What happens when you do two back to back workshops
and then try to incorporate the new information into your work?
It can get a little crazy and sometimes my work can get worse
for a while instead of better because it's messy and confusing to
change the way you paint.
Since I was really focused on color temperature changes and brushwork,
after I came home I decided to set up a still life as an exercise,
just focusing on those two things- temperature and brushwork-
and paint something I was familiar with and a set up of my own design.
To eliminate confusion I worked on a mid-tone gray palette and
stained my boards the exact same gray mid tone.
Then I did an experiment with different underlying colors in a
monotone value painting and proceeded to try different color combinations,
trying to get them to harmonize.
After four of them I took it a step further and decided to try to ignore
subject matter altogether by taking a photo of my still life in black and white
and then working from the photo upside down from a computer monitor.
That one ended up being my favorite,
maybe because the colors are more unexpected.
Now I feel ready to move forward!
I appreciate your comments and would love to hear if you enjoyed hearing about my process.
Thanks!
