« A Photo Smoothie |Main | The other side of the flower »
Plans for Sun Shower 04
May 17, 2008
I inadvertently leaned the large painting of Maple Leaves (posted in progress last week) near the framed photo of Sun Shower 03 that hasn’t made its way to storage yet after a show. Ever since I took that photo (above) last summer I have wanted to use the idea of dramatic light rays in a painting, but not until this morning did I have an epiphany to use it in Maple Leaves.
One idea leads to another; I’m also going to use some tricks I learned during the painting of Sun Shower 01 (2007) where I experimented with Watercolor masking medium, dotting it on the canvas with a toothpick in areas where I wanted water droplets to remain white or lighter in color. It worked great but I removed it too soon before finishing, and the results weren’t as obvious as I had hoped. This time I’ll apply it in small streaks and leave it on much longer so the vibrancy of all the colors will show through when the medium is pulled off. The painting could be left at the stage it’s at now, but it has that bright glare Acrylics are notorious for, I see a lot of potential in trying something fantastic with this painting. It’s one of those huge decisions made at key moments in the life of a painting - to risk or not? Sometimes the answer isn’t as clear. The 84 x 45 x 3 inch Maple Leaves title is now changed to Sun Shower 04.
Creative solutions often happen serendipitously; it never ceases to amaze me. It’s the magic we need to keep our eyes and minds open to that make a good painting better; it’s not just about doing, it’s about seeing.
Categories: Spring, acrylic painting, birds, experimental, photography, work in progress |