"Edge of Summer"watercolor, 22 x 30 inches
SOLD
At this time of year, I clean out my flat files to find what to exhibit at my annual Open Studio.
There are always a few unfinished paintings on which I became stuck, or unable to finish for one reason or another . . . . .usually it is some design indecision and huge doubt about continuing that causes me to stop and put the painting away. Often times, the painting will lean against my studio wall where I can see it. Eventually, the idea becomes stale and the painting ends up languishing in the flat file . . . .sometimes for 5 or more years!!
In the clean out process, I will invariably come across one or two that yell out to me to finish. And they do so with instant knowledge of what needs doing. You might even say that this is a resurrection from the boneyard because many simply wait to be destroyed and thrown out.
It is nice to be able to pull one out, now and then, which speaks to me so loudly. This one did . . . . . . .and I'm now happy that I saved it for the time to let my knowledge catch up to what was needed in the painting.
24 comments:
Oh Yes!
All I can say is, WOW.
whoa! What a differance a day makes!
"...time to let my knowledge catch up to what was needed in the painting".
What a lovely way of putting it!
I particularly like the lower third (and the vibrant colour and contrasts, that almosts goes without saying) - foregrounds can be difficult but this one really sings.
The centre of interest in this work grabs the eye. Delightful interplay of values and colour.
Yosemite Valley, right?
awesome........love the dull purple gray behind the golden yellow....great painitng wow. yes I agree
ellen
Amazing flow of colour & cobination.i like ur work so much!
I wonder what was the problem in your older version!It would definitely give us knowledge if you could let us know.
As for this resurrected version, WOW!
John, Natizt and Ida . . .Thanks for coming by. Glad you guys like it!
Kay, It never occurred to me that there would be any other way of putting it . . . .as painters, our knowlege and taste changes as we develop. If we wait long enough, the knowlege and taste change enough that we don't like what we painted years back. I find I am painting less and thinking more as I become more aware of the dynamics of design. This painting had me stuck though . . .big time! . . . . .it wasn't until that demo by Scott Christensen that and awakening occurred enough to see precisely what needed to be done.
Sweeeeeet growth!
Ed . . . .Yep! That place is a real challenge to paint because of the immensity and overwhelming of the senses.
Ellen . . .Thanks. That violet gray was one of the changes made . . . . . .
Ramesh . . .just for you . . .here is what was needed: The vertical walls of granite in the background were too light in value. They needed to grade darker as they descended toward the ground plane. And they needed to tend toward a neutral violet in order to have the intensity and hue contrast in the yellow shapes. The value shift was a major change for the walls, while the light values in the upper right corner had to change also to avoid distraction from the main subject. Lastly, I had waited until the very end to paint the dead foreground tree. It was one of those fear of failure things that kept me from doing it. I knew if that part of the painting failed, there would be little to I could do to save the painting. Te color, value and line of the tree had to be right on the money the first time it was painted. I got lucky
Nice one! Thumbs up, happy painting!
What a joyful painting! Great color and complements.
No... tree was not "luck"; Sheer artistic competence!
Thanks for sharing this one...
Hank Z.
Mike, I must have subconsciously appropriated your blog title. I didn't realize it until you pointed it out. Powerful words by brilliant people stay lodged in my memory. Unfortunately, I am not always aware of the source. Mia Culpa. You continue to be my mentor.
Hey mike! spending some time catching up....Glad you saved this one! It's a beaut!
Love the diversity of medium and styles, of teaching, commiserating and soul searching....It's all paying off in the quality you are achieving....Nice work! And thanks for sharing it all with us!
Thanks, Kay! You always have something nice to say! Sure wish we lived closer so we could share each others work personally.
Hey Myrna . . .no sweat! I thought it was funny, actually!
Hey Robin!! You should talk, ole man!! The stuff you are doin' is blowin me away! Sure can see your growth! It's really amazing!!
Wow, Mike! This painting really catches the eye. Good luck with your open studio.
Hola Mike..me Deen from Golden Sand, Malaysia. I a amateur artist in village. You're really great artist. Hope I can share some idea and experience with you. U can see also my oil painting in my blog. I really like Cloude Monet's style..ok..see ya
Beautiful!!
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