I’d been struggling and tweaking, faffling and fiddling without resolve, trying to push a painting further than the previous version but in doing so had ended up in a hole. That’s when I asked the in-house art critic’s opinion. The words “It Doesn’t Feel Like One of Your Paintings” were exactly what I needed and, with hindsight, it seems obvious that this was the major issue.
I had liked my first large painting of flowers in a yellow jug (photo below), and the previous versions done on A3 paper, but had ideas I still wanted to try so I started a second canvas with a view to using more black/dark.
This was the first painting, on a 100x100cm canvas:
This is where the second version started, on a canvas that’s a bit smaller:
Then I allowed myself to be enticed by the dark side.
But then I felt I’d lost all the light and colour, so added more.
This is what the painting looked the first time I showed the in-house art critic.
After a cup of coffee and a cookie, and a ponder, I had another round with the painting. Working more loosely, letting paint run, trying to make it feel like a painting of mine and not over-think it.
This is what it looked like next time I showed the in-house art critic.
My last tweak was to add some more white to the cat. And left the inadvertent cat-head shape towards the bottom right which I’m not sure other people will see anyway.
Is it finished? Is it more my style? Probably and yes, I think. Certainly I’m happier with it now, as is the in-house art critic. Studio cat has decided to sleep on the question and will let me know. What are you thoughts, on the painting and/or on style?
I prefer the painting before the black, but the final version is good. I love the white cat and would like to see more. A painting like the photo with the white cat’s head in the foreground, vying for your attention, like cats do. My comments would be that I love your paintings for the light and the humor and this final version has some of that and some of a darker vibe…Just like we all have two sides, the bright and the dark. I don’t always look like “me” either! 🙂 Your comments and paintings are a bright spot in my days. Thank you.
Using black (other than on sheep’s heads) is unusual for me, but for some reason I haven’t figured I am enjoying it this year.
I really like your very first one and also workshop one on paper. I find the “You” comes out best in the first though! (Am I influenced by the running paint which again reminds me of the sheep paintings….?). At the same time: we have to try out new things all the time, that’s the passion. I think this little poem by Henry James (1893) says it best:
We work in the dark –
we do what we can –
we give what we have –
Our doubt is our passion
and our passion is our task.
The rest is the madness of art.
Art cat was correct, cats usually are.
My two are constant critics, particularly when I spread my art out in ‘their’ space.
I like! No not quite your usual style but then where would be the challenge. You have to paint other than sheep at some point!