I haven't been doing anything new of my own, but still very busy on the 'group' project . Things have been a bit blue and heavy going lately so I'm putting this complementary-to-blue summery poppy picture up (even though we're moving well into autumn here), in case anyone pops in and is giving up on me. This is a big - about 1200 x 800cm - oil painting that someone commissioned last year - he very specifically wanted poppies of all colours, shapes and sizes, therefore any horticultural experts out there who might be puzzled at the varieties of species all growing together in the same patch and time, give me a bit of artistic licence, if you will. I hadn't painted flowers in oils before, not being a great fan of the genre, and had no idea how to go about it - especially on such a large scale! I gathered hundreds (or scores probably...) of pictures from magazines and internet, it being this time of year and not a poppy to be found, and placed flat blobs of colour around the canvas as an underpainting, before working in the background and then each individual blossom. I'm not entirely happy with it... it looks a bit like wallpaper to me, but Tom is, fortunately, and it really dominates his living room!Monday, April 14, 2008
Light relief
I haven't been doing anything new of my own, but still very busy on the 'group' project . Things have been a bit blue and heavy going lately so I'm putting this complementary-to-blue summery poppy picture up (even though we're moving well into autumn here), in case anyone pops in and is giving up on me. This is a big - about 1200 x 800cm - oil painting that someone commissioned last year - he very specifically wanted poppies of all colours, shapes and sizes, therefore any horticultural experts out there who might be puzzled at the varieties of species all growing together in the same patch and time, give me a bit of artistic licence, if you will. I hadn't painted flowers in oils before, not being a great fan of the genre, and had no idea how to go about it - especially on such a large scale! I gathered hundreds (or scores probably...) of pictures from magazines and internet, it being this time of year and not a poppy to be found, and placed flat blobs of colour around the canvas as an underpainting, before working in the background and then each individual blossom. I'm not entirely happy with it... it looks a bit like wallpaper to me, but Tom is, fortunately, and it really dominates his living room!
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5 comments:
I am sure the owner is proud and happy with his commission, which must brighten his days. They are lovely, and I think there is something a bit William Morris about them, which can only be a good thing. Will you do a big watercolour of poppies when they are blooming? I think that would be spectacular.I just remembered Joseph Raffael who does huge vibrant watercolours .. I kept a calendar I had of his ptgs for years, and he has a web site.
This is a beautiful vibrant painting and I'm sure the owner must be ecstatic!
Ronell
I wouldn't have thought it but vivienne's mention of William Morris is right on. I can imagine that the owner must love it; such vibration has to make one feel so alive!
Lovely to see this painting again, Cath. Nothing like poppies to cheer the spirit! I received a gift (from Piotr from Poland) wrapped in beautiful paper decorated with wild poppies - I think I was equally delighted with the gift AND the gift wrap...! Yes - I'd love to see you paint something like this in watercolour...
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