Sunday, July 13, 2008

"Georgetown Rooftops"

9 x 12"
oil on masonite
sold

For the next couple of weeks, I'll be working on paintings for a group show at 16 Patton, in Asheville - titled 'Escapes: Day to Night'. I love/hate painting landscapes and nightscapes.
I start each piece with great hopes of creating something different than the usual, then an hour into it, I lose my confidence. Invariably I start tightening up, then I wipe it off and start again.

This is the first finished painting - the industrial neighborhood of Seattle, what I think is Georgetown, if I remember correctly. I was dazzled by it. After driving around the area, I got a higher perspective - around the time the sun was setting, which made for glistening light and a smoky atmosphere.

Please click here for a larger view.




22 comments:

Chris said...

I love this. Bravo!

Marilyn M. King said...

I'm sitting here with the sick feeling in my gut that means I'm afraid to begin painting but feel the pressure to do so. I look at blogs instead and here I hear YOU express "fear" in the process too. Thanks for your vulnerability in sharing that! But your work shows no such lack of confidence. Brilliant!!!!! I'm enjoying you landscapes very much.

Karin Jurick said...

It's not so much fear as it is reluctance, which I hope is better. Being afraid to fail is not an option, in anything (except for maybe parachuting out of a plane). Remember it's only paint. And it's quite a good feeling of accomplishment when you defy the doubts.

Jeff Mahorney said...

This is just wonderful. I don't know if it's the strong hard contrasts from the light source or the beautiful atmospheric background. Whatever it is, I just love this one. :)

Sarah said...

Oh Karin this is brilliant, I really really LOVE this, it is so evocotive and beautiful, a little stunner, well done, simple yet complex all aat the same time. I am hugely impressed.

Don Gray said...

Stunning painting. Beautiful work, Karin.

Steven P. Goodman said...

I love all your work but this one took my breathe away! Beautiful. BTW, I was in Asheville a couple of weeks ago and stopped in at 16 Patton. You have great photos of your work on your blog but they really don't compare to seeing the pieces in person. Just stunning.

Anonymous said...

This is such a solid painting. When I look out a hotel window at rooftops I can't see a painting but you sure did.

Carol H. said...

Beautiful work, I love your landscapes, and this is quintessential Georgetown!

Jennifer Phillips said...

I drive through this area of Seattle quite often. For being an old industrial district, you have really turned it into a beautiful site to see!
I too share in your reluctance sometimes when approaching my canvas for a challenging painting. A friend once told me to never stop when struggling with a piece, you may rob yourself of what you may have discovered! Struggles are break-throughs in disguise!

jilly ballantyne said...

Just fantastic! The contrasting light, and the real feeling of evening sun, makes this urban view so beautiful. WOW!

Deb Kirkeeide said...

You just keep growing and growing. This is really wonderful. It is so effective in putting the viewer right there experiencing that time of day.

Bill Brauker said...

A departure for you, but you pulled it off beautifully. That reflected light is just perfect.

Dianne Mize said...

It's a wonderful painting, Karin. You'd never know there had been a struggle while it was coming to life.

Vicki Shuck said...

Wow. Love the atmospheric feel in this and those beautiful brushstrokes. Also really like the way you carry my eye into the distance. Beautiful!

eLIZabeth Floyd said...

Lovely painting, when I first saw this post this morning I was struck by the strong sense of light. And then this evening when thinking about things, I was reminded of your painting and now, it is the presense of man I feel. And how we live in such a vibrant world.

Thanks for sharing your interpretation of this very urban image.

Mona Diane Conner said...

Very tricky, yet successful perspective, and as others
have said, such wonderful atmosphere and gleam.

I particularly like the way this painting draws you into the distance from the lower left to the upper right.

Cooper Dragonette said...

I'm floored Karin. Your work never ceases to amaze me and this piece in particular is dazzling.

Stephen Magsig said...

Karin,
This is just beautiful color and values, and the Vespa is a winner. Good luck on the show.
Your work is very inspiring.

Katherine Kean said...

Wow, beautiful painting - really captures the light and feeling!

Adam Cope said...

like this

strange new world

paint on & enjoy the trip

best

adam

Mary Sheehan Winn said...

it seems everyone wrestles with the fear of failure issue. The most liberating thing is to just grab something and start painting it. This
painting everyday (and I haven't)is a sure fire way of getting over it.
These paintings look damn good on the blog. I might need a defibrillator if I saw them up close :D