Two Realities

"Pines" 2008
Original, oil on gessoed panel
5" x 3.5" unframed

Since returning to painting this year, I have been rethinking my past working processes.

A lot of my previous work has been "idea driven" —meaning that I had an idea and would then develop the imagery to express or embody that idea. The other component of my artwork has come from an interest in rendering the phenomena of light falling on objects. My source material for developing my artwork came from photographs—ones I took myself or photos given to me by friends to use for my paintings.

Working from photographs is very convenient and helpful...especially when painting light effects. At the same time, working from photos is also limiting, and, in some ways, boring. For me, painting was becoming the challenge of meeting or exceeding the "reality" of the photograph; and I found myself wanting to take a perfect picture to ensure that I would get a perfect painting.

Over the past few months, I have been weaning myself from relying on photographs and painting from direct observation. This has been a completely different experience. There's more looking and seeing involved, many more color decisions to make, and more "do-overs"—wiping out and scraping paint off the canvas. At the same time, unpredictable stuff happens that makes the painting and the reality I am painting come "alive." Painting has become an adventure again!

This little "mini-painting" of tall pine trees was done from direct observation, looking out my studio window.

Thanks for coming along and looking at my painting. You are welcome to forward this blog to others, too.

Have a great day. See you Wednesday!
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Text, image, and painting ©Carol L Adamec. All rights reserved.