"Chilis and Beans", 6" x 8" oil on Linen, 2008
Private Collection
These two paintings took me way to long to complete. I had a lot of trouble with "Chilis and Beans". Maybe it was the cool overcast light in a predominantly warm colored painting or maybe it was too much detail for the small format. I worked out most of the issues that were giving me trouble including some values that I was not getting right. After days of fighting with this one it seemed kind of picked at, so at the end I went back and simplified things a bit .
"Loaded Again", 8" x 16" oil on Linen, 2008
$930. Framed, Available at Galeria Gardner
"Loaded Again" went smoother than the other painting, but it is not as loose as I had envisioned when I started. I am happy with how it came out though. There was just the boy and horse at first. He looked like a man with nothing to compare his size to, so I added another figure a little bigger. You can tell how big the trees are because you have the people and horse to compare them too. Everything is relative.
I am feeling a little stressed about how these two were going, but they are done now and I am ready to loosen up a bit with my next few.
21 comments:
Hi there Frank, Both of these are wonderful, I can't believe the detail you can get in a small painting. Thank you for stopping by my blog, I count on you to keep me in line, lol. Barb
"loade again'' has an epic feeling to it, the grandness of the landscape contrasting so well with the 2 lonesome figure slowly making across the countryside .. the scale thing seems to be working, so well.
I really like "Chilis and Beans"...that hot awning lights up the wall behind the seated figure. I feel you achieved a nice looseness...it's real hard to make a painting appear "easy". ;)
Dean
Hi Barb, I think that I could have gotten by with a little less detail. One of my students once said "the urge to paint all the details, it is more powerful than me". I think it is true with all of us.
Hi Timothy, "epic" that is a good word for it, thanks.
Thanks Dean, I was trying to get the cast light from that awning to work. I should have done it larger. It probably would have taken me half the time.
These are two wonderful paintings, Frank. I can't get over how prolific you are and how high the quality always is. I especially like loaded again, I think I respond to the mystery of it as well as a vague sense of narrative.
Although I have to say, the awning in Chili and Beans is georgously painted.
Frank--I'm stunned by both of these. In "Chilis" I love the way you handled the translucence of the awning in the shadow area underneath. Very subtle. The gestures of the figures are great too. All in a 6 X 8---geez...
"Loaded" communicates to me a feeling of reverence and fear. There is something very impressive but threatening about the scale. Beautifully done--real art.
Thanks Eric. I don't know about prolific. I feel like these two took me forever and that I have not been painting enough. I appreciate your thoughts on these.
Interesting take on "Loaded Again" Jack. I'll combine your reverence and fear with drips of paint's epic and take it.
Thanks to all of you. Your comments make me feel better about these two.
My kind of spot. Well done. No matter what's happening here (up to a point, of course) this is a great spot, and you conveyed the feeling of being there. I want to 'hang out' with this one.
:-)
Uh oh! It's late.(heh, heh) I was referring to 'Loaded Again,' but I actually like 'Chilis and Beans,' too. But I guess I lean toward cool a little more than hot. :-D
Great blog - love the light and colour in Chillies.
....On the edge of picking up drawing/oils again after a long gap.
Look forward to coming back and browsing.
There is so much impact in your paintings when you place your figures against that immense landscape. The bottom one is my favorite, your trees are absolutely beautiful and the composition is gorgeous. Nice!
Thanks A. I'm glad that it makes you want to hang out there for a while. I appreciate the comment. Thanks for the link too.
Thanks for visiting Julie. I hope to see you back again.
Thanks Ambera. I have been wanting to give those trees a bigger role in one of my paintings and I found a good way to use them so you could tell how big they actually are.
I find it strangely comforting to hear how an artist struggles with a piece that I look at and think-- wow-- it's gorgeous. Maybe it's realizing I'm not the only one who questions their own work. Maybe the struggle is just part of the process for all of us? Hope that makes sense!
In any case, these are beautiful.
Jennifer, it really is a struggle sometimes, and very frustrating. I think I set my goals a little higher than I am able to paint and that is what keeps me coming back for more.
One thing that is hard is having a part that I really like and messing it up. I have to learn to let go,
because my picking at it will never bring "it" back.
That sounds like a good topic for a future post.
Yes, that would make a good post! Interesting how setting goals higher can lead to frustration but it makes you come back for more-- as opposed to quitting. It's like we're competing with ourselves in a way. Good food for thought...
hi frank, for as much difficulty as you express to have, these paintings turned out remarkable, you make it look effortless. i can't take my eyes away from the fabric and colors on the walls in 'Chilis and Beans' and i am blown away by the detail and grand scene you can contain in such a small canvas.
Hi Christine, how have you been? Thanks, "Chilis and Beans" is the one that was really giving me trouble. I almost tossed it over the wall several times.
Very good, thank you...finally back to painting! i've had many paintings i could just toss, the irony of it is i always seem to sell those paintings the fastest. no matter the struggle, 'Chilis and Beans' turned out to be a painting full of some fabulous color variations and still my eyes are infatuated with those fabrics.
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