This is the finished painting that I was working on in my video oil painting tutorial and it's also the piece that I was tearing my hair out over about a year ago. It looks so tiny on the internet, but it's longer than some people are tall!
Georges Goguen, director of the CBC Gallery took this picture of me beside it. Now you have a better idea of the size. Proportion wise, it's a piece that would go over a couch.
Painting big takes bigger arm movements and more physical energy than painting small and that's why it took me awhile to get back to this piece.
It was appropriate that this painting had so many dead ends, starting over points, and layers upon layers upon layers. My usual squares that symbolize guidance are less obvious. All of this suggests that not everything is or should be black and white.
14 comments:
This is a beautiful piece of work . I particularly like the title. Sometimes when you spend a lot of time on a work it makes it more special. YOu also have that history of your movement over time with all the fits and starts of ones process. I see it as a way to create a history . I'm impressed with the size of the work.
lovely piece, GREAT FUN to watch you in the video with your scrubby for dishes...
also liked the tip in another post on oils without solvents! cooking oil.
the heart of it all, the kitchen for oil and scrubbys!
Yummy textures and I have always admired your tree forms, my friend.
This was a lot of work ~ for more reasons than just scale...
Cool picture Shayla. I love it more that you are in it :) Have a fab weekend...love/M
Wonderful painting!
I haven't painted that large, but I have noticed that when a piece is long, I have trouble with continuity from one side to the other. And I TOTALLY get the energy level it takes.
I'm really impressed with this work of yours. Bravo!
Greetings Shayla,
I can understand the struggle one can have with a painting with many dead-ends, but in the end ones persistence pays off, as one sees with the results of your painting.
It is also wonderful to see you standing next to your painting and meeting you.
Warmest regards,
Egmont
It is a wonderful piece, Shayla! And a growing piece for you. Sometime we have to slave a little extra over something, to use more than our usual processes and ways of thinking and doing. We expand our horizons in new ways. Sometimes that takes a lot out of us physically & emotionally. We emerge with so much at the end. Kudos on keep going and seeing it through. :o) It is beautiful! Happy Weekend, my friend ((HUGS))
Wow, it is big and wonderful! It must feel great to finish such a large one. ((hugs!))
Have a happy weekend!!!
Hi Shayla, This is a gorgeous large piece!!
How good it must make you feel, to know when you are done... that always seems the hardest part...
its amazing Shayla, especially seeing it at its actual size!
: )
Oh this is so divine, Shayla. I love those gray days and this painting captures the essence of it.
I am a big fan of gray, and this is a fabulous rendition in gray. Congratulations on your large success!
Yay! A large and finished work deserves special congrats. Looks great on the net and on the wall...
Shayla said...
Margaret, thanks. I got the title from Robyn at Art Propelled. She had an online art show late last year with that title. I like your point about a history of movement.
Neva, heh heh. True, the kitchen at the heart of it. I hadn't thought of it that way. I do know an artist who uses mashed potatoes as a resist...
DJ, how comforting it is to have an understanding friend like yourself.
M.Kate, it's nice to connect on that level too, isn't it? I still want to do videos and will once I can think of something to say...
Regina, thank you :) You're right, it is hard to be consistent from one side to the other. I wonder how artists do it with paintings over 8 feet high!
Egmont, I agree about persistence. Struggle or tension can be an important part of the creative process. It builds an energy that eventually brings resolution. Nice to meet you too.
Tracy, "expanding horizons", you're speaking landscape talk. I like it! Thanks for your kind words and hugs back to you.
Mika, yes it feels good, thank you. There's not much space for it here, though. I'll have to bring it to the gallery. There's an advantage to tiny art in a tiny apartment ;)
Gwen, yes, when it's done is a big challenge for all artists. Sometimes I'll paint the finishing touches extra slow just to savour it.
Jane, thank you. The demand around here is for big paintings.
Robyn, thanks. Gray days are quiet and peaceful, dont' you find? Thanks for the title. The title of your post "Shades of Gray" fit perfectly.
Leslie, you do beautiful grays. Your neutrals are elegant and inviting.
Patrice, yay! Thanks for celebrating with me.
Post a Comment