N.B., Click on images to zoom.
'Winter Scene in North Wales'
Oil Painting on Paper, mounted on Panel
Well, the heart operation is behind me, so I'm slowly getting back to work. My first efforts have been, without any exaggeration, somewhat pathetic. I've realised that I have to find ways of adjusting to my new physical condition. I don't think I will be able to paint in the way that I have been able to in previous years, so I will have to do some re-thinking.
The difficulty is simply that I have a preference for paintings which 'work' both from a distance (achieving a decent composition and overall 'feel') and also from close inspection (hence the need for detail and finish).
And it is the detail part that is, after my operation, problematic. I haven't got the hand-steadiness that I previously had. I'm faced with the choice of either spending much more time than I did before in attempting to get the preferred amount of detail, or, on the other hand, of working in a much broader way.
Crossroads.
It is the same dilemma, I suspect, that lots of painters in the past have faced, as their hand-control has nosedived or their sight has deteriorated. And at the moment I haven't achieved anything like a satisfactory equilibrium.
I've decided that for a period of time I'm just going to keep working and experimenting along these lines, but with the expectation of very little success for now.
I'm also trying more direct oil painting onto stretched paper (to be mounted on panel if in any way successful) in the way that Constable and Turner did at times (see example of one of my attempts above).
Using paper as a support somehow allows, psychologically, for a slightly broader and 'con brio' approach, so I'll see what happens.
quiz quiz quiz quiz quiz “details, details............” quiz quiz quiz quiz quiz
Any idea what these two are celebrating?
(The answer will be in the next posting.)
And here's the answer from the last posting -
'The Annunciation and Two Saints'
by Simone Martini and Lippo Memmi, Uffizi Gallery, 1333
quiz quiz quiz quiz quiz “details, details............” quiz quiz quiz quiz quiz
Pablo Picasso
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To subscribe to free email notifications
of my newest blogs, please go to the pull-out menu (on the right side of the main screen).
'Select 'SUBSCRIBE' and input your email address.
'Select 'SUBSCRIBE' and input your email address.
When you receive the email, you can go to the site itself by clicking on the blog title.
You can un-subscribe at any time.