Here's the dilemma when you have a really good reference photo. Do you try to paint it, knowing it may never be as good, or do you just let it be its own beautiful photo self and paint something else? I took a chance painting a photo of my Mom's bathroom window. I'm about 75% finished here and I haven't ruined it yet. Next week will tell, I think.
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| approx. 9" x 12" |
I think of that as the National Geographic dilemma. Their photographs are so damn good that sometimes new students will bring them in thinking that this will make a great painting but midway through realizing that no matter what they do their painting will never be as good as the photo. I would set the photo aside and study the painting by itself and see what you like and dislike in the painting and just work on that as if you had never seen the photo.
ReplyDeleteJust my opinion I would put more hard edges into the silver dollar plant so it would stand out from the window which has all soft edges. Maybe connect it more to the pot, it looks right now like it is floating above it.
My own opinion again, but worrying about ruining something holds you back. Masterpieces are a dime a dozen, but adventures with the paint brush are priceless.
Yes, that's the part I still have to finish. I want that backlit plant to stand out from the window. And, of course, I left that to the end. It's like the eyes on a portrait!
DeleteI agree that worrying about something holds you back, but "Masterpieces are a dime dozen" I don't think so. What's a dime a dozen (and not even worth that) is plodding on without paying attention to what's happening and being stuck in a rut over and over and over again.)
DeleteMeanwhile, your glass block window painting is marvelous, Elaine. And yes, the flowers need a bit more oomph, but you're not finished yet, as you said. It's amazing how you've gotten all that sparkle effect.
ReplyDeleteI love everything about this, from the blue edge and vase, to the reflections to the way you painted the glass blocks.Im not sure it needs anything more. Your color palette is just so lovely! And to weigh on the masterpiece discussion, I read that Picasso painted more than 8,000 paintings in his lifetime, but only about 100 are considered masterpieces, so that would be like 1 in every 1000 paintings turns out well? Not sure I’ve got the math right, but you get the idea…
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