16x20 watercolor and pastel on Uart paper
I had the most fun with the watercolor underpainting, I even wonder if I should have stopped then, before my fingers were freezing and stumbling over the paper. (It takes awhile before getting your "frozen painting legs."I feel like a total whimp now.) I feel the underpainting has a freshness the other doesn't. After I finished the watercolor I noticed that it felt so John Marin-esque. Why I ask???? The one thing I remember about John Marin is that he believed he had to know a place intimately before he could paint it. I am in complete and total agreement with him.
Today was thinking about marks- why and how we choose. The bigger paper allowed the marks to get bigger and more expressive. I also wonder if our marks reflect emotional state as well as reaction to the subject. Any thoughts on that one painters and non- painters?
12 comments:
Marks do reflect your emotional state just like your handwriting. They are your handwriting in pastel. They can be deliberate, fussed over, exuberant, purposeful, nonchalant, automatic. I wrote a paper on Marin once. He liked marks. Keep up the good marks.
I believe our marks do reflect emotional states. But it doesn't end there. Our marks then affect emotional states, yes? A continuum. Beautiful painting, BTW.
I grew up in Maine, surrounded by Homer, Marin and Wyeth. Their work illustrated my life. As a child, I loved Marin because I think in many ways his art seemed so accessible to me. I remember thinking, "I can do that!" (yeah, right). Your underpainting does remind of his work; if you squint, it's sort of cubist and daringly sparse. Cool!
Bob- Excellent description and good point, handwriting in pastel. I like that.
Hi Dale, Good point.... reflect and affect. You are right. thank you too.
Hi Sam and the dogs!
A Maine native.. where in Maine? Maine is one of my favorite places to paint...have you gone back? You grew up surrounded by the work of some of the greats. Lucky you.
You are right that for some reason Marin's work seems accessible/ I wonder why that is...hmmmm. Part of his genius. Thanks for the comment.
Ayuh, Born and bred in a tide pool. Falmouth. Whole fam damily still lives theyah. Go back regulah. Wayuh you like ta paint?
Wow, Falmouth, cool. What took you away from there Sam? I have been to Deer Isle many times, Lubec once (can't wait to go back there again) and Monhegan Island-once. Love it all for the light and the fog.
Love your accent.
You know how I love the watercolor underpaintings.
This one is beautiful, I think it would have never felt complete for you without the pastel.
About the marks. I do think that emotional state has a great deal to do with the size of the marks. When I'm tentative and unsure, the marks are very small and tedious. When I'm really excited about the subject and feeling good, the marks are large and meaningful and quickly stated. Anger is an emotion but seldom useful for painting.
Take care,
PB
Hi PB!!!! You are so right I can never seem to stop the pastel hand!
I agree with you about the mark making too. Thanks for your input!
Happy Sunday!
buddette
John Marin's ghost walks Deer Isle. Gorgeous Monhegan is now, like most of the coast, embroiled in murderous lobster wars. 'Course, there have been lobster wars since the white guys landed. Btw, my accent is only used to affect humah, unless I'm ta home and need to buy some lobstahs.
Sam, I'll look for his ghost when I return next summer. Monhegan is a one of a kind place...talk about atmosphere! Still I love the accent.
Lobstah wars, eh?
I guess that figures...oil, lobsters..what ever is deemed important can be fought about.
Yes I completely think our marks reflect our emotional state, and our reaction to a subject! Think of all the times we've painted and felt tentative, unsure, discouraged, vs those days where our arms seem to fly all around...what different pieces we make! Sometimes I wish we could hide that part...
Karen, you are so right. It's like being exposed. Speaking of that , let me check and see what you have been up to recently.
Post a Comment