14 x 5"sold
About five years back, when I was just starting to paint, I emailed a well-known artist and asked him to take a look at my work and tell me what I was missing. He offered one comment that stuck with me - to pay as much attention to the edges as the content. I was too tight - too illustrative. And it's not what I wanted to achieve - I wanted to find the balance of details needed and leave the rest to impression. With each and every painting, I have to pay great attention to that fine line - not to say there are days when I desire to tighten up and other times I desire to really lay on the painterly strokes.
I don't have a favorite feature in this new piece - I love all of it. That final dab of light blue on the bathing suit mattered, although I don't know what made me do it other than intuition.
I don't have a favorite feature in this new piece - I love all of it. That final dab of light blue on the bathing suit mattered, although I don't know what made me do it other than intuition.
The edges are just as I want - allowing some to be rough and some soft.
Love it!!!! It took my breath away.
ReplyDeleteI would like to be IN your painting! Perfect balance of impression and detail. The way you handle the paint is just beautiful!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! Hard to believe you've only been painting for 5 years.
ReplyDeleteI have had the same problem with my wc, being too tight. It's a process, like anything in life. Some days it works better than others. Nice light in your work!! I just stumbled in here... All the best
ReplyDeleteEdges, edges. It's all about the edges! I've done many paintings that others would have regarded as successful, but I wasn't satisfied because the edges weren't right. Wonderful beach painting, Karin.
ReplyDeleteThat's great advice your were given...and I think I'll use it myself! I'm just starting out and my paintings and drawings are far too tight, I find it difficult to let myself go and trust expressive lines or allusions to form. If you have another nugget of wisdom to add I'd be really grateful :o)
ReplyDeleteLove the painting, esp. the choice of canvas size and flash of lime green at the side. Inspired!
This is just perfect! From her pointed toes, to the book, to the thermos/bag, to the chair with clothes. Love how you repeated colors to help carry things. And the dabs of blue on her suit are exactly in place. This whole thing "reads" perfectly, from left to right. Love it!
ReplyDeleteYes, the dab of blue did it. I've been thinking like that too, color all colors are in things and sometimes it makes the piece...this is wonderful!
ReplyDeletethank you for passing on that advice. Sometimes I wonder if I'm ever going to "get it".
ReplyDeleteFIVE years! Congratulations - this painting is beautiful -
ReplyDeleteThis is fabulous - a new favorite! Thanks for the pointer re edges! Ditto to Lisa's comment - this took my breath away also!
ReplyDeleteLove it - brought my breath back.
ReplyDeleteLove this painting! Not only are the edges the way you wanted, but the light you captured is amazing! You continue to inspire so many of us!!
ReplyDeleteAnother delicious, very nice edges indeed! Karin what makes your brushstrokes look so prominent when you want them to be? I guess thick and no medium?
ReplyDeleteHmm. It's all about the edges.
ReplyDeleteIt's nice to stumble upon a blog post right when you need it. Thanks!
Gosh Karin...This is so beautiful, so lovely! It is hard to realize that you've not always painted. I never see a flaw in your work and it seems to me you could be the teacher. I want that woman's figure!
ReplyDeleteI swear the pages on that book are moving!
ReplyDeleteI am amazed Karin that you have been only painting 5 years!! Your work shows so much depth and understanding of the medium. I LOVE this beach scene, your attention to the edges has paid off magnificently.
ReplyDeleteRae
I'm going to have to agree with you. I love all of it. Great job!
ReplyDelete-Don
what you wrote in this post has changed the way I look at painting. Thank you. You are the most infulential painter working today.
ReplyDeleteI agree that this is one special work. The colors, the light, the edges.
ReplyDeleteYou have a way of balancing saturated color (never saccharine) with rich neutrals. I love the illustrative but painterly quality of your work.
And the intuitive strokes? Well, they are the most satisfying.
Brilliant paintings and unique vision.
Another extraordinary painting! The color, value and temperature of the sand, and then all the other colors working off of it-absolutely gorgeous, and SO hard to do! I once spent 8 hours mixing sand colors, trying to get just the right mix...
ReplyDeleteYou continue to inspire me.