Dear Subscribers, Greetings. I have a new still life painting to show you. On a 30x30in panel, which still feels large to me, but I'm starting to get used to it. |
Stages of creation. Here is the physical setup. The arrangement is strictly inorganic objects--that's just what I was feeling in the moment. I ended up incorporating "life" in a different sort of way, which you'll see later. I was enamored by the refracted light coming through the red glass shadow draped across the pitcher, so that is my focus. |
Here's the first stage. An umber block-in of the shapes of shadow with a bristle brush. Then I start laying in color with a knife. |
Red is the thread. I want to weave it throughout the painting but in a way that maintains primary focus and intensity of the glass/pitcher area. |
On the left side there is the red cup and kettle which is sort of an echo of the focal area. I push that grouping to a higher key (especially the cup) to let it recede into the background and maintain focus on the right side. Also to clearly communicate the distance between the foreground red shot glass and that grouping. |
The draped cloth is painted with both brush and knife. At this point I begin to consider an alternate approach to the bottom half of the painting and that's when a second wave of creative energy spurs me onwards. On larger and more prolonged paintings, I'm getting more accustomed to riding these waves, expecting and accepting them to maintain momentum. |
I recently listened to an excellent book. "The Creative Act: A Way of Being" by legendary music producer Rick Rubin. It's amazing and has helped me to keep open to possibilities, to listen to my instincts and act on them without over-thinking. To wade into the unknown without preoccupying myself with the possible outcome or the fear of making mistakes and wasting time. As I applied color on this painting, I tried to do so without much thought and analysis. I just did what felt right. This was the right time for me to absorb that book. It wouldn't have had the same impact on me 5 years ago. It was recommended to me by Expressionist painter Adam Disbrow, whose work I love, and who I met through the nft art scene.
|
The reflections and colors of light from my window (opposite the setup) change rapidly as spring turns to summer, and I go with the flow, refining the pitcher to match. Eventually it's time to pursue my new idea for the bottom half of the painting. I take out a large knife and start making big marks. I'm not thinking-- I'm searching, feeling, moving. |
I continue to make marks with instinct. Both knife and brush. Then I have the urge to add life within the abstract marks in a loosely representational way. I alternate between this free approach and the more meticulous observation and refinement of the objects on the table. |
And here is the finished painting: |
Life Beneath the Stillness
30x30 inches oil on panel, gold floater frame, 2023 |
This will likely be shipped to a gallery, but when and where is still TBD. In the meantime, it is available for direct purchase from my studio. Wood cradled archival panel (1.5 inches deep) within a beautiful gold floater frame (total dimensions 32.25 x 32.25 x 2.25).
Framed, wired, and ready to hang. Ships for free in the USA (a value of ~$350). Shipping outside the USA will require an extra fee (to be calculated separately after checkout). |
TOWNSEND ATELIER Chattanooga, Tennessee STILL LIFE COMPOSITION AND PAINTING November 3-5 (3 days) $535 |
Thank you for reading. The next newsletter will include a new abstract painting and a new small figure painting that is part of a collaborative effort with a few other amazing artists. Can't wait to show you.
Until then, best wishes -David (Missed the previous newsletter about my Abstract paintings? Here it is.) |
