New ideas

Tulips with color
Size 24X18 Acrylic on board

This is my favorite painting of the moment.* I think it's because it's pulled together a number of processes I've been exploring of late into one painting. In some senses it illustrates a direction I want to explore further. Many of these 'concepts' are pretty subtle, but one example is placing dabs of color throughout the painting that relate to other areas within the painting, these are sometimes done as small flecks or tones of color shining through from the under painting, or as very clear defined brush strokes of color. This technique of course isn't new in the world of art, or even new to me; but recently I've been consciously engaging it and acting on it in a more dramatic fashion. (This can be seen in the backdrop with the pink on the left having sympathetic 'blobs' of pink on the right, surrounding the flowers).

Another more compelling idea I've been exploring is having swathes (or bands) of color moving through the painting, this can be seen with both the usage of the pink and the blue around the background. This week I'm completing another painting with a similar color plan to this, to reinforce in my mind some of these ideas. I'll post it when it's done.

detail.

detail.

* Over the years, I've come to realize that my favorite painting is not always anyone else's favorite. These things are very subjective and personal. Generally in a solo show it's my least favorite painting that sells first, so there you go what do I know! As a rule I find it best to love them all and keep quite about which ones I like the best; just breaking the rule a little today with this post.

Sometimes I just can't help myself.

Sometimes I just can't help myself; sometimes it's easier to say leave a finished painting alone, rather than finding yourself tampering. There I was just about to varnish my painting and I thought, well why not. Dark blue becomes white/pink.

I thought it would be improved if I allowed the Delphiniums to stand out more by giving the paintings background a higher key color around the flowers allowing them to do this.

Before...

After...

Delphinium with melon No2
size: 12 X 9 Acrylic on board

Underpaintings - Plums, pears and lillies

I tend to always use an under painting when painting a still life, for me it's a little like building a good foundation for the house to be built on; in other words, 'it keeps me right' as I progress. I enjoy to paint colors within my under painting that either harmonize or contrast with my planned colors for the final paintings. Then as I paint later stages of paint I allow it to show through in areas to create interest and depth to areas of color. Additionally the under painting also creates greater complexity of color in the final painting.

Here's a couple of examples.

example color plan: stargazer lilies with fruit and chair (size 40X55)

example color plan: Tulips with bell peppers and limes (size 20X24)

This latest painting felt a little different to me, because I consciously chose soft pastel hues with unusual color choices.

the under painting

The painting mid way through.

I think because I was planning on leaving a lot of color showing through I kept the colors throughout the painting fairly close together in relationships; - the green/ yellow tablecloth, with the yellow ochre back drape, coupled with yellow and brown/red objects. I did this somewhat subconsciously, but I'm glad I did.

This is the final painting. I think these dramatic pastel color hues poking through the final paint have worked well in this case. Giving both the tablecloth and background drape a lot of energy and warmth, especially when studied close.

Plums, pears and lillies. Acrylic on board size 24X18

I took these details (below) to show the under painting really showing through and reacting with the foreground colors.

detail.

detail.

fiddling going nowhere...

fruit and milk jug on patterned cloth
12 X 26 Acrylic on board

I confess I fiddled rather a lot and largely needlessly on this one. The final painting is even fractionally different from this! For a while I had a different edging on the table cloth, but it was too distracting. Additionally I made a lot of changes to the tone and color of the Papaya, but the end result was always much the same....oh well. Sometimes it's hard to realize you're spinning your wheels... moving on.

More small paintings

Pear with Papaya study
9 X 12 Acrylic on board

Lemons with cherries
9 X 12 Acrylic on board

Delphinium with melon No2
12 X 9 Acrylic on board