Design and color

Something about Red

it changes everything O happy day

I sometimes feel that I'd like to take the same painting and paint it 500 different ways. I'd like to change the color harmonies, change the technique, change the medium, do mixed medium, change the substrate, o my so many ways to change it up. The key, of course, is the design. Lots of style can hang on a good design. Every time I put my brush to the canvas I am keenly aware of having made a decision which ipso facto eliminates other directions I could have taken this painting.

As it happens with this one I was just messing around browsing on pinterest and saw a collection of work by Linda Arthurs who incorporates patterns everywhere in her design much like Vuillard. But that's not what I was taken by....it was the pure red....I wanted to do red with a passion after I saw her painting of a silhouetted bed frame so I took my current "design" and layed out the red side on my palette and then put down pthalo green and veridian because, of course, they are the opposite on the color wheel and went to town working on this one. I had to add some blue, too.

I tried to paste the red painting that inspired me but it wouldn't work. There must be a copyright restriction so you'll have to look her work up. It's lovely and busy and colorful.

Now let me add a caveat. There are many times when I use pure color and then notice upon drying and looking at it a few days later I find it too bold and too harsh. I think this will work because it's over a burnt sienna and also I think because it's surrounded by modulated grayer colors. We'll see.

Amusing

It's been some time since I've posted on my blog.  I just came across an amusing quote while looking through my old American Art Review magazines..I'll type it straight from the column.  It's a quote from Anna Lea Merritt, ..."the inequality observed in women's work is more probably the result of untoward domestic accidents...women who work must harden their hearts, and not be at the beck and call of affections or duties or trivial domestic cares...the chief obstacle to a woman's success is that she can never have a wife."  Thought there was some insight there....but of course the world has changed and is changing since then.  I now can justify a messy house.  I mean, really, it can take the entire day to keep everything perfect and it takes more than a life time to actualize the art life.

I am posting my recent work...enjoyed painting it so much ...I am continuing on with many of these two young women, sisters.  This painting practically painted itself.  I just happened to be in the room.  I love when that happens!