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Friday, August 15, 2014

NO MODEL? RAINING? PAINT STILL LIFES

IN PROGRESS: Van EElees, oil, 16" x 8"


The cone flowers died. Shoes never die. I save them forever thinking, "One day maybe....?"  Paint what you love.  I love shoes as much as I love flowers falling as they may on the still life pedestal I've set up between the two easels in my studio in an effort to paint from life when plein air is out of the question due to rain or laziness.

Shoes are fun, but challenging as a subject!  I never was easy on myself--and I always loved colors  in a multitude of values all mixed up. This is as far as I got. It's a complex composition, the kind that  isn't knocked out in a day.  Edges, a steady hand and accurate drawing are key. 
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20 comments:

  1. juliefordoliver.blogspot.comAugust 15, 2014 at 10:50 PM

    The front sandal wins the show for me.
    I really like this - especially the structure of it. From flowers to shoes...looking forward to seeing what's next.

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    1. Linda RothAugust 16, 2014 at 7:32 AM

      The Van Eli wedge. Painful to wear, but interesting as hell to paint. Flowers are more forgiving. And shoes are a few sessions. I will continue to try and come up with non-living things I don't have to drive miles early on a Saturday morning in order to paint from life that are not the usual stuff of still life's. I seem to recall someone who painted the kitchen sink. It was great! :-))

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  2. hmuxoAugust 15, 2014 at 11:27 PM

    Looking good so far, Linda!! This painting looks challenging with the shoes
    going in all directions. Waiting patiently for your next post.....

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    1. Linda RothAugust 16, 2014 at 8:10 AM

      Thanks Hilda. I'm just going to go a few more hours with this one. Photographic realism really isn't my cup of tea, but there's definitely some defining line work that needs doing before I move on. I do not like having to paint with my nose an inch away from the canvas.

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  3. ann @ studiohydeAugust 16, 2014 at 4:57 AM

    Makes for a great painting :-)

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    1. Linda RothAugust 16, 2014 at 8:15 AM

      Thanks Ann. I am having fun memoralizing shoes I used to wear to strut my stuff when I had stuff to strut.

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  4. Roger ÅkessonAugust 16, 2014 at 5:07 AM

    I recognized the theme at once, even though there is a lot of shapes and colors, one can tell that it is shoes. I love it. It got an abstract feel too it. Looking forward to see the progress.

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    1. Linda RothAugust 16, 2014 at 8:21 AM

      Well you and I both love colors and shapes up close and intermingling. A pile of colorful shoes satisfies that for me. Thanks Roger. Glad you're back knocking yourself out at the easel instead of in the kitchen. I hope it came out without too much of a hitch.

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  5. Studio at the FarmAugust 16, 2014 at 11:55 PM

    Love the composition, Linda. Those red shoes [mules ?] have my vote. I agree with Roger - lot of shapes and colors, looking almost abstract - beautiful!
    Kathryn

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    1. Linda RothAugust 17, 2014 at 7:18 AM

      No, sling back spectators. They have a black patten toe. These were easier to walk in than they are to paint. :-))

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  6. Celeste BerginAugust 17, 2014 at 11:46 AM

    what a good idea to paint shoes...there is something so evocative about them. Maybe it is because we really "get places" in them and they also make a statement about what type of person wears a particular style. I am tuned in to see the next phase. It is such a great idea and I like that you've jumbled them up. :)

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    1. Linda RothAugust 18, 2014 at 8:09 AM

      Thanks Celeste. The epiphany was painting still life's is painting from life the challenge was to find a subject that hasn't become cliche . That remains the challenge.

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  7. Rita VaselliAugust 17, 2014 at 5:14 PM

    Painting brilliant and the way you see the set of the shoes, unusual.
    They take shape as abstract things to turn out like shoes
    at a bit later time. True subtlety of composition, place the items in a way that will prove to the viewer more slowly. Skilled Linda !!!

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  8. Linda RothAugust 18, 2014 at 8:19 AM

    Thanks Rita. You are too kind; that's how those shoes were piled up in the storage closet. I just moved them to the still life table I contrived for myself. I do like things in a jumble., shapes intertwined fracturing the light. This subject isn't too far removed from my pastry paintings--and that's another epiphany ! Unfortunately, pastries enmass puts a camera in my hand and brings me back to using a reference photograph.

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  9. AAugust 18, 2014 at 11:52 AM

    It's hard not to love shoes :-)

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  10. SharonWrightArtistAugust 20, 2014 at 10:22 AM

    Fabulous, I'd take shoes over flowers anyday! I love your ideas, as I would never have thought of such a composition but it is different and gorgeous and interesting. The only painting I ever did of shoes was a grid-like arrangement! So boring.

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    1. Linda RothAugust 20, 2014 at 11:21 AM

      In the beginning of blogging, I did quite a few of those shoe drawings--one pair here, one pair there, very cutesy. They were lots of fun to do, but more illustration than fine art. Dumping them together on the table, made shoes the secondary subject and the abstract composition the primary subject. Now, how far can I take this? I won't know till I fail. :-))

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  11. Danielle v/d HorstAugust 21, 2014 at 3:41 PM

    Super gedaan Linda erg mooi gedaan lieve groetjes Danielle

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  12. Pam HugginsAugust 21, 2014 at 9:40 PM

    Well- this is simply gorgeous! I've always loved your shoe compositions.

    I read your latest post about paints. Too much chemistry for me but I truly admire your dedication. I just get to enjoy the view!

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