Sunday, November 14, 2010

Pears and urn



This was an experiment.  I was looking at a painting yesterday that I really liked.  The artist explained that she had cut out pictures of dishes from various magazines, assembled them in an arrangement she liked and painted it.

I thought, that sounds easy!    I'd just gotten a food magazine with a picture of two pears that I liked.  I found a picture of an urn in another magazine and decided that would make a nice arrangement.  I made a sketch and started painting.

I was having a great time and was about 2/3 finished when I realized  the lighting on the urn came from one direction and the lighting on the pears came from another!   I decided it would be easier to leave the urn as is, so I changed the lighting on the pears.  I think I really prefer painting from a set up rather than from a photo, at least until I gain more experience.



21 comments:

  1. Virginia I think this piece is terrific. I love it! What an interesting idea about using photos, I wouldn't have thought of that, and that is something I would do, not noticing the lighting. Glad you were able to work it out. I don't know why but this has an asian flare to me. It is lovely, would make great notecards.

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  2. It looks great, keep trying these new things.

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  3. This piece is very creative and handled beautifully!!!

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  4. Direction of light really makes a difference to a painting and its quiet intelligent of you Virginia to change the light direction on the pears.I liked the idea of using cut photos and assembling them for a painting.Loved the simplicity of the composition here.Wonderful!

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  5. Thank you, Rabin. Thank you for visiting and leaving a comment.

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  6. Thank you, Yasha and Carrie. I noticed the light because in my painting the reflections were on the wrong sides to look believable. When I stepped back, I was thinking what is wrong here? That's when I realized it.

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  7. This is a very nice painting. That's funny about your set up. I would have never thought of that. Thanks for your comments on my blog too--I'll add you to my list of blogs I follow.

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  8. Well, you pulled it off beautifully. Love the shapes, especially on the urn.

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  9. Stephanie and Karen, thanks for visiting. I appreciate your comments!

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  10. You did indeed pull it off beautifully. No one would ever know! I like your pears a lot, really nice and soft, well rendered. :)

    And I think I HAVE done that exact thing when combining photo references too! *facepalm*

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  11. Very interesting idea. I like your adventurers spirit. Funny about the lighting situation. You have a beautiful touch with pears.

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  12. Interesting idea, it did work too! Another way to expand our horizons!

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  13. I love these blushing pears! And what an interesting concept, to make a collage and then paint from it... it could be a fun experiment - even keeping the lighting as it is in the photos, from different angles... maybe :) Anyway, well done! This is beautiful.

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  14. Well that's an interesting approach! Regardless of the difficulties you encountered, your pears are quite lovely. Love the colour blush they have. Thanks very much for you comments.

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  15. My husband said something in a museum about an artist working outside, then putting a person in the painting, in his studio, and the lighting is different.
    It's an interesting urn, with nice reflections, and nice pears.
    I see why your mother loved watching the blossoms open on an amaryllis.

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  16. I just discovered your blog and am enjoying. It is great to hear of different approaches to one's own. A really nice, subtle painting. I am still working full time (painting when I can) so may live vicariously through you just a little and look forward to having more time to explore things myself.

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  17. Very unique idea Virginia. You did a wonderful job with the pears...very soft and colorful. The reflections under the pears are perfect.

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  18. Very elegant painting and who would think your set up was from magazine photos. Interesting idea.

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  19. This really a great composition, Virginia!

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