6 x 6"oil on masonite
sold
Today was the first day back in my studio in over a week. I came from a chilly, crowded, noisy city - back to the warm, cozy, quiet sanctuary in my own backyard. Yay. It's good to be here. It's great to get busy again. It was also my last trip for a good while and I'm perfectly happy about that.
A few weeks ago, I was content staying home after traveling a good bit since February - then I realized I wouldn't - just couldn't - miss seeing the Hopper exhibit before it ended. So at the last minute I bolted to Chicago and I'm so glad I did it. I stood in front of paintings that I never experienced before - and felt as if I was meeting a celebrity in person. To face 'Early Sunday Morning' made my knees weak. The awe. The lessons. So much to learn from everything I saw. Mostly - it is the courage to put an unexpected color down and leave it. It's what gives a painting life. It's what we could see if we take the time to notice. It's how I want to paint for the rest of my days.
With that said, my painting today, as small as it is, has every color in the rainbow. Whether my brain made sense of it or not - like the lavender skin of the legs and the peachy reds of the skin on the shoulder. Paint what is there - not what you think is logical. I do that often, then I get too picky and representational - and I forget that magic. I'll stand before a Sargent or a Hopper and think I would have never thought of that color in that particular spot - but it makes it right. And I must remember that always when I'm the one with the brush in my hand.
This new piece wraps up my alphabet series, with the letter Z for Zen. A moment of Zen, something that we all need to seek out from time to time. Taken from the National Gallery of Art, in Washington DC.
A few weeks ago, I was content staying home after traveling a good bit since February - then I realized I wouldn't - just couldn't - miss seeing the Hopper exhibit before it ended. So at the last minute I bolted to Chicago and I'm so glad I did it. I stood in front of paintings that I never experienced before - and felt as if I was meeting a celebrity in person. To face 'Early Sunday Morning' made my knees weak. The awe. The lessons. So much to learn from everything I saw. Mostly - it is the courage to put an unexpected color down and leave it. It's what gives a painting life. It's what we could see if we take the time to notice. It's how I want to paint for the rest of my days.
With that said, my painting today, as small as it is, has every color in the rainbow. Whether my brain made sense of it or not - like the lavender skin of the legs and the peachy reds of the skin on the shoulder. Paint what is there - not what you think is logical. I do that often, then I get too picky and representational - and I forget that magic. I'll stand before a Sargent or a Hopper and think I would have never thought of that color in that particular spot - but it makes it right. And I must remember that always when I'm the one with the brush in my hand.
This new piece wraps up my alphabet series, with the letter Z for Zen. A moment of Zen, something that we all need to seek out from time to time. Taken from the National Gallery of Art, in Washington DC.
13 comments:
Just knowing Elio Camacho notices my work makes my day. Thank you for telling me that. And the auction will begin tonight - the link was posted early. It will show up at 9.
Inspirational trips like that can be motivational and overwhelming at the same time. I felt that way the day I first discovered your paintings. Thanks for posting them!
The purple leg,,,
I did a painting today of my dog and changed that same purple (canine) leg to something my brain could make sense of...oops!
Deb
I was just checking to see if you were back and Voila! a new painting. Great colors. Also can't wait to see what you will paint after seeing the Hopper exhibit. Wish I could have seen it.
Glad you had a good trip.
You prove a great point. Strong drawing, structure and composition make playing with color possible and there is where the magic can be found.
love this blog and todays post especially!
Well, this is a lovely painting and the unexpected colors do add interest, but she also looks like someone has been kicking her legs. Maybe she plays soccer?
Karin,
Andrea and I saw the Hopper exhibit several weeks ago. It was awesome....and between the Hopper and the Winslow Homer, there were a LOT of paintings to see. It took us a good long while to look at them all.
I loved the huge version of "Nighthawks" that welcomed you into the exhibit.
I've often thought many of your pieces were 'Hopper-esque." Especially the solitary figures.
This is a special little painting. More than the subject and your handling of it, there's a sense of awe you've given us.
What an inspirational post - I'm so glad you hopped over to Chicago.
I particularly like your wall!
So...
You are going to sell an alphabet book now that you're done, right?
Working on that book right now.
Excellent! I just remembered to check back to see if you'd answered my question about the book.
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