A Change in Direction…Three New Still Life Paintings
Squidward Tentacles
Oil on canvas
6×6 inches
© 2011 Marilyn Fenn
It’s been at least a decade since I painted any representational still life paintings. I thought I had perhaps gotten past painting still lifes in favor of abstraction, but have recently found myself wanting to work perceptually again, only this time, with any luck (or should I say, with the development of skill), in a looser, more painterly way.
Here are the first three perceptual still life paintings I’ve done this century: Spongebob Squarepants was the first, and is still a bit tight, then I painted Patrick Star and Squidward Tentacles. I think they came out pretty well. These are, of course, based on small plastic figurines of these characters.
I’m really enjoying working this way again, and hope to do more or less daily paintings if I can. The intervening decade of pushing myself further toward abstraction has been a very interesting journey so far. I plan to continue working abstractly as well doing the small still lifes; I don’t know yet if I will be doing both simultaneously or if I will do the still lifes for awhile and then pick back up with the abstracts. Stay tuned.
“Rivers” at Wally Workman
Ryan Coover’s River Blooms II, 2011 at Wally Workman Gallery
Last weekend, we finally made it out to Wally Workman Gallery to see the group show “Rivers.” So much excellent work! I was particularly interested in seeing two paintings by Ryan Coover, which were whimsical abstractions that seemed to contain microscopic life seen up a little closer. His two larger paintings were both beautiful and fascinating.
I also really enjoyed the wonderful luminous colors in the large and small abstract oil paintings by Joyce Howell, and the lovely large worlds created by Saliha Staib. Neighbor Jennifer Balkan’s paintings are always a delight to view; I love her hunky application of paint!
Well, instead of reading my blatherings about how much I enjoyed all of the work in show, why don’t you check out these photos I took of some of the paintings there:[nggallery id=115]
Or view far better photos on the Wally Workman blog, where you can also find out more about all the artists and their work.
How Much Do You Plan Your Paintings?
Hex
Oil on Canvas
16″ x 12″
© 2009 Marilyn Fenn
I recently read an article by a representational painter on another blog, in which the writer said that one should very carefully and thoroughly plan one’s paintings. My first thought was, “No waaaaay!” That would take all the fun out the process of discovery that, for me at least, is a great deal of what painting is about. Feeling a little smug, I thought of the following much-loved quote:
You are lost the instant you know what the result will be. – Juan Gris
Flashback Friday: 1992
Abstract #10
Oil and wax medium on canvas
30″ x 24″
© 1992 Marilyn Fenn
SOLD
Some of my online art friends started posting on Fridays a Flashback to previous works. I found out about the Flashback Fridays from Steven LaRose, who in turn credits Carla Knopp for starting this movement, and adds Mary Addison Hackett as the next artist to join the ranks of Flashback Friday posters. Is anyone else doing this?
Tips for Improving Your Paintings
Drawing by Rembrandt van Rijn
“Reclining Lion”
pen and paint brush
ca. 1650
Class notes from art camp classes with George Liebert and Dan Gustin, Oxbow, MI, summer 1991.
Make a list of verbs and adjectives about your own work.
When struggling with a work, isolate parts of it and do lots of sketches to come up with a better composition.
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