-I used to live on another island. Manhattan. You could buy anything, anytime. Not so, here. Much of my shopping is done via catalogue or the web which means lots of cartons come to my post office box. Our mail has to be picked up at the post office – we’re pretty far from any main road where mail delivery might be an option.
So now there’s an attic full of heavy duty cardboard boxes that I hate to throw out but also hate saving, “just in case”. Just in case what? I have to ship back something whose warrantee expired five years ago or worse, one day after the three year extended warrantee is up? Took them down from the attic ( it always feels good to purge and re-acquaint yourself with your collective accumulations ) and cut them apart to flatten them and thought they’d make good platforms for painting. I like the color of brown cardboard- kinda like the sienna tint of a canvas that was once white.
-There were gobs of assorted colors left in my Sta-Wet palette so I tried a few really quick studies, aiming for free-hand, no drawing, fast blocking in of dark mass. The way the lights jump off the brown background creates a striking contrast without having to paint in those light spots to be whiter than an already white canvas.
-These were two really fast and painless exercises. It’s good practice. I may have to shop more.
- Now I’d like to engage the encyclopedic collective of my friends and art readers to help me identify a painting. This one immediately above, with the painting in the background of the painting, is a version of one of an impressionists’ ( the best attempt to learn from the masters is to copy them ) that I did more decades ago than I’d like to confess to. ( If I had any memory left, I believe my age group would have ended with ” teen “. )
I took it from my Jansons’ History of Art Book, which I no longer have. I thought it was Cezanne and I’ve checked on-line but don’t see this turning up in any of his archives. Does anyone have an a-ha?
Tags: acrylic paints, cezanne still life, Jansons' History of Art, painting on cardboard, quick studies, re-cycle, re-use
May 20, 2008 at 8:05 pm |
I can have just about anything delivered anytime, EXCEPT for rainbows and sunsets. Smog eliminates the former and skyscrapers ecilpse the latter……OY.
The paintings, they are a beautifullllllllll…….see you soon,
-NL
May 20, 2008 at 8:27 pm |
if those paintings on cardboard were easy and quick studies, well, um, what can I say, I’M REALLY JEALOUS!!!! Your quick easy studies are great!!!!
May 20, 2008 at 9:53 pm |
Beautiful works!
May 21, 2008 at 10:59 am |
I think your painting of a painting is a Renoir. Why? Because a) Renoir painted a lot of flowers b) Renoir painted lots of paintings with paintings in the background and c) HS art students LOVED Renoir and it would seem likely that you did too. Lovely.
May 21, 2008 at 11:28 am |
Judy- you’ve given me a good start – By any chance to you still have that enormous 1000 page + tome from school days?
I can look when I get there.
May 21, 2008 at 4:02 pm |
I found it! It’s Gauguins’ Still Life With Mandolin. I took out the mandolin and replaced it with a piece of fruit.
Thanks!!
May 22, 2008 at 3:17 pm |
Whew Bonnie! If nobody came up with the answer by today, I was going to pull out my Jansen. Your replacing a mandolin with a piece of fruit was pretty sneaky….I’m glad you found it, because no doubt it would have slid right past me.
I agree with Carol. Those studies are really good. You never know when you will paint a masterpiece…….and have it on cardboard!
May 22, 2008 at 4:15 pm |
Nancy- it’s good to know we have reference resources everywhere!
I’ve been using the cardboard as a way of making my approach less agonized over. As in, ” it has to be lovely enough to sell “.
I think about the healthy egos of chalk painters who create museum quality works and then casually abandon them while the rains wash them away.
I’m not there yet.
Probably never will be, but these paper studies are an exercise for me.
Thanks for visiting again and best of success and fun on your show.
May 22, 2008 at 11:45 pm |
That’s great you are able to use the cardboards. What an excuse to do some more shopping to get some more cardboards.
I love all the paintings.
Paz
May 23, 2008 at 3:17 am |
Thanks Paz- I’m still at it- have another one I’m getting ready to post. Think I’ll make the leap to canvas again very soon.
May 23, 2008 at 3:49 pm |
I just stumbled across your blogpage because you commented on Linda Blondheim’s blog.
WOW!! What a joy to see your beautiful drawings and paintings and read about your musings and adventures! I’ll be back!
May 23, 2008 at 4:16 pm |
Thanks Marian- and may I return the compliment! I really love the freshness of your work and your explanatory process of learning- the thing that never ends as a painter or a person.
Linda Blondheim offers’ some wonderful advice and reflections, no?
May 25, 2008 at 5:26 am |
Bonnie, These are great studies. I especially like the figure painting. Very fresh and loose. What a terrific way to recycle!
May 25, 2008 at 12:24 pm |
Thanks Bill- your comments mean a lot to me. Each time we pick up a brush there’s something new to discover.
Glad you paid a visit here.
May 25, 2008 at 7:54 pm |
Bonnie ~ as always, you are so creative and generous with your inspirations! I admire your paintings on cardboard – first, for the courage and willingness to paint studies ( I know how hard it is for me to let go of the need to paint “masterpieces” each time), second, that you’ve reached a point in your art that you can confidently and beautifully paint these wonderful expressive “studies” ( I still struggle with “taking myself too seriously”) and finally, because you are such a true spirit and talented artist. Can you hear me clapping (I’m applauding you ;>} )?
May 25, 2008 at 7:55 pm |
Oh – and obviously, you’ve gotten past “The Wall”!
May 25, 2008 at 10:12 pm |
OH Sue! Thanks – you’re making me turn red ( cadmium ).
I totally understand what you mean about taking each work too seriously and think that’s what happened after my shows. I thought about the ” formula ” instead of the innocence of just painting.
( I thought about the sidewalk chalk painters who obviously have very healthy egos and talent that is easily summoned )
I’m still slaying the dragon who doesn’t go down so easily but this has been a good step for me.
Compliments from you are high praise.
Can I hold up the mirror for you to see yourself in?
May 26, 2008 at 6:33 pm |
great art work, I feel lots of energy on your paintings!
Bravo
May 27, 2008 at 12:36 am |
It’s like paying $30. for a handmade sheet of paper. What trepidation! The creativity suffers so much apprehension, indecisiveness…after that investment, the artwork MUST be masterful.
But on a piece of plain corrugated cardboard, well, the easy flow of it all is naturally inspired, effortless and perfect as evidenced in your “studies”. Here’s the wellspring of your greatest work…
I no longer have my Jansen either after many years of loaning it out to financially-challenged art students. Good riddance to it!
May 28, 2008 at 3:20 am |
inspiring work. just what i need to get myself going.
May 28, 2008 at 3:57 am |
p.s. i love the good riddance to the jansen!
May 28, 2008 at 11:12 am |
Rick- thanks for visiting again and if I can inspire YOU then I’m doing better than I realized!
I really like your image prompt theme-you garner a really diverse group of responders. Wonderful idea.
May 30, 2008 at 1:11 pm |
Your ever increasing abilities make me all the more happy……….God works through your finga tips!