Ok, I'm calling it done. Because it's due! For those who are new to my blog (welcome!), this little project started I don't know...a month ago? My friend David sent me a pic of this derelict truck sinking into the dirt, and I suggested we both do a painting from it, just for kicks. He set the format at 16 x 20, which is bigger than I would have liked, but I was pleasantly surprised when I started slinging paint around.
Initially, I drew the truck with a pencil and using a dark brown wash, worked out the value structure, paying particular attention to light and shadow.
Next I started with the yellow of the truck, still kinda washy and thin. Just feeling my way around the truck, trying not to be too tight.
I proceeded to paint the rest, first thinly (lots of turp) then gradually thicker. The beach in the background was not in the original photo, but when I first looked at the picture, for about half a second I mistakenly thought it was. Even after I realized it wasn't a beach, I was intrigued by the idea and painted it in.
But then I realized that there was no connection between the truck and the beach, conceptually. It was just an odd juxtaposition, which might be interesting but that was not a good enough reason, so I got rid of it, replacing it with a dusty road.
I added some sorry looking grass for color and texture - but made sure they were close in color and value to the dirt so I wouldn't have distracting patterns on the ground. This way I think it adds to the overall dusty blah feel.
The stakes were added last. I wanted a little more forceful suggestion of perspective - I'd meant to do that with grass patterns but I couldn't resolve the conflict between "pale and dusty and blends in with the dirt" and "punchy perspective suggestion", so I opted to introduce another element (the stakes) to do the latter. It also helped to differentiate the activity level of the right side ground from the front and the left. It was too equal in weight and activity before.
All in all, I like the mood of the painting. It's too tightly painted, though; I would like to have seen it painted with a freer brush. Also, I forgot to account for the frame's lip overlapping the painting's edges, and the eave of the building in the background would get lost. It's a shame because that's an important piece of compositional device. I will just have to use a floater rather than a traditional frame.
Anyway, that's it. It was a fun little project and it's interesting to see the differences in our approaches. Check out David's blog for his interpretation. Also, David assigned the same project to his classes at Sacramento City College, and the "winner" can be viewed on his blog. For his watercolor class, David invited artist Mike Bailey to come and do a demo using the same truck. David and Mike simultaneously painted the truck in watercolor, and you can see the results of that on his, and Mike's blog. What great fun!
8 comments:
I agree on two major points, fellow "Lobentruck" painter. Point one:Your paintingt is beautifully dusty. If paintings need to tell a story or get across mood, emotion,sense, etc., then that you have done very well. Point two: I agree with you that you could have painted looser. In fact, I still like your monochromatic start the best as far as painterly quality is concerned. Those are my two points, and I'm stickin to them. Now take your gloves off, and critique mine.
hey david~ right you are. I like my initial lay in the best also. somehow I have a hard time painting "loose" when in comes to inorganic subject matter. It's not for lack of intent or tryin'! Much to learn, much to learn...
You did an awesome job on yours! Love the paint handling, and the introduction of invented colors is a smart move, and effectively executed. If I had to point out something that could work better, ( and I know you'd expect that from me!) I'd have to say that maybe the foreground pipes are a little bit too assertive? I can see what your intent was, as far as composition goes, but perhaps the regularity of repeated shapes and high contrasts is demanding more attention than a supporting cast member should.
oh i forgot to mention I particularly like your front corner on the driver's side, under the headlight; the temperature shift as you roll from light to shadow is sublime!
I am new to your blog and found it thru David...The truck is fabulous..as is all of your work I have seen....I will be following along!
By golly, Terry, you are spot on about those pesky and overly assertive pipes not really supporting the "Lobentruck". I'll take care of them in the future. Time to move on. That was FUN, and if you ever want to do it again (smaller format for sure), and maybe include somer artists that you know, I'm ready.
Hey Terry . . .A fine conclusion which put both Dave and me to shame!! Nice job! It was really fun to do this!
David, the big format was out of my comfort zone, which is exactly why it was challenging and educational. I like that I was forced to do something I wouldn't ordinarily do.
I see there's interest in doing this sort of thing with more artists. I say, more the merrier! Different set of parameters would keep things interesting, each time.
Sorta like class assignments, eh?
Nonsense, Mike! I mean you both did fantastic paintings and I learned much from seeing how you and david each solved problems. Great way to see and understand beyond one's box, as it were :-)
Thanks for joining in!
Hi Theresa, and thanks for visiting!! Perhaps you'll join in the next "challenge" that David cooks up!
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