has an interesting way of looking at the painting process: "I can't do slow and methodical accumulation painting: I get bored with careful, planned sort of activity. I also depend on freshness of perception, what zen-buddists call "beginner's mind". That is difficult to sustain over a long period. After a while you are just not a beginner. So I work fast, trying to hit the right note every time. That is nearly impossible, so I constantly fail. I keep coming back to a painting. It accumulates layers, each one - more or less a complete painting. Complete but failed. The layers are sort of like Swiss cheese - they have holes through which in right places you can see the previous layers. Eventually there are enough of "good holes" and also, because of all the repeated attempts, I manage to do a good top layer. And then I have a painting that has enough intensity in every passage to satisfy me. Then it is done." Bonne chance pour le prochain vernissage.
Hi Ron good to hear from you. I understand what you mean about being able to get it right -right from the beginning in my experiences, if a painting requires too much effort it usually doesn't turn out The trick for that problem for me is to REALLY be excited about painting the subject then it comes naturally
too much planning like you said can be blockages--I'd love to see your work
Do you have an online site?
amber
The imagined is often better than the real thing. It's like that poem "Ode to a Grecian Urn".
Thanks for the response. I am planning for a blog next month but for now can share with you some of my works via a Picasa web site to give you an idea of my evolution or perhaps my devolution: http://picasaweb.google.com/ron.gravel/RonSPaintingSelection02
I have been painting sporadically since the mid 70's with a 15 years hiatus from 1983 to 1998. Since September 2007, I have decided to spend most of my energies on art (I work as part time consultant in medical marketing). My preference was watercolor but I needed to move to a more popular medium, and moving to acrylics seemed more natural (I like to paint fast but noticed that your style in oil is conducive to that as well). Getting it the first time is certainly the rule with watercolors so I sympathize with your position. I try to spend no more that 7-8 hours on canvases up to 30X40. Kanevsky is at the other extreme as he seems to thrive to the power of 1000 failures per painting and still retain some freshness! With watercolors my objective was to loosen up (I meant "looser style" in my 1st comment above!)from a more technical early approach. I felt Chinese painting would help. I am trying to do the same with acrylics. Ironically, my first acrylic paintings were done with Chinese painting techniques...not very conducive to developing a unique style. Lately, I have been combining fluid acrylics with opaque acrylics leveraging both transparency and opacity). Perhaps the real me will emerge by the end of the year to the tune of 2-3 paintings a week. For now some professional artists I know like my sketches better than my paintings. Reaching your status would be a noble objective. Thanks for your inspiration.
Amber, my Picasa web address above seems to have lost of a few digits (although selecting from left to right seems to incorporate them when copying and pasting). At any rate, if you have any problems here is the last part of the address between quotation marks: "/RonSPaintingSelection02"
I think it looks great!!
I can understand that frustration, though. At least if we keep painting that "bit short" keeps becoming even tinier.
I find a good art rant can do wonders for those frustrations! :)
Thank you Shayla You have a point about the rant :)))
Ron I tried to access the photos without success :(
Amber, here the address again:
http://picasaweb.google.com/ron.gravel/RonSPaintingSelection02
2nd try in-between quotation marks to retain the last 2 digits, at the http prompt use what is in-between quotation marks:
"picasaweb.google.com/ron.gravel/RonSPaintingSelection02"
Also, if you go to the picasa web site and do a search with the following key words: ron at work
I seem to pop up on the second line (Ron's painting selection). Once you view the photo you can select on the right the album it derives from...
I think the proof is in the pudding...people are interested in your work and you sell lots so, you are definitely doing something right I'd say ! I do agree, it can be frustrating or what seems to be a struggle at times but, when it comes down to it, your amazing Amber ! :)I love the size, colors, composition and subject of this piece.
Thanks Sheri I guess I know what you mean, but it doesn't change how i see the work How are things going in your painting? Are you feeling inspired by any particular subject lately?
Ron! I got to see your work Thanks for the link I really like your travel sketches It seems to me you are not an amature You've been painting for a long time:)))
You watercolors are very good too You capture the mood of the scene with minimal effort Well done! :)
Amber! Thanks for the encouragement. Despite the fact that I have been around painting for quite a while...I want to be just like you when I grow up:) Figuratively and artistically of course!
I am sure there are few artists who can cover large canvases at the blink of an eye with such vibrant colors with the most unusual tools with results that look more real than reality...you are one of them. I will get back to you when I have a blog. All the best.
Wow thanks you do wonders for my ego :))
amber...if your still stuck with this one, try putting a chair or two in the upper left corner (as per your reference photo) seems a bit empty up there...just a suggestion, might spark something.....
Hi dave ! yeah I think you're right I'll do that
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