I think this big painting is nearing completion. I've been adjusting edges and adding more definitive detail strokes here and there. I keep having to remind myself that it's an Impressionist painting. If I let my mind wonder I start rendering the forms too much and it gets too realistic, ruining the overall mood. I step back every few minutes, notice where I went too realistic, scrape that area, and paint over again. I've repeating that process endlessly, it seems.
Doing this painting has helped me with my other pieces enormously. Specifically with the cityscapes where accurate drawing always gets in the way of expression, I've been able to step out of the realism box with greater success lately, and that's all due to the relentless need to consider the abstract aspect of each and every stroke on the big painting.
So what now? More adjustments. The darkest darks look too spotty in this photo, but that's because it's wet. When dry, I'm betting that it'll lighten up a bit and will not be so patchy looking. I am going to add more complementary notes in sea of blue green, and integrate some of the upper trunk edges into the surrounding shapes. May be a few more grassy patches in the foreground.
I think that'll do it!
8 comments:
Your blog is one of my favorites. I love viewing your work and reading your posts. Thumbs up from me!
This painting is amazing. I can't imagine how impressive it must be in person considering its size.
Thanks Ann!
Thanks Jeremy~ I obviously can't show it to you in person, but I'll post a big file when it's done~
So my question is bigger better? I imagine that the impact of the larger painting has a certain effect all in itself.. And will you frame it?
Are you thinking of creating something this big for your city show? These questions might be to personal, I understand if you do not respond.
Mike, what I wanted to do was to create a painting that not only looks like the olive grove, but feels like it. A sense of being there, and not just a visual record. In that sense, bigger is not only better, but necessary.
I haven't thought about framing, but It'll likely end up in a simple, clean floater. A big bulky frame wouldn't work too well, I'd imagine...
A cityscape this big? Maybe eventually. Last time I tried a huge cityscape (it was a mural) took me a year and a half. Obviously, not enough time for the upcoming show!
You've got a great sense of atmosphere on this one Terry. Very nice!
Thanks Cathy!
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