Friday, February 25, 2011

Pitchers and Lemons




I painted this in response to the challenge on Rookie Painter.   Like several others, I rearranged the vases---primarily because I had a square panel, and I didn't think the original version would fit very well.  I'm okay with the red pitcher, but not too pleased with the blue one.  I kept re-doing it.  But at some point, I have to quit for the day!   The red pitcher was primarily cadmium red light, which I darkened with alizarin crimson and burnt sienna.  I lightened it with cadmium yellow, as I had done with the plums.

This painting is very tight.  The more time I have to paint, the tighter and fussier I get.  I keep talking to myself about it, but I seem to ignore myself.  

 That reminds me of a song from Alice in Wonderland called "Good Advice".    I always thought it was so cute!

8 inch X 8 inch oil on canvas panel

25 comments:

  1. Yes, the Good Advice song hits home!! :-)

    Good job on the challenge!

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  2. I love them both red and blue picthers.
    Beautiful piece well done.

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  3. I like them both! You did a fine job- the colors are lovely!

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  4. Wow you're on a roll! I didn't even get a chance to comment on your spectacular plums and you've painted another gorgeous piece:) Glad you're back to the easel. Hope your hubby is feeling better:)

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  5. It's very appealing, and your colors are so bright, all is shiny!What size is your painting?

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  6. Nice painting, Virginia. Lovely colors and composition.

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  7. I agree completely! I tend to really get carried away if I spend too much time on work.

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  8. La composition et l'harmonie des couleurs en font un bon travail donc un bon challenge.
    Je vous fais de gros bisous...

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  9. Sylviane, I forgot to say. It's 8 inch by 8 inch.

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  10. C'est bon, vraiment très beau. Bravo ! Perso, les trois pots je trouvais que ça faisait un peu trop. Bien trouvé !

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  11. Hi Virginia,
    I'm glad to hear your husband and you are both recovering from his operation. What a scare. Welcome back painting! I loved your plums and this pitcher painting is very striking.

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  12. Yes, I agree. The longer I work on a painting, the tighter it gets, too. I was just checking out Carol Carmichael's red onions, and she only gave herself an hour to paint it.
    I like the primary colors in this.

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  13. The colors in this and the composition are great. Tough shapes in the pitchers and I think you sis a great job. Glad your husband is doing better and glad you are getting some painting time.

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  14. I checked it out and I think both pitchers look fine. It's a nice addition with the lemons, and the overall composition is good on the square panel.

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  15. I like the freshness of color here too. But I hear ya about "tightening up" -- I find I do it when I get fatigued too.

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  16. Thank you everyone for your visit and your kind comments. I just spent the morning picking out bathroom tiles for our new house, but this afternoon I'll be going back to my painting class. I missed two weeks and I can hardly wait!

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  17. Virginia, I love this painting! Nicely composed and such vibrant beautiful color!!!

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  18. Wow! This one had to be a challenge with both pitchers having "ribs" going in opposite directions. I hear you too about the tight thing. I'm trying to finish a big painting w/ lots of detail and feel I'm killing it now with little brushes. I learned in a workshop to stay with a big brush as long as possible. Glad to hear your husband is better. Lucky you enjoying some nice warm weather. It is deep winter here.

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  19. There are a lot of things in that small 8x8 and you carried it off. My eye was immediately attracted to your colors. Great job.

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  20. I'm sharing this with my blogger friends today:
    ...that the fastest way to learn something is to teach it.



    Do not wait, therefore, until you "know all about it" or

    have "mastered" what you wish to share before you

    begin to share it.



    The world needs more of what you wish to learn

    more of. So teach. Share. Help others. And do not

    worry so much about what you "don't know." Worry

    about what you don't do. Because you are robbing us

    while you are waiting to become an "expert."

    Neil Walsch (check out his website!)

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  21. very nice! i was trying to teach some students to not be afraid to add reflected color to their shadows, yesterday. you've demonstrated here how lovely it can be.

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  22. Hi Virginia! We're missing your posts! I hope all is well with your husband and you.

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  23. nice depth and complimentary color scheme..well done

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  24. Well, it certainly doesn't look 'fussy' to me! I like the way you got the undulations of the pottery - NOT easy to do!

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