Saturday, March 13, 2010

adjusting what you see and Dwight William Tryon

6x12 pastel on BFK

Pouring rain and strong winds kept me in the car this morning. I only had a few sheets of 6x12s, which made it a challenge when I chose to paint a straight row of trees. Decisions about placement and how to break up the strong horizontal straight line feel were important. Colors and shapes were manipulated. Very subtle changes of warm and cool were used to make it calm yet still visually exciting (hopefully.) I couldn't help but think of Dwight William Tryon.
While writing this post I searched online and found this image of his. Doesn't it just make you drool? It really makes me feel small, like I should just stop now. Still, I never give up. I will use it as inspiration for my next piece. I think I need to go downtown to the Freer Gallery to take in a little more Tyron.While many artists say Spring is the hardest time to paint...just too pretty,  I think Tryon relished it. I found this blog when searching for  images to share. The Blue Lantern, arts journalism for the love of it  was an enjoyable read, check it out when you have time.

16 comments:

Katherine van Schoonhoven said...

Yes, Loriann, I'm drooling! Your painting is lovely and with just a few lines you've suggested the life awakening in the branches of the trees.

Your painting also made me think of the work of contemporary artist Michael Workman. Do you know him? I've seen his work in Santa Fe at the Meyer Gallery (I think). If you look at his work, I'll be curious to hear what you think!

loriann signori said...

Hi Katherine, Oh yes when I was in Santa Fe last Spring I saw Michael's work. oohh la la! amazing stuff. Online it looks good, but in person amazing! Thanks about my painting:-D

Double "D" said...

morning b,

if i saw your painting and tryons together and had to choose which one to look at ... i would choose yours.
dwt's is nice but somewhat dull and uninspiring. i guess it's all just a matter of taste. yours is far more expressive and painterly and holds my attention and curiosity.
pb

Caroline Simmill said...

I also prefer your painting Loriann. Your painting is full is life and atmosphere and the simplicity of subject matter just draws the viewer in. I don't think there is anything wrong with pretty artwork and if you can capture this in your paintings then that is a personal artistic expression. It is who you are as an artist.
I was speaking to a gallery owner on Friday afternoon I noticed the gallery was full of variety. All the artists were painting something that was individual and it was as the owner said their own expression. She says she can tell the artists who try to paint for money alone and will try and paint in a fashionable way or try to paint like artists who are already hanging in the gallery. She claimed she could tell the difference. While it is important to look to the traditional great artists we have to remember we belong to our time and we bring the new world to our easel. Your work is so fresh and vibrant and personally I don't care for the rather lifeless and unexciting work of Tryon. But of course that is just my own opinion.

Brian McGurgan said...

Your painting is lovely, Loriann, and Tryon's too. I find both very inspiring, and I love early spring for drawing.

Lisa McShane said...

Lovely! I thought of your blog and Tryon the day after you last posted about his paintings. I was driving through Skagit County (Washington state) and saw his painting in real life. The grey/yellow sky, the row of trees. Subtle and wonderful.

loriann signori said...

Afternoon PB!
You are funny, dull and uninspiring! Not my man Tryon, I guess the digital images don't do his work justice...believe me it is gorgeous. Thank you for your support about my work.I guess I just feel my constant struggle and occasional success. (I think YOU know all about that)But them what one calls success is different than what others do. At this point I know I bought the ticket for the roller coaster ride and I will stay on-regardless. It's all about process and the view is perfect up here;-D Thanks for stopping by and pecking me a note. How is your shoulder doing anyway? -b

loriann signori said...

Hi Caroline!
Thank you.. it is me. I really can't be anyone else. I really appreciate your supportive comment. Interesting words from the gallery owner too. I understand what she says. I have seen work from very talented artists that need to sell first and lose the true-ness to their soul. Your work is also very personal and special.
Loriann

loriann signori said...

Hi Brian, I thought you would enjoy Tryon's work. Thank you about mine. I love your recent tree drawings, so sensitive.

Hi Lisa!!! Ah, Skagit County, one of my favorite places. I will be there and Whidbey Island this summmer. we must be sure to meet, at least for tea. It is one of the most beautiful landscapes, you are indeed lucky to live there!

Joan Breckwoldt said...

Your paintings are lovely, I am so glad I found your blog. I will spend the next 20 minutes reading through you older posts and admiring your beautiful work.
Joan

loriann signori said...

Hi Joan, I am delighted that you dropped by for a visit. Thank you for your kind words. I will go visit your blog now.-Loriann

dominique eichi said...

I'm not sure if I left a comment yet or not. But it doesn't matter you deserve more than one compliment. I know you see Tyron as been one of your goals of accomplishments to create what he has done but you are not in his wake you are sailing along side . Your work has so much poetry in it it is a pleasure to view each piece.

Jala Pfaff said...

His is lovely in its coloring, though personally it doesn't have any feeling of aliveness in it (for me). Yours does, though; feels more like a Wolf Kahn.

Adam Cope said...

Tyron's painting is ...pretty dark. Right down there in the mid tones, almost a crown without a jewel (do a research on nineteenth century 'jewel in the crown' composition)...

also his foreground is more decisive & defined, not just gestural sweeps.

I'm currently painting rows of trees as well, FYI.

Paint on & bonne courage, Lorianne :-)

ps. nice oil sanguine monotones... (grisailles normally refer to ultra & burnt sienna in french painting terminology, not that it matters much either way).

loriann signori said...

Thank you thank you Dominique! Comment or compliment away!

Thanks Jala.. I appreciate your kind words. I guess you have to see the Tryon's in person to see their real loveliness. Come over to DC I will bring you to them. I must say that I am happy to know that you do like mine.

Hi Adam,
I did a brief search for the term "jewel in the crown" and I didn't find what you are referring to...please, if you know a link let me know. OK? I would love to read about it. I can't believe crown without a jewel. In person they are absolutely beautiful, they breathe so much beauty into a room. Peace and calm. I guess that is why there are so many painters...that way we each find what we like.
You are right about grisailles although I do not find that color combination works for me so I have taken the liberty to branch off. Maybe another term would be monochromatic paintings but since I use them as underpaintings to glaze over I call them grisailles. oh dear! I will now go check out your trees in rows painting. I do remember your vineyard ones.. a great excuse to see what you have been up to.

Adam Cope said...

Re-French terminology - sanguines would be better but then you know american terminology better than I.

Re-'Jewel in the crown' it's the bright fleck that setts the painting alight. rules of thumb is that 95 percent of surfaca area is a dull broken greyish mid-tone (the crown) & 5 percent is the jewel the bright, staurated colour.

Bruce Macenvoy at www.handprint.com mentions it somewhere or aother in his masssive site...


IMO, It just seems to me that the misty grey foggy paintings of Tyron are all crown, no jewel. Imagine a ray of seeting sun to spark up the endless mid-tones! I know fogg & steamm & overcast days do have a poetry & a charm of their own... far from sunlight & far fromchromatic & radiant colour... When mMonet painted foggy days on the Marne, he also heighten the complementary contrats.

Don't mind me bumbling on, just my personal perfernces.Paint well & be happy
best
adam