Wednesday, August 30, 2006

What next?


I am still playing around with textures and colors but this will be my last piece of this size and I hope to start a bigger size with a little more serious work on it. This is another recycled piece. It started with a still life over gold leaf but I ruined it by adding some burlap to it. After taking the burlap off the only solution left, was the wall texturizer to cover with. I had covered it weeks ago and now that I decide to brush some paint over it I found those scratchy indentations but don't find them disturbing so I will leave them.

I was discussing intuitive abstract art with another abstract artist. It is so hard for me to reason with abstracts because then I freeze and connot produce anything. I know a lot of people abtract from reality but it is something I cannot do.
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17 comments:

C. Robin Janning said...

I love the richness and character of this. Really wonderful work!

Cynthia said...

I love this piece! I love the colors and I wish I could look at it person to see the texture more closely...what size is this one?

It really does glow.

I have a terrible time with abstracts...at least painted ones. I can abstract collages but, have 2 abstracts 1/2 finished sitting on my easel since last spring. I haven't gone back to them. Right now I'm trying to be looser and paint/draw child like and that too is harder than it would seem.

I can't wait to see the larger ones.

Pilan said...

Mariana, with these kinds of results I can see you are reaching for something further ahead.

For me, I think this abstract is very beautiful and rich in color and feel. You don't give yourself enough credit in your skill and it could be blocking you from feeling successful. You have been very accomplished in every painting I have been seeing. Step back, far back and take a deep breath and see what you are doing, because its gorgeous. I am not saying don't search and strive to do more and learn more, but to give yourself where credit is due.

Are you going to put these up for sale?

Pilan

Mary said...

Thank you, Gramercy! I checked you blog and you have awesome paintings.

Cynthia, thank you! I'm glad you liked this one. I know what you mean. Drawing like children is very hard because it is the spontaneity of their strokes that is so appealing.

Paula, thank you! You have witnessed my struggle with these so your comment means a lot to me. This is 16 X 20 and it is really just a practice piece. I will start with the bigger one's tonight.

Stoy Jones said...

Mary, I agree with Pilan. Perhaps put it away for a couple of days and hang it up and look at it and gauge your response then...you might be pleasantly surprised. I have no mind for abstracts as far as attempting them, but I do appreciate them! I like this and the previous post. This one particularly seems very earthy and primitive, the blacks remind me of cave painting. The colors are very warm and rich and I'm sure I would appreciate the texture more viewing it in person. Very nice work!

Anonymous said...

Mary, the last two paintings you have posted are just wonderful!! I don't know how you do it, but whatever your method is it certainly works for you. I agree with Pilan, you don't give yourself enough credit. For me, abstracts are much harder than realism because I need to see something to paint or draw it. I wish I had your creativity.
Stacy

Unknown said...

Fantastic job on these last two abstracts! I just love them. The feel, texture and color of your work is so earthy and primitive, and by primitive I don't mean in technique, but in a spiritual way.
These are coming from a deep place which may be why it can be such a struggle.

Mary said...

Stoy, Stacy and Dave, thank you so much for your comments. It gives me pleasure to know that they are seen as primitive and earthy as that is what I was hoping for.

ming said...

i was just wondering yesterday how come there aren't many abstract painters who blog..then i found you:)

Anita said...

This has both a wonderful richness of texture and colour. Delicious!

Mary said...

Ming, thank you for your visit!

Anita, thank you for your comment and nice to see you back.

Martha Marshall said...

Mary, you have gotten a big response with this painting, so you must be doing something right! I also love the depth and richness of it.

I know what you mean when you say that when you try to reason with abstract art, it stops the process. Me too. I have to play all kinds of tricks on my left brain to keep it at bay while painting. I blogged about this yesterday!

Mary said...

Thank you, Martha! I will have to see your thoughts on keeping the left brain at bay.

Anonymous said...

Hi,

Thought I'd drop on by and I'm really very impressed. Whilst abstract is normally my cup of tea, there are some I really do like, and these series of textures are right down my avenue. I absolutely love them!!

Gav (Zarathustra)

Anonymous said...

Excuse my grammar - was supposed to read 'not normally my cup of tea', but I guess you'd figured that out. ;)
I'd be interested to know how acrylic ink works on mdf? Have never tried it.

Mary said...

Robin, Thank you!

Gavin, what a very nice surprise! Thank you! I had to coat the MDF board first with a light wash of acrylic because the acrylic and the ink have a tendency to bead on the MDF board without a base coat. Dropping a drop of acrylic ink on acrylic, is fascinating to watch but should be done very carefully because both tend to run off the board.

Anonymous said...

Mary, the texture of this work is awesome. I like also the colors.