Sunday, February 19, 2012

The Foundry

The Foundry 
4x4 oil on board$100 plus S&H
I am fascinated by industrial scenes.  These complexes are really just big broad shapes and colors which makes them most interesting in terms of abstract design which is what each painting needs to be about. 
Abstract does not mean just throwing paint onto the canvas. In the best abstract paintings the eye moves over the canvas by design because the artist has a plan. This is not something I understood until I'd studied with some very good painters who pointed out the 'total picture'. We're never painting a flower or a beach scene. We're arranging paint into a beautiful composition on a canvas which just happens to end up looking like a flower or a beach scene. Each area of the canvas is equally important as the viewers eye moves around the picture.
One of my students on Thursday was a raw beginner and I must say I was impressed by his observational skills which included seeing reflections in the shadows and he also recognized that which I just stated. We're not painting lime slices it's about the big picture. The design. 
Nancy was on fire and very encouraging to Neal
Neal brought his sense of humor and he really 'got it'
We had fun.

11 comments:

Dottie T Leatherwood said...

Love all the cool shapes along with the brushstrokes interwoven in this to make an almost abstract composition. I keep going back to look at it again and again. It really pulls you in!

Linda Popple said...

Love this with the rich colors and the abstract quality!

Autumn Leaves said...

Abstract art is definitely not high on my list of favorites but I sure like your versions of it, Mary. I love this one and you've turned what tends to be a gritty scene into a beautiful piece.

jyothisethu said...

beautiful work...
congrats...

Studio at the Farm said...

Love the shapes and lines in this, Mary. And I appreciate what you say about creating a beautiful composition that happens to look like the subject - interesting way of looking at it!!!
Hugs form the Big Guy!

Dana Cooper said...

Love, love this Mary! Beautiful shapes and color are a winning combination!!

Pam Holnback said...

Love the simplified geometric shapes and bold colors.

Karen Bruson said...

You are so good at painting industrial scenes. You really can simplify the shapes and your colors are yummy!

A said...

I absolutely love the painting and what you said about the canvas and eyes moving is so interesting.

Christine Stonebridge said...

I love the flow in all the lines and angles of this painting! Also loving your art class - looks like so much fun!

Crazy RAvens Studio said...

These little landscapes are wonderful? Are you doing them on a larger scale?

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