Saturday, September 11, 2010

My latest paintings

Well, as we have all heard, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. But sometimes what I think will make a great painting just doesn't work.  I am still coming to grips with the fact that even though you can get beautiful detail with pastels, you just can't use the same technique as with pen and ink or graphite.  Even a novice painter like me has to realize that sometimes it's the medium you are using and not you.  With all that being said I present to you two versions of what I thought would be a great painting.  I was thinking of an ultra close up shot of a flower, painted showing sun and shadow and lights and darks. I think sometimes I get confused and think that a painting has to look good close up and that's not always the case. 

Any hoo, I've done a large version on watercolor paper (which in another topic altogether)


and this much smaller version on Wallis sanded paper.  Neither painting really moves me and I still need to work on the leaf in this one, but I'm posting them anyway.



Deciding on what to paint sometimes is a hindrance for me, but I'm working through that right now and I think I'm going to try a much more painterly approach on my next few pieces.  To aid in this I will be trying out my new set of Pan Pastels.  They are super soft pastels that you apply with specially made sponge applicators.  Since I'm not a painter, but a "draw-er" this will entail learning some new techniques.



So there you have it.  Hope everyone is having a great weekend.  Hope you are being creative and loving life.  Take care and be happy.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

I think they are both pretty.

CHERI said...

Well, they both "move" me!!! I especially like the second one. Girl, if I could paint even half this good I'd be happy! I'm still trying to discover my creative talent...I think I got pushed out of line when God was giving it out!

A Strange Allure said...

I think you did a good job on both, Susan. They just seem like they were created in different eras...like impressionism vs. modernism...interesting how the foundation or surface can make such a difference.

marni

Nezzy (Cow Patty Surprise) said...

They are both truly amazin' but I'm quite smitten with the first one. It looks so very real with it's depth and color I can almost smell it. Great job as usual sweetie.

God bless ya and have a beautifully creative day!!!

Peri said...

Both pieces are nice. Both are recognizable as flowers --my guess is zinnias or dahlias...not sure which is which actually --but both pieces are sucessful works. The trick to getting fine detail with pastels is working slow and using selective blending. Takes time doing that. I like the one on the Wallis paper, but then I am partial to that paper! The Pan Pastels are FUN and I hope you really like them as much as you do the stick pastels...using a palette knife is a whole different "thang" from drawing with the sticks... Enjoy!! Keep working!!

Tina said...

Well, I think they are wonderful. I have a hard time making a decision on a subject but once i do I can dive in. I love that you show your in progress creations. It helps me if that makes any sense.
T