Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Rites of Spring

"Rites of Spring" 16x20" oil on canvas ©2010 Shayla Perreault Newcomb

The light in January is platinum. One morning my home was yellow and white and energetic with its light and all my joy of that moment focused into the creation of "Rites of Spring." This is the first time I've let pink dominate a painting. I've mentioned before that to me it means healing and optimism. "Voyez-vous la vie en rose?" Of course it has other meanings as well. In the past I've associated it with weakness. Here I'm celebrating its power. It may be minus 18 degrees Celsius today, but that light is a sign of spring.

This painting doesn't look like the rest of my series and right now it doesn't feel right to add the three dots, or more depth. I'm going to set it aside and perhaps explore this path later on. I feel I have unfinished work with the other series and am not ready to move on yet.

12 comments:

Regina said...

Shayla,
this is beautiful. There is an interesting tension with your focal area in that my eye can't decide if I should be pulled into that darkness or if your forms are growing out into this beautiful, mysterious pink.
We had the most LUCIOUS rosy pink sunset last week. Nothing weak about it. Right now the sky close the to horizon has a similar feel to the color of your painting.
I hope you will paint with this palette more!

M said...

Many people would not think that pink is a "landscape" colour but you've proven that it is. In summer in particular I see so much pink in the light and it seems to affect everything around it. You say spring but for me this is a summer painting. I noticed the absence of your "markers". I enjoyed re- reading your artist statement the other day. It helped me better understand your landscapes that I am very attracted to.

Unknown said...

wow Shayla. Firstly, love the pink painting, definitely something different from you but I love it much. Secondly, minus 18 celcius..I wont survive there at all, will need more than a butt warmer. If it's 18 celcius, I am complaining of the cold..we should swap places :)

Unknown said...

btw...it's 34 celcius here..just to make you jealous haha!

Four Seasons in a Life said...

Greetings Shayla,

I too have set many paintings aside to percolate for that final touch, even if it is just ones signature. You will know when the time comes what still needs to be done.

Warmest regards,
Egmont

Colleen said...

What lovely work Shayla, glad I stumbled across your blog.

Salon Delucca said...

this is delicious Shayla - I truly love it :)

Hybrid J said...

I'm enjoying your paintings. It is subtle and very elegant. Thank you for sharing such beautiful artwork. :)

picciolo said...

The light looks almost like a fire, I love the warmth it injects into the painting.
: )

DJ said...

Pink looks good on you, Shayla!
:-)

Tracy said...

That tender pink... it is like a sign of early spring... I do love it! It is soft, sweet, but quite powerful this pink, Shayla... and no extra embellishment necessary, it feels "finished" to me. And I do like how the eye hits to central focal, eye wants to go wayward out into the unfilled spaces...very remarkable! Hope there'll be more pink to come! ;o) Happy weekend, my friend ((HUGS))

Leslie Avon Miller said...

I feel very at home in this painting - like I can walk around in it for a while and feel peaceful and beautiful.
Sometimes one work of a series is a stand alone. I'm always surprised when that happens, but glad it came into being.