A funny thing happened yesterday. I started working on this 16x20 inch oil painting. It is a larger version of a small painting I completed a while ago. I wanted to experiment with a blue underpainting. Usually my underpaintings are warm--just a personal preference. I stopped for the day. As is my custom, I took a photo and uploaded to my Flickr account where I store photos of my art. I marked it as a work in progress, but as usual didn't mark it as privated figuring anyone who wants to look at my work can do so. Now here's the crazy thing: Someone submitted it to Stumbleupon and within just a few hours, it was viewed over 188 times. Normally I would enjoy the surprise and finish the painting, but I received comments that I shouldn't touch it, but leave it just the way it is. Now I don't know what to do. Please help by leaving comments on my blog with your advice. I need to know if it is an abberation that someone thinks it looks good like it is or if it really should be left alone. I'll appreciate your feedback!
Monday, May 3, 2010
Finished or Not? Work in Progress--Maybe
A funny thing happened yesterday. I started working on this 16x20 inch oil painting. It is a larger version of a small painting I completed a while ago. I wanted to experiment with a blue underpainting. Usually my underpaintings are warm--just a personal preference. I stopped for the day. As is my custom, I took a photo and uploaded to my Flickr account where I store photos of my art. I marked it as a work in progress, but as usual didn't mark it as privated figuring anyone who wants to look at my work can do so. Now here's the crazy thing: Someone submitted it to Stumbleupon and within just a few hours, it was viewed over 188 times. Normally I would enjoy the surprise and finish the painting, but I received comments that I shouldn't touch it, but leave it just the way it is. Now I don't know what to do. Please help by leaving comments on my blog with your advice. I need to know if it is an abberation that someone thinks it looks good like it is or if it really should be left alone. I'll appreciate your feedback!
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9 comments:
I really like it blue! The values and colors really sing in this one.
Although this is a very interesting and colorful painting, I'd advise you to follow your own artistic vision. If you like it this way, keep it so. If not, make it what YOU envision. Or, leave it alone and start a second one the same way and then transform it to your original vision.
why does everything have to be "finished?" It is indeed beutiful as it is...slightly abstracted and full of color!
While I personally think the painting looks fine the way it is I can certainly understand that it was never meant to be presented as a finished piece. If you feel like it's unfinished I'd say go with it and continue working.
That being said sometimes Fate chooses for us.
Nancy, Just stunning...words that drew me to your blog when I saw the little thumbnail on my own blog this morning! I absolutely love the blue hues...the way you worked the foreground and the soft greens near what I see as the focal point...You've even got a little bit of stronger lights in the trees near the greenery....nice...I think you could easily call this finished...if I could see ANYTHING more it would be a stretch...and not really that necessary...but perhaps a tiny touch more light on the light side of the trees in front of the soft greens...and coming up with THAT was a stretch...Just beautiful...and that is from a girl who spends forever staring and loving trees...Your call miss artist friend!
Oh I agree whole heartedly, Karen. Don't touch it!! It is incredible, exactly as it is! It just sings with life and light!! Congratulations on a new learning experience! You just never know where they are going to come from. :)
Thanks all for the wonderful feedback! I love a little abstraction and perhaps it is like Rob said that fate has chosen. I'm going to leave it as it is and appreciate that I've been shown another way of seeing!
I think the reason most people say leave it alone is your use of analogous colors that make a very appealing painting. Love the blue. Is it Indanthrone blue?
Jean
I love Indanthrone blue, but this was Ultramarine.
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