Dogwood Branch

Dogwood Branch

8x24"

Oil

$200

DPW $160

     The dogwoods here on our property are white, but I pinked this one because I wanted it to stand out on a greenish background. The dogwoods in this series are from photographs I took last year. In order to paint something other than the color it is, I have to render it in black and white, grayscale, on the computer. Otherwise I would forget what I am doing and start painting the color I see, white. Having photographs that I could alter helped in this case.

Dogwood on Red

Dogwood on Red

8x10"

Oil

$160

DPW $130

     I wanted to paint the simplest thing with as few strokes as I could get away with. I painted the flower itself first and then the leaves and then the stem. Finally, I put in the red background. The painting is small and simple, and because I did not allow myself to go back into the shapes, it remains fresh. I could easily have overworked it, but I am trying to "look more, paint less." (Sure is red.)

Dogwood Pair

Dogwood Pair

8x8"

Oil

$128

DPW $102

     There is a rule somewhere against painting two similar objects without something to unbalance them, and I usually go by the practice of placing the focal point in the upper part of the canvas, in a "sweet spot." But I just thought these little dogwoods were so pretty that I painted what I saw and broke my own rules. I did try to make one more dominant than the other, but it is still a pair of dogwoods. "So sue me. Shoot arrows through me."

Red and White in a Jar

Red and White in a Jar

8x8"

Oil

$128

DPW $102

     Another effort at simplifying the shapes. I found that the parts that I worked on least are the parts that are the best. 

     "Our life is frittered away by detail. Simplify, simplify, simplify!" Thoreau's principle is a good one to live by and a good one to paint by. I can fritter away the vitality of an image by detail and overworking. I should put the quotation on a banner and hang it on my easel.

The Amalgam Challenge

Flowers after Lisa Daria

6x6"

Oil

$72

DPW $60

     Jo MacKenzie posted this Challenge on Daily Paintworks. Since I am her fan I wanted to be sure to do it. The challenge is to paint in the style of another artist. Since I am also a fan of Lisa Daria, I knew right away who I wanted to emulate.

     Lisa paints flowers in a loose abstract style. She simplifies the shapes to an extreme reduction and the result is wonderful. I knew I could learn a lot from her, so I was happy to see Jo's Challenge.

     Could I simplify to the degree that Lisa does? Nope. At moments I forgot what I was up to and fell into my own way of seeing. Other times I became intrigued with a lovely little detail and wanted to be sure to include it when Lisa would never have done that. 

     Nevertheless, I believe I still learned something from this Challenge (assignment?). I intend to try for more abstraction and simplification in my next piece. Thank you, Jo and Lisa.