Thursday, January 08, 2009

A little exercise in simplifying, which is not as easy as it sounds.

No. 1
(4x6)

No. 2: with the tree and with it scrubbed it out.

(4x6)



No. 3


I began to feel one of the reasons I couldn't simplify this satisfactorily was that I hadn't, or couldn't figure out how to, divide the space into enough shapes ... I always had expanses I didn't know what to do with. So with No. 3 added color some more colors, to detract from the unresolved space.
No great results here, except that I think I'm happiest with the first one, which is closest to my usual way of painting, so maybe I should take some comfort in that!


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8 comments:

Teresa said...

Hmmm.... well, hope you don't mind me saying so... but I like No. 2! Seems more inviting somehow. They're all good... but I guess I like the sunny appeal of the second one.

Sandy Maudlin said...

Well.... I like the third one. It seems the most simplified to me. I sweep in along the path toward the sea and my eye is stopped and redirected by the dark shapes on the left. Well done.

Jennifer Rose said...

I prefer the first one too, has lovely colours :) The third picture isn't working for me so can't say if I like that one better (page load error its telling me)

one would think simplifying would be easier but its often harder to make a simple image look good or balanced on the paper.

laura said...

I love it: three responses, three different opinions! I'm often about to chuck something when someone, my brother or a friend, will say they love it--you never know (or I don't anyway).

A Brush with Color said...

What a cool exercise! I like the notion of trying the same thing different ways. I've done that before and always feel like I learn something. Of course, sometimes I learn that I hate what I've done! Yours are beautiful--amazing how that tree scrubbed out! I like each one of these for different reasons. Really nice!!

Art with Liz said...

I'm a fan of no. 1 - beautiful.

Mineke Reinders said...

No. 1 is my favorite too, very strong and "complete" to my eye, but I like the others too.

Sandy Maudlin said...

Hey, just checking back and now there are 4 posts. My #3 is the third pix that I like the best. Great exercise in what a variety of shapes and value will do when thrown in with some vibrant colors.