This summer I will be taking a break from the still life paintings and focus on landscapes. I am pleased that the Oil Painters of America have chosen "Morning Light" to be part of their 2014 Eastern Regional Exhibit.
The first attempt at this still life was an 11 x 14 ( pictured below) and I hated it. I have the reputation of scraping down my paintings too fast, but thats how I work. I try not to attach myself to any painting so that I can quickly scrape down and redo and hopefully learn something new. (Of course each time I do wipe down, those little voices in my head tell me that was the best you will ever come up with and you just blew it!) Friends commented the painting had a nice mood and people liked the soft quality. I tried to rework it again that evening attempting to make the blossoms more delicate but it just felt stuck. I was also feeling that the painting had no breathing room and really wanted to extend the baby breathe sprigs to the edges…so
I didn't scrape it down BUT just did it over instead. I am glad to have the old reference and can also gauge the progression. I don't feel its giving up. I think its more that your realize where you went "off the road"as I find that when I reapproach a painting you already have a map in your head of the values and colors and composition…and the frustration of wanting "to get it right this time" helps. When I was younger I never understood how painters did so many studies, now I really see the benefit! Of course I would much prefer to get it right the first time!!!! :)
Morning Light oil 16"x 20"
I am hoping to make it to the reception in Sept in Ohio!
