Sunday, March 15, 2009

Painting Start - Fall Fencerow (Work in Progress)

Well, it's post a painting start again. As you all can see, I haven't been exactly diligent with my painting habit. It's that grad school, teaching full time, chauffering the kids about, etc. (Oh, and I was sick with one of those annoying head colds this week). This little painting was started during a beautiful fall day. I was standing out on my deck, trying to capture the fleeting feel of the day. I have this wonderful fencerow of twisted trees, a combination of cherry, sassafras, dogwood and cedar. Soon the fencerow will be white with blossoms - first the cherries and then the dogwoods!



Anyway, this painting is far from complete. I would say it is more of a color sketch. I will add many more layers of paint. I will have to figure out the direction of the light. If I remember, it was quite changeable that day. I tried to capture some of the obvious value changes near the ground. You can see the field beyond the trees. It's kind of at a sloppy stage but I'm posting it anyway. (I realize that if I wait for something to be completely ready, I will never post).


This is typical of the way I work. I take a canvas out. I paint a bit. (I think I took this into my shed and screwed it up a bit). I then stuck it in with a bunch of unfinished, unresolved paintings. Now I will post it. I will hopefully get a few ideas while looking at it on my blog. Some day I may post the "finished" product.

12 comments:

Kat Mortensen said...

This one reminds me somewhat of the Group of Seven paintings. If you don't know of them, they were seven Canadian artists in the early 20th century who painted in and around Algonquin Park in Northern Ontario. A few of them were particularly focused on trees and rocky shores. Actually, I think I like yours better - better use of colour. So there!

Kat

Winifred said...

I love these colours. They contrast beautifully with the blue sky peeping through.

neetzy said...

Kat,
I never heard of them, but I'll google them immediately. I'm a real tree hugger. What can I say?

Winifred,
Thanks. I'm a tree hugger and a color freak! Fall is my favorite time to paint colors. The sky around here is very blue or very dramatic. (It seems that it has been gray now for months). It was fun to go reminisce while painting. I tend to get a little carried away with color. That's probably why I'm still painting fall subjects.

Shazza said...

Neetz - it may not be finished in your eyes but I would hang it up as is. I love the colors.

neetzy said...

Thanks Shaz,

I liked it when I first painted it outside. I screwed it up a bit during that strange creative process that only happens in my shed. (Depending on the music playing, my mood, etc.) I thought I ruined it, but now I think it has possibilities.

dive said...

I love your unfinished paintings, Neetzy, in the same way as I love looking at Constable's sketches and Turner's unfinished "light" paintings.
The blog is the perfect vehicle for posting your works as they progress and getting feedback; a little like a conversation in class.
Seeing the way you put colour down is almost like watching you think. I'd like to see more of your paintings in early stages as they give a deeper appreciation of the finished work.

Anonymous said...

Like the commentator above, if this is unfinished I love it! You're a little of a Fauvist with your colors:)
Wandered over from Poetikat's blog, - so you are the first grade trouble maker - maybe that's why you sublimated and became a teacher(haha).

neetzy said...

Dive,
Thanks. I am enjoying posting these works in progress. I appreciate your comments. I also get a good objective picture of the work when it is posted. Now you can see the way my warped mind works Wahaha!

Jeannette St.G,

I wrote a "personal narrative" of my first grade story for a class once. In it I stated that's why I became a teacher. I relate to all the "bad" kids. Ha-ha!

Peggy said...

I know pathetically little about art; all I need to know, though, is what I like, and I really like this painting! I have a great spot in my office I'd hang it! I guess that means it's done, right, Neetzy?! :-)

neetzy said...

Peggy,

Thanks so much. It's not quite "cooked" but it's a good sign if you like it at this stage. I had a teacher who once told me that a painting should potentially be "finished" at an early stage.

butterfly woman said...

Hi there,
I love this painting as is. It is so light and colorful. Shapes are wonderful, I love to leave out detail, makes viewer fill in with his/her own perceptions. Kind of has a Cezanne fill to me. Still, I am interested to see what you do with this piece. I never know when to stop or keep going when I create something.
P.S. Thank you for stopping by my blog and the wonderful comment you made. Your words gave me a whole different insight to my image, in a good way.
Bev

neetzy said...

Butterfly,

I like this as is, but there are some unresolved areas that I must work on. I love that when I post WIPs on my blog, I can look at them objectively. Maybe I should leave it and start another painting from this one?