Hydrangeas seem invincible . . . this one doesn't show any sign of
fading! Haven't had to worry one second whether it will die before
I figure out how to paint it! More adventures with subtlety, a limited
palette and strong color . . .
I'm starting to think that my time off may have led to a good shift.
I've had a string of total failures since coming back but my work
has changed so much since I started working from life and sometimes
it's hard to tell if there's improvement. Each subject and each new
painting demands beginning with fresh eyes and solving new problems.
It seems as if every few months something gets shaken up and new
struggles begin. What I do notice is that I'm not so obsessive in just
trying to paint forms; have become much more aware of the entire
surface, where it needs lights, darks, a complementary color. If something
comes to me to try, I try it. If it's bad, scrape it off. It's such a relief to be
freed of the fear of ruining it or regarding a painting as precious! A new
mindset . . . hopefully it will continue. Nah. It will probably go back and
forth forever but each time there will be a little more understanding and
more willingness to embrace it instead of feeling despair or failure. I don't
know anything about neurology or brain science but it seems that if you
truly desire to learn something, your brain accommodates your will. (?)
Huge huge thanks to everyone who takes the time to look and comment!
22 comments:
Wow! Beautiful value shifts and your paint is so thick and juicy. Love it, Lorraine!
Love hydrangeas and have decided they have a mind of their own. These are lovely. I think from reading this post your are right there at a huge breakthrough...keep painting and keep the faith! You are extremely talented!
Je pense qu'il ne doit pas être simple de travailler avec un nombre limité de couleurs... Vous parvenez, grâce à votre touche très personnelle, à donner un volume, à restituer la lumière, les ombres... le tout avec un sacré caractère.
Bravo!
Nous sommes et serons toujours d'éternels débutants... c'est ce qui nous charme et nous exacerbe aussi dans la peinture...
Gros bisous
Your insights provide hope to your friends. Yes! This is a win, Lorraine
I think this is spectacular!
Beautiful colors, Lorraine!
You expressed very well what I think we all go through...ups and down in our works, but this one is a stunner, quite different from the rest of your paintings. I love Hydrangeas, and I love red in paintings ...and I love this!
What you have captured so beautifully here is a genuine emotional response to a beautiful flower. A really lovely painting.
Lorraine, this is just stunning! It's amazing how you take advantage of the complete range of colors within a hue as well as the span of temperatures. The textures within this painting are so varied from the smooth glass to the "bumpy" petals of the hydrangeas. I also love the dramatic lighting you create. It pulls me right in! Wonderful!
That limited palette really makes a powerful statement, here. Bravo!
Thanks for your feedback on my blog Lorraine! Like you, I really appreciate all of it too. As for the comment you made in this post about how the brain accommodates your will- how true that is. You've got to want something really really bad to have the strength to endure the failures, struggles and learning that comes with it all. If only I could adapt to everything in life I've failed at! Wonderful lit up piece you have here by the way. Looking forward to more.
Very interesting painting, working basically with one color. Your values are very strong.
Beauriful colours, I like the way you explains your process, it helps, and I agree with the restricted palette!
What an amazing painting. You have hit on something that is very important and that is the concern about the textural quality of the painting surface.
Loved reading all the posts!
Its amazing how beautiful this looks with one color!! I love your post as well as this very unique piece.
Spectacular and very edgy! Such a risk to try then entire painting with one hue. The challenges you give yourself are mind boggling. You are such a strong soul!
I love what you said about being freed of the fear of ruining it or regarding a painting as precious! I'm still there, but maybe progressing a little. I no long feel such despair as I did in the beginning. This painting makes me happy. I'm sitting here smiling back at your photo!
Hey! I'm just letting you know that I've passed on a blog award to you as a thank you for providing me and all your other readers with top notch blogging. Peace!
Wonderful, Lorraine! Your painterly freedom shows!
Hi Lorraine, Found your blog today from your comment on mine. (Thank you!) You have a style all your own with wonderful paint application and edges. I especially love your paintings of apples. Paint on! I'll be visiting often.
You ran out of room for me to post. Wonderful supporters. I love the texture, the analogous colors and the light. Love the pink in the light on the right. Oh, that rhymed!
Wow! Awesome!
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