Alterations

I find myself being torn in two directions. These small paintings, studies really, are not meant to be refined works so I try to not overwork them. I learn from the successes and failures and instead of trying to fix the failures in the current piece I file the lessons learned away for further use. Yet sometimes its so tempting to modify or rework certain parts of 'completed' paintings! But what if I end up making things worse? This is the back and forth which constantly vie for my attention. That being said, I have succumbed to the temptation and have made a few alterations of two recent pieces.

My latest subject of internal battle has been that of contrast, or more specifically my paintings' lack of it. My wife/critic/consultant helped me see this so it was with the goal of adding contrast that I put these canvases back on the easel. As usual I feel like a was able to improve a few things but in the process I created additional new issues. Maybe this will help me withstand the temptation next time - yet that tractor needs some work...

Before

After

Before

After

My ever present foe

I have a problem. I have to finish a painting in one day, maybe two if I'm lucky, or else I lose the groove of the painting and it goes downhill. This painting is just one example. I snapped a picture of my farmer neighbor on his tractor as he passed and I was very excited to paint it. I also thought it'd be fun to show the progression of this one so on Saturday I started.

Below is the painting sketched roughly in Burnt Umber, so far so good.

Now I've blocked in the major colors and shapes, still going fairly smoothly.

Now its Monday, my painting has been sitting on my easel waiting for me to finish it. I begin to refine things, starting with the farmer who I want to be my focus. At this point I'm struggling to regain the momentum I had on Saturday and hoping I can enjoy what should be the most enjoyable part of the process. Yet my foe raises its ugly head in the form of dried paint on the palette, forcing me to re-mix my colors, which rarely ends in a satisfactory way.

I hit the "why am I even trying to save this hideous painting phase", struggle through it to a "hey maybe this will work out after all" phase, and then end somewhere in between at a "well I better quit before I get too far behind, I can live with this" phase.

'Backyard Farmer'

8x10"

Oil on Canvas panel