Live and learn

Again with the glare. An old Peter, Paul and Mary refrain is running through my head

....when will they ever learn, when will they ev............er learn?

So I quess that is the lesson of the day:

1. Paint the painting

2. Photograph the painting

3. Varnish the painting

Another good reason for me to do it that way is because I frequently see things I want to change when I look at the photo. For example, in yesterday's painting I decided that the pink area of light behind the tree trunks needed a highlight. So I went back in and added it and then I had to re-varnish that area.

Live and learn

Have a great day.

Maggie

My Robert Burridge trees.

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Robert Burridge Trees

This is two photos of the same painting. Neither one is quite right so I'm using them both. I have got to remember to take the photos BEFORE I varnish the paintings. The glare is distracting. I've been focusing on landscapes lately and last week I saw a blog from Nancy Standlee who had been in a Robert Burridge workshop. She posted her version of the "Burridge Trees". I was very envious. I would have loved to have taken his 5 day workshop. (I have taken his 3 day one.) I decided instead of feeling sorry for myself I would do the lesson in my studio. First the paper or canvas is covered in splotches of color and splatters and then using negative shape painting you define the tree shapes. After I pulled out the shapes of the trees I started applying thin glazes of color to define areas. In this painting I also used a water soluble pencil to draw into the painting.

There is another painting in progress that I will post next. In the meantime, to find out about my Robert Burridge workshop experience see the posts from May 2009

Below are links to the painters I mentioned. They both do some wonderful work.

SOLD

http://www.robertburridge.com/

http://www.nancystandlee.blogspot.com/

Happy Valentine's Day

I has been truly joyful to see all the different hearts on the blogs I follow. So, today I send mine out into cyberspace. I wish everyone a wonderful Valentine's Day, may you find your heart's desire.

xxo,
Maggie

The edge of paradise

The compostion of this painting breaks a lot of "rules". The inverted triangle shape created by the palms is almost smack dab in the middle of the canvas and the right palm is leaning and drawing the viewers eye out of the picture frame. I decided to emphasize the uneasy-ness of the palms by painting them in strong hot colors that are the opposite of the very plain and calm background. I find the tension between the foreground and the background visually compelling. Let's hope the gallery visitors think the same.

"The Edge of Paradise"
28" x 36"
$625

Miriam's Meadow

"Miriam's Meadow" is one of my revisionist landscape paintings. It was started on site in Miriam Good's meadow on Lower Sugarload Key in 2008 and then finished in the studio. I thought it was finished but there were areas that bothered me that I just didn't know what to do to correct them. Last Thursday our Sugarloaf painting group headed back to the site, so I took the painting out there and with Jim Salem's (our instructor) help I finished it. I added some more reflection in the water and I added some levels of interest in the area between the tree groupings. This painting is large 40" x 30" on canvas. I am going to put some edging strips on it tomorrow. I haven't decided whether it will go in 7 Artists or the Key West Art Center.

Miriam's Meadow
40 x 30
SOLD

New Star Pattern

This week's glaze fire included some dip sets in a new star pattern. It is a sad but true fact that not everyone wants palm trees and tropical fruit on their serving pieces. In realization of that fact I am always searching for alternatives that don't include ducks and cows. I do a pattern called leaf and berry and now I am adding stars. But I had to include old standards in the firing, pineapples and papayas and coconuts with fronds.

These pieces are now in 7 Artists Key West, 604 Duval Street, Key West