Going back to some basics for the first painting of the new year, a simple set up with an unassuming set of objects using a small shadow box and pochade box. I like objects that have a unique surface quality and form. The passages of abstract patterns, like the little area between the pear and glass bottle are fascinating and very rich in my eye.
Multiple ellipses and transparent objects, I am the type that bites off more than they can chew. I don’t mean to. I think to
myself, “Oh yea, that would be interesting to paint.” Dive in and about halfway
into it, end up saying (out loud this time)... “Why do you pick the most
difficult things?”
I have done several compositions with bottles and enjoy the challenge of manipulating paint to create the illusion of glass. Natural looking reflections and bounced light can be a difficult subject to pull off, but with a combination of glazes and scumbles you will achieve a pretty convincing realistic look. The hard part with that is overstating the effect. You have to remind yourself to paint what you see, not what you think you see and that always makes me a bit apprehensive.
I learned a long time ago that the good things you learn in
this craft take time, practice and dedication. It also takes a bit of
fearlessness, fear being the biggest barrier to success in any endeavor. That fear
causes you to over think and is the death of art. You have to enjoy
yourself in the moment - even if you are out of your comfort zone. Remember the
adage, “You can't make an omelet without breaking eggs.”
Pear Bottle and Speckled Rock, oil on canvas panel, 8 x 10
inches, © Jim Serrett
If you want to push through to the next level, remember that
no one ever creates anything great by staying in their comfort zone. You need to
go beyond what you think you can do in order to see your full potential.
Break some eggs.......
Explore - Question - Learn - Enjoy, Jim
Website - jimserrett.com
Studio Blog - jimserrettstudio.com
Landscape Blog - Pochade Box Paintings
No comments:
Post a Comment