I feel the same way that Lorraine Shirkus expressed it earlier this week. I am desperate to post a painting. I have painted and wiped this week, and nothing seems to work.
So I here's the last thing I did. I worked and worked on this, trying to adjust the values on the apples, but I just didn't get it. To me, they don't "read" as apples. They are some mysterious unidentifiable fruit! LOL!
There is, however, one leaf that I'm thinking....hmm, that isn't too bad. Sigh. Maybe tomorrow.
I actually painted this as a challenge from a reference photo at Studio Atlier . You can see the challenge photo and what others have painted at this link. Check it out.
I'm in the same wipe out boat - maybe a virtual Carnival Cruise! At least our boat doesn't have pop tarts and spam for dinner!! :-) However, this is a really nice painting, Virginia! You are too hard on yourself. I can tell they are apples, especially when I click to make the painting larger. So ...... pat on the back. Well done!
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful weekend!!
You're too hard on yourself, Virginia, I think you did a lovely job! Keep up the good work.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Kevin. I actually think it looks like a couplle of pink turnips. i' m glad I can laugh at myself!
ReplyDeleteI hope you realize when I comment on your paintings that I can RECOGNIZE good paintings, I just can't do it myself. Yet. I hope.
Linda, that is so funny! I heard someone wondering which line was longer--the one for pop tarts or the one for Spam.
ReplyDeleteYou have a good weekend, too!
Hi Virginia, I hope this doesn't offend you but I think they look like really beautiful peaches. They even look a little fuzzy. Lovely colors and I really like the way the leaves are composed and it's a very sophisticated background. I think it is very well done:) Hope you have a great weekend!
ReplyDeleteCarrie, no I'm not offended. The colors in the photo aren't red, they are kind of pink. I just couldn't make it look like apples. Peaches are better than turnips!
ReplyDeleteI was drawn in by your lovely, soft brush strokes. They give this painting a wonderful feel...no matter what the fruit!
ReplyDeleteI agree with the other comments - you are too hard on your yourself. This is a quite lovely painting and I would suggest that you let your work stand on its own merits - in other words your interpretation of the still life isn't supposed to look like any one else's. Be happy - you are doing very well for a new artist.
ReplyDeleteVirginia, when , for the fist time, I watched this picture on Studio Atelier, I thought the left one was a turnip..So, obviously, even your fruits don't really look apples, it's not your fault, and they are soft, it's a good painting!
ReplyDeleteThank you everyone. I'm a little embarrassed. I was disappointed that my painting didn't look the way I wanted it to. I really wasn't soliciting compliments. I really have to screw up my courage to put my paintings out there for everyone to see. I need to be b-b-brave.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you posted. I've missed you. It's a beautiful painting. I really like the leaves and the arrangement. Think of your good ol' comfort apples and you'll feel them next time. :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Caladh!
ReplyDeleteVirginia I got to take a look at this piece of yours at studio atelier and may be what upsets you is that it did not turn out the way you wanted it to but when I look at the painting I love the softness,the freshness and the beautifully painted leaves.Good work!
ReplyDeleteJust wonderful Virginia! I love the leaves...they have so much movement!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful Virginia. Love this one.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad to see you're back, Virginia! When I saw this painting, it didn't matter what the fruit was. The "painting" has such a nice, light-filled feel, the subjects occupy the space, the leaves drape gracefully, and great use of value, overall. You've accomplished what I have to remind myself to do: don't render the objects; make a painting! Look at it again in a month with fresh eyes and you'll see what we see.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Lorraine. I just bought another book--"Oil Painting Secrets From a Master". It's about David a Leffel. His whole point in a nutshell is that you aren't painting objects, you are painting the light on objects. I hope I can begin to use that knowledge as I continue to paint.
ReplyDeleteI was going to recommend David Leffel's book! Also, check out Greg Kreutz's book, who was his student and is a great painter in his own right. Have you ever gone to smartflix.com? They have painting videos you can rent for a week. I've not rented Leffel's but I did rent one by Kreutz, Schmid,
ReplyDeleteRobert A. Johnson---watching him paint took my breath away. I think what we're really doing is learning how to see and the paint follows??