Canal lock
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Oil on wood 6" x 7"
It's unbelievable how much time some of these "small" paintings can take up. I did this one some weeks ago, was not satisfied with it and have just spent another couple of hours on it. I am always amused when I remember what Jack Vettriano said - "For the first three hours a painting has you by the throat; for the next three you have it by the throat". Ironically in my case the extra work usually does not mean fiddling with small details. In this case I was simplifying the shapes more and eliminating some structures and detail which were getting in the way of a good design. I can usually get a good feel for how it's going by turning it upside down.
posted by Sheila Vaughan at 3:10 PM
10 Comments:
Hi Sheila,
I've noticed this too. Sometimes more work makes a work more fiddly,
but most of the time it results in simplifying what was too detailed.
Great painting.
Barbara
Glad to know I am not by myself Barbara! Thanks for visiting.
I agree but this time it was well worth it. Absolutely beautiful.
Thanks Stephen. I mainly worked on the sky and the big factory building at the back. I wanted to minimise the value contrast between the two because that is how they "felt" at the time. So glad you like it.
Every painting is a fascinating process isn't it? Have you ever considered doing a step by step of one of your works - I'd love to see that!
How many paintings do you complete versus those you start?
Do you begin with a sketch or go straight to paint?
Hello Nantucket Art. I have done step by step of the process in the past but I change my style and my approach when I feel like it, so you could not rely that one step by step would be the same as another step by step. I finish all paintings I start. If I am not happy with the result I leave it on one side for a while and later I might do some more work on it or simply chuck it away.
As to sketches, sometimes I do a preliminary sketch and sometimes not. Depends how clear the painting is in my mind when I start.
Thanks for visiting.
Hi, Sheila - I love the soft shapes in the background, the repetition of the blue and then the interesting darks in the foreground. A beautiful painting!
Thanks for visiting and for your kind comments Connie.
I love it! And we lose objectivity as well. This painting looks very fresh to me. Not labored in any way. I am impressed with your dedication and your output of beautiful work.
Mary, thanks for your comment. It's interesting to keep working on something that is not quite right. I enjoy doing that. Glad you like this one.
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