Monday, December 5, 2011

sunset and rothko

15x15 oil with pastel added
"The most important tool the artist fashions though constant practice is faith in his ability to produce miracles when they are needed" Mark Rothko 1948
Miracles, yep that is what painting is all about. We look at a blank canvas and make something appear. It's difficult to find information about Rothko's process. He was very secretive about it and let no one in his studio.  I continue to look at Rothko's work I find I am fascinated by his edges. All the action is there. He creates a little game of hide and seek. Using simultaneous contrast in veils like whispers he creates those beautiful miracles. Edges matter most. Miracles...wow, it's a hard business.

PS One an amazing note today, one of the young artists I teach, unsolicited by me, said," Wow, it's amazing! This was just a white paper before I started. Now this beautiful city is here looking real. (6 years old Evan)  Boy, does he get miracles. I will post his pastel painting after I photograph it.

PPS This is a memory painting, the first one produced solely in my new studio (here it is Sam.)

11 comments:

SamArtDog said...

Cool -- it's a miraculous mixed-media memory masterpiece! A beautiful manifestation of your your own little piece of heaven. I'm so happy for you!

Leah said...

Beauty! Your comments made me notice the edges more. I find myself attracted to the lower left edge and the upper right edge. If this is the first just imagine what other miracles will arise!!

Mary said...

Your paintings are so beautiful. Is your process documented? I'll have to browse through your posts. I'm really interested in seeing how an oil painting looks before and after pastel is added.

loriann signori said...

Thanks Sam! The studio space is awesome and I hope it affects my work as positively as it has affected my mind set! Can't wait to see your studio photos.

Hey Leah!I keep working on those..it's Rothko who has the amazing edges...I simply aspire.

Hi Mary and welcome to my blog!
I am not sure which process you are looking for. I do talk about all of my different methods on the blog (constantly:-)Let me know if you don't find what you want.

Casey Klahn said...

I think it must be very hard to get even some of the glow from your oil paintings to be represented by photography. This one is the exception - it begins to speak of the real glow I am certain is there. mesmerizing.

Ewen MacDonald watercolouristanbul said...

Great quote from Rothko - who would have thought - faith, the miraculous and humanity interacting to create works of joy and wonder...

Caroline Simmill said...

Hi Loriann, are you adding oil pastel to the dried oil painting or are you using oil pastels throughout? I really find your experiments so interesting and thank you for your response regarding the gesso in the last painting. I think lots of these paintings would look amazing in reality. Computer images do make everything look so flat. How are you heating your new studio, is the weather still mild with you?

Liz Steinglass said...

So many edges and so many miracles. I'm sure I'll be thinking about edges all day.

Katherine van Schoonhoven said...

Rothko comes the Portland Art Museum next year. Woo hoo! Is it wonderful painting in your new studio?!

loriann signori said...

Hi CAsey,
Thanks so much. I just keep working. Saw a Rothko today...yummy edges.

Hi Ewen, Glad you liked the Rothko quote.Faith in the possible and the impossible.

Hi Caroline,
When I use pastel I place regular soft pastel on top of mostly dried oil paint...after all it's just pigment in another form. I have not yet experimented with oil pastels. Thanks for asking about my studio. The heat is splendid. We have tested it a little since the weather has dipped below freezing and had a little snow. So far so good.

Hi Liz, the edges are truly where the action happens enjoy!

Hey Kvan, Please tell me more about your upcoming Rothko show.

Celeste Bergin said...

your paintings do "glow"....just as Casey says--I can't get enough of them!