Monday, August 25, 2008

little dune studies

(4 4x6s)
The little studies. I propped the board with the photos up about 6 feet away from where I was painting, but my hand still insisted on adding little dabs.
I'm not including closeups because these really do better from farther away--up close they're labored-looking: and I did spend too much time on them, pecking away.
I think I may have been able to move on sooner--in time!--if I had been happy with the dark green--I just wasn't able to get a color that I liked! And, even from far away (didn't take into account that I'm farsighted!) I obssessed a bit over the details, or rather over trying to get that sense of small grass-topped drifts staggering away.
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5 comments:

  1. These are great! As you know, one of the biggies is knowing when to stop. But we can also be a little too self-critical...

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  2. Thanks, Suzanne--of course, you're right! Knowing when to stop is key. Looking again, I think the problem here is I didn't let the colors flow and pushed them around too much, like a bully! :-) Have to let them be.

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  3. Yes, you have to let the colors be, but let yourself be too! This does not look labored to me, in fact it's very fresh. I love especially the second one from top, where the white of the paper plays a key role, supported by those pale, subtle washes, and punctuated by the juicy darks. Really lovely!

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  4. Not labored-looking at all - quite lovely, (but I know that pecking away syndrome well!)I agree - the second one is my favourite. Dark green is so difficult - I'm battling with it too - only halfway through my landscape and already it's overworked.

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  5. Oh, I think these turned out BEAUTIFULLY! I really love them. I don't think they look labored at all. they're stunning. Could you frame them in one frame with mats cut around them? Really fun watching these develop. Excellent!

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