friday painting #48
circles
36" x 24"
This girl was determined not to come easily. She probably took the longest so far. And she has details that you can kind of feel, rather than really see. Like the wood, the grain is under the red. She was coming through in fits and starts. But, the final product I like it. Here is a close up her face.
So September of 2005 I started doing a painting a week. Most of the paintings in single digits have been altered in some way. (altered aka painted over) Painted to make some of the newer paintings. My style has changed so much in a year. The first paintings just didn't fit anymore. A couple I reworked, so that they became another version of the same image. I think I would have to say when I got a painting challenge from the Storyteller the change in me began sprouting. I started to take myself more seriously. I was sketching so much more. Plus lisa s has spot on advice. I can see how I responded to some of her comments weeks or months later without even thinking about it. (thank you!)
Considering I have 50 odd paintings in my apartment now (most are unstretched, so they are stored rolled up)…it is good to gift out a few. I love that people want to hang my stuff on their walls and look at it. It makes me unbelievably happy. Let the paintings live another life.
a moment::
coming off the train walking to work. I look up the block and watch an older man in a dark blue knit hat, with a red rolling cart bounce a blue rubber ball up the street. As he passed I noticed the twinkles in his eyes.
::
December 1st, 2006 at 12:29 pm
I love love love the textures in this one! So rich.
December 1st, 2006 at 3:29 pm
i am really lovin’ your circus series.
December 1st, 2006 at 5:02 pm
wendy!
the wood grain, her eyes, the rich colors. i think it must be so wonderful to look back on this large project and see what you’ve learned! and your moment: blue and red images float around in my mind! thank you.
hi. this painting is amazing! i LOVE it.
xoxo shari ps: happy moving!!
December 1st, 2006 at 5:38 pm
holy cow, wendy - the wood grain detail - GOODNESS GRACIOUS!! amazing =)
December 1st, 2006 at 6:05 pm
That painting is awesome.
December 1st, 2006 at 6:25 pm
ah - the joys of UNDERPAINTING [it’s what i miss most about painting]
wendy - even though this one was not easy - there is SO MUCH that is good…. the composition [love the angle and how her leg is off the sq], the twinkles in the back… her TIGHTS!
i am so honored that something i might say influences you in any way shape or form. i can most defintely see progression and development in your paintings… i can’t wait to see what happens when you draw the words….
take good care as you move!
xo
p/s do you have an address in socal?? if so i need it please!
December 1st, 2006 at 6:46 pm
I know you feel like “Pigeon’s Breath” was a key moment - but with these circus paintings, it feels like you’re making jumps forward with each one. This one feels more like an actual life-moment captured, than something dreamed or imagined.
December 1st, 2006 at 7:36 pm
Beautiful painting lady! I love the detail in the wood. Great talking to you today…happy last day!
December 2nd, 2006 at 12:13 am
I love your moments. I do that too - notice little things about people and places-but then forget them immediately. What a great idea to write them down.
Do you ever listen to the podcast Quirky Nomads (www.quirkynomads.com)? The narrator rides the bus/subway all the time and always recreates conversations she overhears. Like audible moments.
December 3rd, 2006 at 2:42 am
Oh this painting is awesome! & congrats on 50 paintings
I love how you say let the paintings live another life- that’s a beautiful thought
hugs to you,
ash
December 4th, 2006 at 4:30 pm
Such vibrant, rich colors. 50 paintings in a year is awesome! It makes me want to get off my bum and paint more. I also like your note about the man you say with the twinkle in his eyes. How cute.
December 4th, 2006 at 5:08 pm
congrats on the 50 paintings!
This is an amazing painting. Perhaps it’s only fitting that number 50 would be challenging? Means you’re moving on and UP
Can’t wait to read your LA moments.
xo, abee
December 4th, 2006 at 8:13 pm
mary - thank you, I am glad I let her come in her own time
michelle - I am sort of bummed that I will be taking a painting break for a bit, but excited to sketch more circus stuff
shari - it is cool to see how my style has grown, how my girls have developed
ky - wow caps and everything!
amanda - thank you for that
lisa s - your comments are like my own person crits in your class!! It totally influences in major ways!
(I’ll send you an email about socal stuff)
dayan - I always love to know what you think about the paintings…how you see them is always cool!!
johanna - can’t belive that work is over?!
martha - I have to write them down. They are usually scribbled in my journal as I try and capture the visual of the moment.
I’ll have to check out that podcast…that sounds like a fantastic idea. I love pieces of conversation out of context!
ash - It is cooler to have the lives of the paintings continue beyond me…otherwise they sit in my closet until I have some shows
beth - he was so cute bounching his ball down the street…it would make any morning better bouncing a blue rubber ball down the street!
abee - that wasn’t quite number 50…but I have paintings that I did before I started this challenge…la moments have started!!
December 5th, 2006 at 6:48 am
your knife girl is very powerful!! love her eyes … and the wood grain is amazing too!
December 7th, 2006 at 12:29 pm
oh my dear friend.
this painting is something else.
i believe i just witnessed a visual milestone in your path of amazing work.
bravo!
December 15th, 2006 at 2:02 pm
totally cool!
December 15th, 2006 at 11:47 pm
Wendy,
Congrats! This is a really gorgeous painting. Very interesting perspective and I love the details & textures.
Hope you are having a blast in Cali.
Adoringly,
a
December 16th, 2006 at 10:55 am
maditi - thank you so much
hantulla - shucks….
patricia - thanks
aurora - it is so warm out here…and I am glad you like this piece
February 1st, 2007 at 8:15 pm
Yo, wanna go into the greeting card business? I need your business and art savvy and you need my deep, dark, disturbing, utterly offensive in every way sense of humor.
I like your painting style and I think it would go great on a greeting card. Here’s the pitch.
Picture this. Very muted color scheme, yet riveting color combo (a-la-wendy). Located in an alleyway, a paper-thin man/woman sits indian-style, facing the other direction. His/her head is barely peeking back at you (royal you). Next to him/her is a cat eating out of an overturned garbage can. The birthday card reads: “Happy birthday, I guess. I don’t know what the big deal is - you’re just one year closer to death. So, congratulations to that.” or
“You lived a whole year longer. What a unique accomplishment. We should celebrate that. By the way, thanks for not inviting me to your little soirée. I’m allergic to your fake friends anyway.”
I think this would be fun. Call me and let me know what athe legistics would be if you’re interested. Perhaps you are sick of doing cards - I don’t know. Or maybe you know that it’s more work than it’s worth. Let me know where you’re at. It just seems like a good, fun, business idea to me.
If you’re not interested, you can suck it!