The carnations were last seen at this stage. The coaster, vase with stems, bows, vase-base, roses, and even the curly willow weren’t up to the level that Mr. and Mrs. Fifty Years deserve.
What’s a Central California artist to do?
Well, just keep licking the canvas, of course. (Don’t get your knickers in a twist–it is only a figure of speech.)
When an item is complicated with subtle angles that matter, I turn it upside down and copy exactly what I see. Okay, not EXACTLY, but as close as I am able on the angles and proportions that matter. The coaster beneath the vase is a real bugger-bear, to quote my friend Ft. Worth Jim. (who pronounces his name “Jee-im” as if it has 2 syllables).
(Hi Gnat!)
Where was I?
The upside down coaster, while looking at the upside down photo on the laptop screen.
There are many details to it, details that can be ignored because it is not the reason for the painting.
The roses are Very Important to the painting. Carnations have their own happy prettiness, but roses are pure elegance.
Can I be finished now?
Nope. Here is some self-talk: Study the photo of the painting, evaluate the things that matter, speculate on what could be better, touch up those little items, strengthen the contrast, soften the irrelevant parts, and don’t sign it until you have taken it to the nth degree.
Yes, I know, the painting has come a very long distance from its humble beginning of red blobs, seen here. But the fat lady has not sung. (Someone bring her another cookie, please.)
9 Comments
Jana, I keep looking for the jagged edges of the carnation petals to remind me that they are carnations. Maybe just a few more distinct lines within the carnations to set off those zig zag edges?
Great suggestion, Nikki. Thank you!
The blog site seems to have changed. I wasn’t getting the photos so I would scroll down to the bottom and click on a link to take me to the post. Then those went away so I would click on the Like on the bottom and it would take me to your site with the photos . Then that went away. I’ll try re-subscribing. Or just go to your site to see them! ?
I know you have better things to do – like paint and draw and all kinds of creative endeavors, but wanted you to know.
Thank you for checking in, Anne. I do not understand why email subscribers cannot see the photos. Most email subscribers don’t understand that they can go to the World Wide Web to see the blog, or if they go to my site on the internet, many don’t understand where to find the blog. And sometimes there is no menu, only a few little horizontal lines. Other times, those little menu lines aren’t visible. There are so many variables that I have given up trying to solve things and just await something, anything, from my web designer.
I appreciate your persistence (and no, I don’t think people are annoying! I talked to Barb on Saturday and we had a good laugh).
It sure looks good to me! But then again, I’m an aural artist, not a visual artist.
Interesting sidenote (speaking of aural–get it? Sidenote?): Some magazines (yes, we seasoned citizens still read printed magazines!) have a contest where you find an object–poppy, needle, flower–hidden somewhere in the magazine, usually in a picture. Normally, I’m pretty good about finding these items, but when I get stuck, I turn the magazine upside down, and That usually does the trick!
Sharon, that is so interesting! I rely on the upside-down method for drawing and painting (doesn’t work in murals) but have never considered it for a Find The Poppy situation. (Yes, I get Westways, but I seldom read it).
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