Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Two and a Half Plums



This has nothing to do with Charlie Sheen's former show.  I just like the cadence of the title.

I've been trying to figure out what about my own paintings make me unhappy, and I believe I've figured it out.  Some of them of course are just flat ugly, or as my daughters used to say, YOU-gly.   But apart from that.  I have been trying to change my style of painting to a looser one.

When I first started painting, I wanted my painting to look exactly like the set up.  If it looked smooth and realistic, I was happy.  Now I'd like to paint with a looser style and "see" more colors.  I'm not able to achieve that and so when I've finished a painting, it might not be ugly, but I'm not happy with it.  That's what I keep whining about.   Please just bear with me!

8 inch X 8 inch oil on canvas panel

19 comments:

  1. Beautiful colors on the plum skins.

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  2. Virginia, I rally like the frosty look of the plums. I bet they are sweet.

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  3. An elegant painting--love the composition.

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  4. Votre composition est très harmonieuse... Votre peinture aussi, peut-être pourriez-vous vous autoriser de mettre quelques pointes de couleurs plus vives sur certaines parties ?... Tout comme une jolie femme qui s'apprête à aller au théâtre... juste une peu de maquillage...
    Ne vous frustrez pas, cela n'engage que moi!
    Gros bisous

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  5. I like your brushwork in this one and the colors are gorgeous. Don't be too hard on yourself- You are a wonderful artist and I thoroughly enjoy your paintings and your blog:)

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  6. Don't be down on yourself. Just keep painting and things will begin evolve into what you want. This is my favorite painting you have ever done. It is incredible in every way. Love the shape of the plate contrasting the shapes in the background. Beautifully painted!!!

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  7. Don't be too hard on yourself as far as style goes. I've always admired other artists' work and desired to be better. I think it is good that we push ourselves, but I had an college instructor to tell me one time that our style develops and evolves, but it is still ours. Your fruit looks so juicy and you have beautiful color on them. Isn't it fun to be a painter?

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  8. Oh! Virginia this is one of my all time favorites of your's!!!! That dusty blue has a wonderful unifying effect, plus the soft edges and composition rock too. LOVE IT!!

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  9. Love the color you have here in the plums. Your composition is very nice again! Paint on!

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  10. I love it, Virginia!! nice colors. We all have our own "styles" when we paint. I paint tighter than I would like to as well...no matter how much I try to be more loose.

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  11. The red, violet and orange are so clearly the way plums are...very well done in these subtle changes.

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  12. I really like this. I sometimes wonder if we ever get to a point where we are completely satisfied with our work. Maybe if that happens we don't continue to grow??

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  13. uh...you don't like this one? what are you...nutz? haha! It is an excellent painting! I like everything about it...beautiful cool colors and gorgeous shapes...bravo!

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  14. magnificent composition, Virginia : )

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  15. What a great arrangement of shapes! Like others said, you really got that blue frost on the plums.

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  16. You have painted the dusky skin of these plums beautifully, Virginia! Such wonderful colors...

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  17. Love your perspective in this painting.

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  18. One of the best plums I have ever seen and enjoyed! The angle is special and the half cut fruit is just so real to touch!

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  19. Tudo muito bem elaborado, Virginia. Parabéns! És expert na pintura. Este é o meu blog: valeriasouza-telas.blogspot.com

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