Monday, May 11, 2009

How did you do that?



Step Two
Skype Diptych Mother and Child
The Mother
8 x 8 inches
acrylic on canvass
(unfinished. Working on the face,
hair, background.)


I've been working today on a small painting that will be
one half of a diptych (two paintings that can join together).
Someday I will do a very complicated painting with 10
or more pieces that work together. So far I think the
maximum number of joined pieces I've painted is five.
I'm a big fan of Larry Rivers, as I've said before, and I'm
really sorry that he died before I could meet him, because
I had a lot of questions when I started reading about him --
Mostly -- "how did you do that?"

That's probably the number one question I'd like to ask
any artist I admire. How? How did you get that light,
that luminosity, that mood, that colour, and on and on.
In Larry's case it would be, " how did you make things look
3D, and how did you join so many paintings together?"

In the blog world I'm learning by looking. I stare at
the work of favorite artists, and the lessons leap
out at me. That doesn't mean I can do anything
approaching what you do -- but it does mean I can
ask fewer questions when we all meet.

Have a looking-is-learning-and-loving-it day.

4 comments:

  1. Oh! A good painting in spite of the teeth! I alsways find it very difficult and not really good to paint a face with teeth but here it works fine. She has a beautiful
    face with a veautiful expression. Well done, Barbara!

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  2. Hi Liza,

    We've talked about teeth before. I'm not finished, don't worry. But this was the beginning. I don't know how much more detail I'll put on the teeth. I'm trying to do a slightly softer work -- maybe not possible. I so like strong colour!

    xoxoxoxBarbara

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  3. I don't know if you've noticed but my work has changed a bit over the last few months. Main thing is color is a little more bold. A lot of that comes from seeing your work. I'll never paint with the boldness and vibrancy that you do but seeing your work pushes me a little bit in that direction. Thanks for showin and sharin!!
    EW

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  4. Hi Eldon,

    Well the pushing certainly works both ways. And I am pulled and made to think by great artist blogs like yours. I cannot do what you do, I am not an oil painter, and I can't make a landscape sing, but I sure can stare at your work, and imagine doing that.

    Take care,

    Barbara

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Your thoughts and positive comments make my day. Thank you for stopping by.