from the studio – “Almost Winter”
I guess I am really inspired by the seasons. I have been painting these tree paintings, and autumn just seeps in somehow. I’m not complaining though.
I chose to incorporate a line-drawing from my comic-book influence. Its looks autobiographical, but I hope its also somewhat universal. I actually really love what this little drawing has brought to the painting. I mean, it was always about a walk in the trees, but this makes it fool-proof, and adds personality. Like a blog. You like to hear personal stories, and know about the person writing, or you just can’t relate. This painting became infinitely more approachable with the figures, and I like that. It makes me want to make more like this.
Although apart of me wonders if this might be a little gimmicky, and cheap. Like the painting may have been enough without it. I really liked the painting with only the trees, but somehow it looked lonely, and needed some personality. I want there to be more than a breezy, pretty picture…some narrative is good for that. What do you think?
I cant wait to talk about this one with Mark on the podcast. He hasn’t seen it yet. I’m hoping to surpise him. What do you bet his first response will be something like: “I, for one, like it.” Actually I think he will dig the comic book reference. And that’s cool.
October 23rd, 2009 at 9:07 am
I know what you mean about art that has an obvious narrative, but my initial reaction to this painting was not like that. The drawing ‘fit’ and wasn’t an add-on to the painting but as the central tenant. I think watching the painting come together chronologically gives you (the artist) a skewed opinion of what is central and what is an ‘add-on’.
If you had drawn the drawing first and then painted the trees it may make you feel that the drawing was the center and the trees were added on, but it would make no difference to the viewer.
October 23rd, 2009 at 12:33 pm
thanks cam. Its really hard to see the thing objectively – as if I didnt paint it myself! I appreciate your thoughts.
October 23rd, 2009 at 12:35 pm
I also thought the drawing had been done first actually … and it relates really well to the trees!