Monday, February 7, 2011

Stacked Mugs



I would have wiped this one off, but I already wiped it off once.  Today was one of those days when the voices in my head kept asking me whatever made me think I could learn to paint.  I made every mistake that I have ever made, and I felt like I just couldn't do anything right.  This painting beat me up!

So I quit painting, and I feel better already.  I don't like THIS painting.  But I like some of the ones I have done before this one.    So although I may have lost the round today, I'll be back in the ring tomorrow to give it another go.   But right now, I have to go tend to my black eye!

8 inch by 8 inch oil on canvas panel.

20 comments:

  1. I really like this one Virginia, don't beat yourself up:( I love the stacked mugs and the simplicity of the composition. the colors are great too, I think we're our own worst critics, have a fresh look tomorrow.

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  2. Painting anything white is hard Virginia but you really got the tilt and shape of the cups with some nice color transitions in it...I would call that a success!

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  3. La peinture c'est comme le bridge ou le golf, on n'a jamais fini d'apprendre. On peut gagner un jour et perdre le fil le lendemain, se sentir nulle...
    C'est ce qui fait aussi qu'on est accro d'elle! C'est un vice bien-aimé!
    Vos bols ne sont pas une catastrophe! ils tiennent bien en place! il faut peut-être retravailler l'ombre qui est peut-être raide. Non? Vous êtes la seule juge ma chère Virginia, cette oeuvre vous appartient! et aujourd'hui sera un nouveau jour où tout ira mieux. De gros bisous à vous.

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  4. I love this the way it is now Virgina,i like the way you placed the mug and the colors.

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  5. I love your honesty and spirit Virginia! But we are our own worst critics, you're being very hard on yourself. Stacking cups and white ones too! That's no easy feat. Maybe a bit more dramatic lighting would create stronger shadows and help you see and paint the form more easily. Keep painting and smiling!

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  6. No pity party, Virginia . . . get back to your easel and PAINT! This painting is better than you think. :)

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  7. I hope you're back at the easel Virginia! Thanks for your kind comments. :-)

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  8. There are a lot of nice things with the painting. Put it away for a week and paint something else.
    The top cup seems a bit big, but maybe that's how it is. Otherwise, nice colors, shape and dimension.

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  9. I agree with everybody . . . Look at it with fresh eyes in a few days and you'll see its strengths. And, once it's dry and you have some objectivity, you can isolate the areas that need work and paint right on top.

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  10. It's a very nice composition and it's drawn very well.

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  11. Thanks everyone for your encouragement. I have been painting in my art class, but the weather is too bad to go outside and take a picture. I like it much better than my mugs.

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  12. Sometimes we just need a break. Once you put your mind on something besides painting, you'll come back and see all kinds of good things that you did accomplish! Great subject matter, beautiful colors, and more! Tomorrow is another day!

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  13. Virginia, I really like this painting. Please turn off the voice in your head. Your hands and heart know exactly what to do. We all have that censor, that destroys creativity. Your work is excellent.

    Have a great day.

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  14. Well . . . . where's the new one you were going to post today? :-) Thanks for the nice comment on my blog. Here's what I'm making myself do to try to train myself to not think in outlines: overshoot where you think the edges are going to be with the value you see. One brushstroke per brush-load of paint, then mix the next value to go next to it. It is sooooo hard to undo ingrained stuff and to not brush everything into a blend. Ultimately, I want to paint like me and you want to paint like Virginia but in the meantime, I look at Stanley Bielen's work for clues to help make me brave enough to find me. Happy experimenting!!!

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  15. Hi, everyone. My husband had to have an emergency bypass operation, so I haven't been online. My dughter brought me my iPad today. He's doing great and we hope to be home next week. I sure miss painting. I've bee checking out all the art in the hospital halls. Some of it is very good.

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  16. White is an unbelievably difficult color to paint...glad that you will be back at it...you are doing some wonderful work. I am sorry to hear about your husband and hope that he recovers quickly. All the best!

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  17. I'm glad your husband is doing well! I look forward to seeing your painting again.

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  18. I so appreciate this post. I go through the same thing frequently. It works well to walk away at times and go do something else.

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  19. Just looking back over your blog. You have really achieved a lot. Love them all.

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