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Sunday, November 24, 2013

MORE


 IN PROGRESS:  First Snow, 9" x 11", oil on stretched canvas, Paint session 3.

Some thought this painting was close to being finished, I needed MORE.  The woods had to feel MORE woodsy and so MORE layers were added and details developed.  I also needed the composition to remain on the picture plane and not veer off to the right. MORE elements needed to be added to keep the eye focused.  The color in this reproduction is close, but not right on. The "snow" is pinker than in the original. The pink is the beginning of a correction; I wan't too concerned over the mismatch, the MORE broken color the better.  Never doing any preliminary drawing, drawing correction is always an important  part of my painting process.

IN PROGRESS:  Hillpoint Berm, 9"x 11", oil. Painting session 4.

I needed MORE boken colors in Hillpoint Berm too. The initial work didn't "sit right. The colors weren't rich enough. There was no mingling of shades and hues and contrast colors. MORE had to be done--but not too much MORE, just some tweaking. The painting is close to finished.

My wanting MORE from these oils came about the last few days. I've been stocking my Etsy shop with acrylic landscapes. As I reviewed my files, it became very obvious that my acrylics were MORE vibrant and energetic than the oils.   That  meant I had to do MORE oils and get MORE practice if I wanted to bring them up to the same level. That decision is still out.

I did leave the first little oil alone.  It looked GE (good enough) when I went back to it after posting. It looked a little ice creamy to me, but my reference photograph had been taken during the ice cream season. So, nothing MORE was need. The painting said it.


I know MORE is not always better. There's a fine line between MORE and less in painting.  The trick is to know when to stop.  I don't always.  That's why watercolor is not my  medium of choice and is best left to those who have mastered its techniques. What I don't care for is: Correction is nearly impossible and the surface is easily destroyed the MORE you try. Funny thing though, that's the medium I'm taking on sabbatical, the one I know the least about.


20 comments:

  1. It's become a color feast with warm colours looks nice hugs Danielle

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    1. Thanks Danielle. It did need some perking up. Hugs back.

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  2. Like the direction you are taking with "more."

    Probably by the end of vacation, you will be rocking those watercolors. Have fun.

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    1. I doubt it. Watercolors do travel though with no mess. MORE has been frowned upon in art. So came the minimalists who were so minimal, the wall was bare. So why not push more to the hilt? Leave all the lines in. Leave all the wrong colors in. Leave every mark in that lead you to the finish line. More adds interest. More reveals the rich history of the process.

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  3. Linda!
    The colors are fantastic! Bright! Dazzling! The cool and warm colors compliment one another wonderfully! Love the action and excitement! Very nice job!
    Michael

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    1. Michael , you do say the nicest things. You came come by anytime. Thank you.

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  4. I like the marks that continual correction gives. I work pretty much that way too. Will look forward to seeing the top one finished and already love the Berm for color and the oil for active surface and color.

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    1. I think of you when I'm working. I tried using a rubber spatula, but too soon. I might have to take a look at that video of yours and your marvelous tool. I had the desire to drag. Thanks Julie.

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  5. What a lovely bunch of colourful pictures. They are full of interest and life.

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    1. I'm glad you think I'm moving in the right direction. With these paintings, the win is that there's paint on canvas. After all the time off I took, I thought my painting habit might have been broken. These tell me, there's nothing to worry about. Thanks Mick for seconding my opinion.:-))

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  6. I like where you are going and I love the contrasts in the "first snow" painting. Not sure why, but I usually avoid going too light as contrast since it compete with my white lines, but I know that it is something to explore and am working at.

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    1. Thanks Roger. You do very well with light hues. My problem now is to subtlly break up all that light. This painting is looking a lot like a Greeting card. It's got a graphic quality, I find too neat.

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  7. You are someone who fully appreciates both vibrant color and the "randomness" of texture. I like how when you are dissatisfied you work on it until you see something more in line with your vision. All of these paintings are lovely...I especially love the "ice cream" one. :)

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    1. Thanks Celeste. I like that one too. Subject matter-wise, it's allusive-- you know it's a landscape, but all the details are not drawn in. The top one, as it stands, is a Greeting Card picture suitable for Thanksgiving. The middle one is just twin trees. The allusive one wins my vote for having the most interest. I'll just keep painting till the paintings say what I want or it's just time to move on. I am just glad I am back too painting--not as much as I would like, but GE. :-))

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  8. Hi Linda! You seem to be pretty happy with your choice of paintings and I must say they agree with you. What patience you have! Love to see the different steps in your work. Good luck with aquarella! I'm still experimenting and I love it.

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    1. The little paintings let me know that all the time off these last weeks didn't lessen my ability. You know when you're not working regularly, you do worry about losing your edge. I just wish I was young enough to recapture some of my edginess. These are pretty tame. --but the, maybe I never was edgy at all when it came to painting? I did ignore it for decades.

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  9. Linda, I love your two works in progress! Your zeal and passion comes through so strongly. The colors and dynamic strokes are great! For you, "more" is definitely better. :)
    Kathryn XOXO

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    1. Thanks Kathryn. I appreciate your enthusiasm. I wish I was as enthusiastic. I think I'm missing a bit more abstraction. But before I can abstract, I should stick with traditional representation.

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  10. HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO YOU TOO JJ! Thank you.

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  11. I love seeing and reading about your painting process. They all look happy and singing with color to me and I like them all! I know nothing about acrylics or oils. I have been struggling with watercolors, making lots of ugly overworked paintings. Today another attempt, I have to get it right someday.

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