Monday, February 13, 2012

Cosmos with lemons - SOLD

Today I went to an open studio class at Laurie's. It felt so good to be back. I set up a still life with these cosmos sitting atop my favourite red chair, draped some fabric over the back and added a few lemons. I sketched it out and I liked it - it was "pretty". But the more I thought about it it seemed trite. I asked Laurie about ways to take the "expected" out of still life arrangements. I thought of pulling my view back to include what I was seeing behind the chair. One way. She also mentioned: walking to the back of the arrangement you've so carefully set-up and painting it from that viewpoint; placing your items on the ground; and picking up an unrelated object and tossing it in. All good ideas. So I dismantled my set-up, tipped the chair, tossed the fabric on the floor and set down the vase and fruit. It gave me the look I was after. This is 16"x20" and is acrylic on stretched canvas.

8 comments:

Sandra Busby said...

I agree that it is a good idea to take the 'predictability' out of still lives when we can. And I think it has worked so well here! As does the brown paper bag on it's own in your previous post! I like both for different reasons - But then, I think for the most part I am drawn to colour and those vivid lemons are fabulous!

Crystal Cook said...

Your painting is anything but trite! I love the way you changed it, it looks so alive. Which I guess is what one is after when painting a still life??

I love the way the lemons look like they just happened to land there. And I agree with Sandra, your paper bag painting is DIVINE!!! I love it. I just got a paper bag to paint the other day too. :D

Margaret M. Lin said...

Beautiful painting. I love the colors - the purple against the sienna/orange background - and the lemons!

hmuxo said...

This is a beautiful still life, Kim! The fabric, and flowers...just beautiful. I also love your previous "paper bag"...excellent!!

LindaHunt said...

I love your still life painting. I ruined my still life because it was staged. I think that I will try and loosen up a bit and see what happens. Love the paper bag and the white boxes!

Nicki said...

Kim, this is so ridiculously good! I love that you challenged yourself! I love that you dismantled your first attempt and went for the unexpected. I love the freshness of it and I love that you asked for help! How can you not be successful after all of that?

Way to go!

Virginia Floyd said...

I love this! I love all the bits of lime green everywhere. Beautiful colors in those lemons. Great job!

Gwen Bell said...

What a terrific composition. There are so many things I love about it, but lets start with that beautiful gauzy fabric against the pops of orange and fascia. Just yummy!

Loving your lunch bags too!