Thursday, October 01, 2009

blame it on the canvas






I've been working on four larger still lifes (16x20) and a large studio landscape (60x50.) It would probably have been more prudent had I finished one thought before beginning another but after seeing Michael Van Zeyl demonstrate several different block-in methods I just had to try them all, at once it seems. Today I'm showing two in progress. The first is almost finished. The one with the horse should be done but I'm faulting the canvas. Normally I paint on Claussens #13 double oil primed linen which I love. The paint flows off the brush with a nice light touch and lays where and how you want it too. The piece with the red horse is on cotton duck. YUCK, YUCK, YUCK!!! I felt like I was painting on blacktop. Like a stubborn child I fought with it all day. I think with the effort I spent trying to make this canvas respond the way I expect from Claussens, I could have nearly finished the painting.


on another topic,
The ArtPrize competition in Grand Rapids, MI was a wonderful and fun experience. Apparently 17,000 artists entered with 1100 acceptances. The art and styles and how art is defined varied greatly from tradition figure paintings, landscapes, photography, sculpture etc to very funky - bike converted into a port -0-potty. All attendees can vote on their favorite piece. The openings were very well attended. I stood near my painting for five hours constantly meeting and greeting people. I would definitely like to be part of this exhibition again.






6 comments:

Karen said...

hmmmm....I don't know about your canvas excuse....
ha just kidding. It really is amazing how different surfaces can so much affect the way the paint goes down.

Look forward to the finished pieces!


p.s. that pot is so hard to paint!! what color is it?!

susan hong-sammons said...

Hey you, just for that I'm "gifting" you a huge, acrylic primed, cotton duck, medium weave panel. And you can't use a palette knife. Although knowing you, you'll find a wonderful way to make it work beautifully and I'll have to eat my words.

I have no idea what color it is so I just got with mixing a neutral and try to keep it clean clean clean. so fun, right!?

Mari said...

Susan, Thanks for stopping at my blog. I had such fun at Art Prize and met quite a few of the artists. I wish I had met you and seen your painting because your work here is beautiful! There were just too many to catch in one day.

Kim VanDerHoek said...

These are fun to see in progress! Especially since I usually paint landscapes. I'll be looking for the next post of these.

Your response to cotton duck cracked me up. We all are particular about what works for us!

susan hong-sammons said...

Dear Mari,
I agree, ArtPrize is a really fun artistic event and I'm so glad that Design Plus selected my painting. I hope you'll make it out and about again for the final round of votes. And please visit my blog again.

susan hong-sammons said...

Hi Kim, thanks for your encouragement because sometimes it's a bit humbling to show pieces in-progress.
And I'm still fighting the cotton duck but have found that if I work in thinner layers (like heavy glazing) as opposed to the direct method, there is less drag.

Love your Koi painting!!!