I just picked up 2 paintings from Aaron Mullins at
Mullins Editions in Clovis after having them photographed, archived for future prints, and made into cards. The 2 paintings are at opposite ends of the 10 year span of time that I have been painting. One, "Flamenco", was done either in 2000 or very early 2001 and the other, "Alice's Adventure", was done in the summer of 2010.
Flamenco is a full sheet watercolor (22" X 30"), framed to 32" X 40" and floated on a cobalt blue background with a light top mat. It was done in an afternoon, wet into wet, at the end of a day-long Saturday class with Monte Guynes, the master of wet into wet paintings. Nothing but watercolor was used in the painting and I called it Flamenco right away because it made me think of the rose(s) a flamenco dancer might hold in her teeth.
"Alice's Adventure" was done in the summer of 2010 and I started it on an Art Hop evening at the Art Stand Gallery when Cheiko Delgado and I were "sitting" and no one came in all night. I had one sheet of paper and my pallete with me so I just started "doodling" colors and shapes out from a small circular shape. One thing led to another and this vertical 30" X 22" painting (matted and framed to 38" X 30") was the outcome. The painting incorporates pen work, dry wall tape, a bit of gold leaf here and there, and some glitter. At the very end, I added the darkest darks and all of a sudden I was thinking of Alice in Wonderland's fall down the staircase. I think it is currently my favorite painting that I've done.
What I'd like you to think about and comment on, if you'd be so kind, is how are these 2 paintings painted 10 years apart, different in subject matter and style, still alike? Or do you think they are? Please comment
here on my blog or you can email me or post a comment on Facebook. I'm dying to hear your thoughts
and then I'll tell you mine.
Hi Kathleen,
ReplyDeleteWhat is apparent is your mastery of color in both paintings. Both are loose and free -- but I think Flamenco is just a bit more structured. I appreciate both of them. -- DCR
interesting how different these are yet the color vibrancy is the same. I love the recent one. I really like abstracts and hope to do some. It seems though that I always find the figure in them and can't resist bringing it out. Kind of like seeing figures in clouds...which surprisingly I do not do!!! That 2nd painting looks like a very good direction to follow.
ReplyDeleteKathleen, I had bookmarked your blog last year and I don't think I've been back since. I'm happy to revisit you today and see Alice - what a fabulous painting! The other is nice too, but Alice to me is amazing... I can see why it would be your favourite.
ReplyDeleteAs to your question, I definitely see similarities in colour pallette. Circular motif resonates in each. I'm no art expert, but I would see these two in progression. I would have been surprised if you said Flamenco was the later work of the two. It appears you were moving towards what you achieved so beautifully in Alice.
I hope it will not be so long until my next visit.
Cindy :)
DCR, thank you for your comments and appreciating my work!
ReplyDeleteKay, abstracts are fun because you have so many unexpected possibilities that happen during the course of a painting. Do experiment with some abstracts! Maybe turning the painting around as you work will keep you from finding a figure or anything realistic in the painting as it develops. I'm glad you like "Alice's Adventure". Thank you for commenting.
Cindy, so I guess I'm not the only one who likes Alice! Thank goodness I'm not totally singleminded about it. Thank you so much for commenting on my blog and coming back to visit. I hope you'll visit again soon and continue to comment. I'm going to enter Alice this spring and try another painting radiating out from a different geometric shape. I hope you'll follow the progress of events.