Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Almost Black

6"x 6" oil on board

I have to admit that I am very happy with this painting.  Most of the time my paintings evolve over the process of painting but this time I visualized exactly how I wanted it to look, and it worked!  With the simple shape of cherries it was easy but I wonder how it would work with a more complicated set-up. 
Do you visualize your finished painting before you start?


14 comments:

  1. Your darks are simply beautiful; they are so dark, rich and varied.
    Yes, every once in a while, I know exactly how I want the final painting to look. Even more infrequently, it actually ends up looking that way!

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  2. Such wonderful, juicy looking cherries.
    I always start out knowing exactly where I am going, but half way through the painting seems to take a life of its own and I find I am responding to the painting and not the subject.
    Sometimes this is very frustrating!

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  3. Beautiful!! These dark cherries are absolutely perfect.

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  4. Not only my favorite fruit but a lovely painting Dana!

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  5. Very nice, Dana. Good question too. I don't have a picture in my mind, but I have a list. Must be the left brain trying to take charge! On the list are things like: overall feel of the work, maintaining value pattern, various paint applications, varied edges, and "make a stroke and leave it!". I guess I mentally coach myself. Do we all do this?

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  6. Cherries are one of my favorite fruits and you've captured their color expertly, Dana. Well done!

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  7. An excellent example of how getting the right value really makes the whole painting sing. Beautiful piece Dana!

    To answer your question, I don't try to visualize anymore. I paint because of the mystery, I love seeing if it comes close close to my initial idea, turns out better or fails completely. I live for the moments when my brush does something completely different that adds interest to the painting or I try a new approach and it works, that's what keeps me going back again and again.

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  8. It is elegant in it's simplicity, and is painted to perfection. An absolutely wonderful painting!

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  9. Wonderful painting, love painting cherries too.
    I have a rough idea what I want to paint and I spend a lot of time setting up my still-life objects until they look just right with position and lighting and selection and I can then visualize the end result (most of the time;)

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  10. Mission accomplished. Congratulations on reaching your goal. Lovely work!

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  11. Yum! Yes sometimes I do...
    Great work on these!

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  12. Yes, wonderful image work here. It looks like it fell off the brush- and the red/black of the cherries is just right!

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Thank you for taking the time to comment, I appreciate each and every one of them!