Thursday, February 26, 2009

Subtle Shifts/ Two Small Paintings


about 6 x 6, pastel and watercolor on Uart paper
Each is $100.
Two paintings done one after another. The bottom one was first. My focus was the subtle color/value shifts that happen on an overcast morning. The top one was done second. This time I decided to eliminate the drawing stage and simply go in it with massing. I know my preference. I am interested to learn: which do you prefer?

10 comments:

Dale Sherman Blodget said...

Well, since you asked. Overall, I like the initial one the best. The water is just beautiful. But on the second one, I love the mass of dark violet trees on the right and the ducks. To me the green is a little too much. It grabs my eyes and will only let me go to the blue in the center. I find it harder to see the second painting as a whole. I kind of hope you'll let us know which YOU prefer. How are the fingers? And as read about your finger problems I wondered about the danger of toxic and carcinogenic components in pastels, especially on compromised skin. Maybe finger cots if you can't stand gloves?

Jala Pfaff said...

Impossible to choose.

brian eppley said...

You've raised the bar! This is a tough one but I'll give my honest opinion. The bottom one reads the most believable and is very good. The top one jumped out at me. I am a fan of massing and immediately gravitate that way. There are some things that are a bit tough to see (the edge of woods and water behind ducks/geese on right side)but the way you painted it I don.t think it matters. The top one is my favorite. I know its getting out of your comfort zone but I feel your tapping into something special. I really feel something internally while viewing that one. But hey, go with YOUR gut.

Anonymous said...

Hi Loriann,

They both have such a different feel to them and are wonderful as individual paintings. Why choose???

loriann signori said...

Thank you Dale, Jala, Brian and Joanne for your thoughts. It's always interesting to hear.
As for my opinion... Hands down I liked the second (top) painting the best. It's all about feel. Maybe the green is too much and I think the ducks should not be the in the center, but still to me, its feel is much closer to my goal. Thanks everyone:-)

loriann signori said...

Ooops one more thing...Dale. Thanks for your concern. My fingers are much better. I have two full nails again!!!! How cool is that? I think I will be much more careful in the future as to my pastel hold and my skin coverage, if I am to lose a nail.

Brian McGurgan said...

I'm coming a little late to this conversation but think I like the second one best, although both are beautiful. The top (second) one captures my attention with the beautiful cool greens and blues and with the detail of the wake of the swimming ducks. That said, the first painting has beautiful, subtle relationships between the purples and grays and is a pleasure to look at as well... so maybe I didn't really choose after all!

loriann signori said...

Thanks Brian, you are never too late to comment. As I always learn from others' ideas. The second one remains my favorite due the the vibrant colors and edge treatment. I agree about the ducks too.

Gretchen Kelly said...

Hi Lori,
I love both together because it shows how your process is going. As an Artist I love to see other Artist's process. These are beautiful and I love the sense of time passing. The ducks on the water in one and not in the other give a real feeling of marking time.
GK

loriann signori said...

Thanks for your thoughts Gretchen and I agree; seeing another artist's process is always thought provoking.