Monday, September 26, 2011

Flowers go big and the coffee dilemma


Flowers at the cottage(work in progress)
Current version
Acrylic on canvas
24 x 24 inches
Barbara Muir © 2011

Flowers at the cottage(work in progress)
With the coffee cups (now removed)
Acrylic on canvas
24 x 24 inches
Barbara Muir © 2011


Here's the painting I'm working on right now for an
upcoming November show with my friend Gill Cameron.
 It's a larger version of yesterday's painting.  I am close to
finishing it, with a few details here and there to
decided on. 

Since the outset I have tried putting cups
on the table twice.  First it was espresso cups, but
they looked silly.  So small with the giant bouquet.
Then today I tried coffee cups, but I just could not
get them to do what I was hoping for.  In the end
I removed them, and we'll see what tomorrow will
decide.  I may just go for a simple shadow, and leave
it.  There will be more to come.

The bouquet was from my friend Ken's garden in Pugwash,
Nova Scotia.  Ken is one of the best gardeners I've ever
met.  He has created three varieties of petunia which are
in every hanging planter I've seen.  I even have a planter
with one of his flowers in it, here in Toronto, where it
is extremely popular.  He's also a super nice guy. And he
wanders around his garden talking while he picks the blooms
for me.  The whole experience is awesome.

Have an enjoying the flowers in your life day.
at

12 comments:

  1. Tammy HextSeptember 27, 2011 at 3:56 AM

    Cannot wait to see what you do with this one. I do agree it needs something in that corner - I am sure you will figure it out. I really like this one!
    Tam

    ReplyDelete
  2. Nancy LaliberteSeptember 27, 2011 at 8:57 AM

    Gorgeous color, Barbara! Probably just some color shifts in the corner would finish it. I love the flowers!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Liza HirstSeptember 27, 2011 at 9:53 AM

    Beautiful colours and abundance, and I agree, it was the right decision to take away the cups! For me, it doesn't really need anything else in that corner, because the chair already balances the picture.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Kim RempelSeptember 27, 2011 at 3:43 PM

    Hey Barbara - just chiming in here. I like it as is and it feels right to me. My eye moves around, everything feels well-weighted. I'd leave it - it's gorgeous!

    ReplyDelete
  5. NickiSeptember 27, 2011 at 6:14 PM

    I'm adding my two cents- because that is all my thoughts are worth... :o)

    I think it is good the way it is- I think it is better without the coffee cups. I find them distracting and to me it is all about those gorgeous flowers.

    You'll know when it is done and when it is right. It needs to fit your vision first.

    XO Nicki

    ReplyDelete
  6. Barbara MuirSeptember 29, 2011 at 7:05 PM

    Hi Tammy,

    Thanks so much. Ultimately I don't think I'm doing much more. But I'll let it sit and see what I think.

    XO Barbara

    ReplyDelete
  7. Barbara MuirSeptember 29, 2011 at 7:06 PM

    Hi Nancy,

    Yes I'll think about that. Thanks so much. I love the flowers too, and the real ones were beyond awesome.

    XO Barbara

    ReplyDelete
  8. Barbara MuirSeptember 29, 2011 at 7:08 PM

    Hi Liza,

    Thanks for your thoughts. I agree with you. I've decided to let it sit while I work on something else. There is always something else to do while it cooks for a day or so.

    xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoBarbara

    ReplyDelete
  9. Barbara MuirSeptember 29, 2011 at 7:09 PM

    Hi Kim,

    I love your beautiful tree. I hope you just let it be. Someone is going to buy that baby right out from under you. I know it.

    XO Barbara

    ReplyDelete
  10. Barbara MuirSeptember 29, 2011 at 7:11 PM

    Hi Nicki,

    Thanks a lot. We all seem to go through this putting it in, taking it out, adding to it, subtracting from it. I'm so glad I have friends like you on the net to hold my hand when I don't know which end is up. I take great comfort in your encouragement.
    Now...back to work for me.

    XO Barbara

    ReplyDelete
  11. Linny D. VineSeptember 29, 2011 at 10:07 PM

    Funny, but I like the striped coffee cups...maybe they just want to cozy up to the vase - or not!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Sheila VaughanOctober 1, 2011 at 5:21 AM

    Your florals are absolute crackers Barbara. How you do that with acrylics I'll never know.

    ReplyDelete

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