I painted this large abstract from a small 8" x 8" color study I painted with oil sticks from R&F Handmade paints. This was the first time I've painted an abstract so large and it was somewhat daunting. I used the rest of my Indigo Blue I ordered from RGH Artists Paints. It was a 250ml jar which I used on just two paintings so I am getting the paint on plenty thick.
The photograph is lacking. It seems the bigger the painting the harder it is to photograph. I actually ordered a light tent as recommended by Robert Britton, Jr., but realized it would take up most of my studio so I hurriedly canceled the order. I will wait until I expand my studio to reorder.
The paint will be wet for a month or more so I have plenty of time to make changes if necessary. Right now I'm thinking perhaps the bottom green section is too green. I'll sleep on it and see how I feel tomorrow.
Brad Teare June 2013
Love the simple composition yet complex stroke work and use of the broken color. Photos rarely due paintings justice. I'm sure this one really sings in person.
ReplyDeleteThanks Matt! The bigger that painting the more energy it requires. I appreciate your kind words.
DeleteI think doing the small color study was a good idea to help me simplify. I think with a big canvas the tendency is to make shapes too internally complex (that is, making the values shift too much). That might be what is bothering me about the green shape at the bottom. It might not read a solid shape which I think would strengthen it's impact.
DeleteYou've got a winner here, Brad. I love the design and the color scheme. I love the brush work and the interesting strokes. I bet it looks amazing in person. I also think you nailed it with the name. It like you named this paintings soul!
ReplyDeleteThat painting is fantastic. I love the hint of orange, the touch of red in the blue, the curvature shows kind of a relaxing energy and gives a vibrant sense of life and movement.
I really think you're on to something with this approach, my friend.
Just a reminder, there's some cheap and easy ideas to use cross-polarization photography. Check out these two links. I hope they help.
http://www.brentwatkinson.com/secret/downloads/Photoyourart.pdf
http://www.diyphotography.net/getting-started-with-cross-polarized-light
I will definitely check those links out. Thanks so much for posting the links via the comments. That way I can always go back and review.
DeleteIt certainly is interesting to do these abstracts. I'm reminded of your analogy to jazz. Just because a painter can sight read classical music doesn't mean that he or she might not want to improvise occasionally. It seems to open up new avenues of creative insight. I also find myself thinking, "next time I do a tree I want to include this texture!". It's very rejuvenating.
I enlarged the image of the painting 200% on my 24 inch screen to get a feel of the actual size and I found myself gazing at it for a good twenty minutes... This is an exciting and inspiring painting Brad. Thank you for posting it.
ReplyDeleteI haven't taken any of these new abstracts into my gallery yet, Richard, but I am hoping they have a similar response! One thing that is difficult about abstract painting is that it is such a personal world (also one of its strengths). Your feedback is much appreciated!
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