Getting Ready for a New Painting

 

September 28

Yesterday, Megan gave me permission to use her photo for a painting. I edited the photo and this morning printed four 5 x 7s: original, black and white, color lighter so I can see more detail, and a section cropped to better see an area.

(original photo)

I divided the printed photo into quadrants to help with the layout. Once again, I have a photo with the horizon line right in the middle, so I decided to crop 1 ½ inches from the bottom to do the preliminary bottom and printed.

I got out the sketch book and did an initial sketch in pencil. There are sections I can’t see clearly even when looking at a cropped section – because that distant area is a bit blurry and cropping the photo makes it more so.

I moved the foreground tree more left and included more rocks and bushes. I made notes as to what I need to do. I printed an 8 x 10 of the original after debating whether it’s necessary, but as long as I print on regular copy paper, I’m never going to get the clarity that shows on the computer.

I finished the sketch and took a photo, but I keep touching it up as I study the original photo more. I’ve decided I like the original extra foreground, so now I’m wondering about taking an inch off the sky, so the horizon line isn’t in the middle. However, I like how the upper branches of trees kind of frames the sky. Oh, these dilemmas. 

Now the question is whether to move on to doing the initial layout on BFK Rives or should I try the new black background Colourfix paper. Or should I go in the studio and finish the ones currently on the easels?

 What makes it hard to see some of the contour of land and river are the trees and bushes in front. I need to get that contour right before putting in those trees, bushes, rocks, and grass. Because I printed the photos at 5 x 7, I’m running out of room to make notes. Now I’ve resorted to writing notes on scrap paper. So many things to consider.

 

 

History repeating itself

Andy lent me some books to read. The one I started last night was “Guernica: The Crucible of World War II” by Gordon Thomas and Max Morgan Witts © 1975.

The only thing I knew about Guernica was of Pablo Picasso’s 1937 oil painting of the event, said to be “one of the most moving and powerful anti-war paintings in history.” As I’m not a fan of Cubism/Surrealism art, I don’t care for his work, and this painting is especially disturbing/ugly. I just knew it was his depiction of what happened to Guernica, and war and destruction is ugly.

I thought it had something to do with the Spanish Civil War (which it did), but, after watching a PBS series on “The Rise of Fascism in Europe” and now beginning to read this book, I understand the painting and the reason behind it. (I still don’t want to look at it. It is disturbing. But I understand.) Now, I’m finding out it also had to do with Hitler and the rise of that man’s power in Germany and the eventual WWII.

(Hitler used Guernica as training for his air force in preparing his own world takeover.)

So, I read the first six sections – short clips from various people leading up to the bombings. The stories from both sides – or should I say multiple sides, from the Basques living in Guernica and that northern side of Spain, refugees swarming in from the south where Franco’s troops were moving in to take over the country. (I’m still confused as to who were the nationalists and who were the republicans.) Then there were the Germans Franco asked Hitler to send in to aid in his cause.

Now, this morning, as I’m working on my morning pages (journaling), my mind is on fire with thought. The main one being what I’m seeing from history is being repeated today in this country. And I can’t help but wonder, haven’t we learned anything from history?

My own remembrances of history class in school is sketchy. All I remember about history (vaguely) class was having to memorize dates. It wasn’t about politics or people. It was mostly about wars, bad guys against good guys. How much of what was taught kids in the ‘60s and ‘70s is the real truth?

Looking back now, it was about reading a (b-o-r-i-n-g) history book and having to take tests on stuff that felt meaningless. I don’t remember people stories, their personal horrors (except for “The Diary of Anne Frank). We learned the names of leaders and officers and some of the battles and names of wars and dates.

But what I was taught in school, isn’t important now. Especially knowing what we were taught back then wasn’t necessarily the truth. So, I’m wondering how history could be taught differently (I’ve also heard it isn’t taught in schools anymore).

History does repeat! All you have to do is look back through the ages and see similar things happening over and over. Times change, technology changes, but some things repeat – like one group of people wanting to take control over others. I guess it’s human nature.

Go back to the ancient Egyptians, the Romans, the Vikings, Britain, France, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Japan, China, the Soviet Union. There are so many similarities. History shows us leaders look to expand, especially when resources in their own countries get low. The Vikings, Britain, France, Spain, Portugal traveled across oceans and “conquered” the indigenous peoples. African tribes warred amongst one another. All the victorious nations enslaved the losing survivors and stole their precious resources.

Whomever had the bigger military. Whichever leaders used their own charisma to set themselves up as gods and convince their people they knew what was best. Then once they had full power … their greed and egomania … and they’d start eliminating anyone who disagreed. They were/are all human.

Great leaders (and great in this context doesn’t necessarily mean good people) know how to manipulate the masses. Tell people what they want to hear and win their votes. It doesn’t matter if the leaders actually do what they promise. People believe the promises. Look at Hitler, Mussolini, Stalin – heck, consider Jim Jones, Sun Myung Moon … Charles Manson, for that matter.

If people were taught the truths (and not the propaganda), because, after all, isn’t one point of history is to learn from past mistakes? We shouldn’t be erasing history. We should be learning from it.

No one person or group ever has all the answers. Humans are humans. We all need freedom of thought, speech, and creativity. And there will always be good and evil. It’s human nature. I also don’t believe there will ever be “true” peace. Again, it’s because of human nature and there are always some who want to take what someone else has.  (I put “true” in quotes because the only way for total peace would be to take away every person’s right to think and act for themselves.)

Good versus evil. Perhaps this is part of the human condition, too. Maybe it’s part of our lessons here on earth. All I know is that, for me, I just want to be a good person and do good work. I strive to live wholeheartedly, even on days when it’s a struggle to curtail anger and frustration. When I see pictures of destruction and riots, it’s hard not to lose hope. It’s hard not to slide into hatred with what I’m seeing. 

My remedy to protect myself from depression is to look out at the brook (even though there’s very little water flow), enjoy what’s left of my gardens now the summer season is over, have great conversations with friend, snuggle with my fluffy Pele fur ball, add spots of beauty around my house, and spend time painting in the studio.

Thinking for Ourselves

Thinking for Ourselves and What's Past History Got to do with Today

Yesterday started off with a great blog from Eric Rhoads saying to question everything. He talked about fear, changing beliefs, and not relying on the comfortable past.

He said, “This isn't a time for comfort, it's a time for critical thinking, for questioning everything we believe, for questioning everything others tell us and questioning who we trust to load our brains. It's also not a time to seek reinforcement of what we already believe, but a time to deeply question ourselves and what we are clinging to from our past. 

“Answers always lie in our questions.”

Then last night, I turned on a PBS show about “Ken Burns – Storyteller,” only it wasn’t about Burns, it was a Rick Steve’s segment on the rise of Fascism in Europe. (Why lately is PBS listing shows and when I go to watch, it isn’t the show listed in the guide?) Below are some basics:

Both Mussolini and Hitler used the disaster after WWI to rally the people of their countries by telling them what they wanted to hear. Both men were charismatic and good actors, putting on great shows promoting nationalism and promising better lives. They used democracy to obtain power and once they had it, became totalitarian rulers. They created fear to promote fascism.

And for a while, they did do good things. They re-built the infrastructures of their countries (which had been destroyed during the war) with roads and buildings which provided jobs and hope for the demoralized nations. They promised the expansion into other countries would provide more homes, materials, and better life.

But they further promoted fear while making all the false promises – and when people are afraid, they listen to the promises. (People tend to believe the words/promises and not what they see actually happening.) And millions of people did believe – mob mentality with both leaders holding huge rallies with speeches geared to work people into an excited frenzy of what they were being told.

Then when they had people believing and supporting those promises, the noose tightened. There were government/military induced riots with burning and looting (usually of Jewish and those as perceived as against the new regimes). Those who spoke out against them were – eliminated – either imprisoned or killed. 

Their dictates were everything was for the state. Everyone worked for the greatness of the state. There was no privacy, no individualism. Freedom of speech was banned. People were told what they could say and what they could read. Even art was relegated to a certain style. The media was government controlled, so people reading the news or listening to radio was only hearing what the leaders wanted them to hear – over and over and over. (Think brainwashing.)

The leaders capitalized on people’s fears using fear to promote their regimes. They promoted themselves as loving, caring leaders to the masses. Hitler had the Hitler Youth groups, brainwashing the young to his beliefs. He made movies showing himself in a loving, family-oriented atmosphere. And many people believed. Many people didn’t see the real horrors of what was happening (until it was too late). They believed what they were being told … that it was all for the best for the country.

Spain and Portugal were also fascist countries. Franco, Spain’s dictator, had Germany bomb Guernica, but he never joined the Axis … and remained Spain’s leader after WWII. (Pablo Picasso’s most famous painting “Guernica” is considered “one of the most moving and powerful anti-war paintings in history,” according to Wikipedia. 

The program ended with advice to not trust people who promise easy answers for complicated problems, to educate and promote independent thinking not based on the media, and to maintain critical independence. 

Maybe we should all be listening to, reading, and watching some of these history programs. What are we being told compared to what is really happening? What’s the whole picture? A snippet can be taken far out of context (and happens all the time).

Are promises being made actually able to become reality?

When do new laws and rules, combined with all the past laws and rules, become the noose on America’s freedoms?

And, my big question is always, “Where’s the money for all the so-called wonderful programs coming from?”

Yes, I believe changes need to be made, but I also believe this war between the Democrats and Republicans isn’t about the American people, or the United States, as a whole. (And it is a war! It’s no longer about American citizens. It’s about the political parties.) It’s about power and dictatorship. Imagine if the millions of dollars spent in this governmental war was used on programs to help Americans, if the money was put back into the economy? What if the millions used to promote candidates was put to better over-all use?

Just thinking about this all …

 

 

 

 

 

 

Start and Stop with the Next Painting

Two stints in the studio this morning. My intent was to work on “Pleasant Foggy Morn,” but instead, I stood in front of this one. "A View Without Guile" work in progress:

I realized earlier, when looking at the original inspiration photo on the computer, the size was more of a panoramic, not square as the printed photos, so I moved the bottom tape up removing almost 2 inches to make the painting panoramic.

My goal for the day was to get the sky done. I love doing skies, but they’re always a challenge. For one, I don’t have the exact correct colors of pinks and oranges for sunrise/sunset paintings. And, no matter how much I look at the photo, the minute I pick up a pastel, my hand starts moving. Once more it’s like something else takes over and it doesn’t matter what the photo is like. Color goes onto the paper and the painted scene takes on a life of its own.

Even though I was only focusing on the sky, I put color below the horizon to start getting the feeling of what’s to come. (Yes, I know it’s off. This is just preliminary work.) I also did some work on the horizon, the mountains/trees … just beginning.

I returned to the computer to import the progress photo. When perusing the progress photo, I can see where I need to make adjustments. It’s always interesting how looking at a progress photo gives a different perspective than in looking at the actual painting.

I noticed the progress photo is not the same color as the original photo. The overall original is darker, and the sky and water reflections are more pink than orange. I forgot that my printer doesn’t print exact color on regular copy paper. However, as it's only for inspiration, it doesn’t matter if the scene is exact … unless I choose it to be so … but I like the original colors.

I have to be wary of another challenge. If I over work the sky to keep “fixing” it, it starts getting muddy looking (because of the paper I use).

This is a lesson I need to come to terms with, and one I grumble about all the time. I need to work quicker. Get the painting done and not rework it to death!

(Please forgive the reflections, I just wanted to get some color down … still needs lots of work.)

Too many ongoing projects gets confusing

I’m cranky. I’m trying to get my head together, keep up to the creative fire raging within before it burns out, but I keep getting distracted. It’s laundry day and there are things needing to be done.

And, I’m playing catch up. The folder of inspiration photos to use for possible paintings is growing. I teased a friend about posting too many photos I fall in love with. She, and others, are so gracious about giving me permission to use their photos.  

Yesterday and today, many pictures are clamoring for attention. It’s like they’re all shouting, “Paint me! Paint me!” But I’m not just a pastel painter, I’m a writer, so there are always words demanding to be written, too, and I’m frustrated because I have to keep getting up to tend to necessaries. Then, once I sit back down, it takes a few minutes to get my head back around to what I was working on.

Add caption

I planned to go in the studio yesterday, but instead, took supplies out on the deck and drew two new initial sketches in a 5 ½ x 8-inch sketch book. It was such beautiful, cool morning! The slight breeze was refreshing and the little birds – chickadees, nuthatches, titmice – were back and forth to the feeders with their chitterings, along with a pair of cardinals and their, “chip, chip, chips.” The downy and hairy woodpeckers would occasionally come to the suet. My back yard looks so wonderful now that it’s been cleaned up of overgrowth.

I finished the two new sketches, then realized I had six other drawings in the book. Two were of paintings already in-process on the easels. Another has been initially sketched out on BFK Rives paper (my favorite pastel support). The other three were of various angles of a scene of which I am doing a series of paintings.

This morning I planned to hit the studio, but first I wanted to write about all these wonderful ideas and what’s happening. I am extremely happy when the creative muses are here. However, as I worked, I found another initial drawing for a possible painting.

I’ve been so busy I haven’t taken time to eat today and it’s past noon. Sometimes the lightheadedness reminds me to eat before I feel hungry. However, when I reach this stage, my stomach starts feeling queasy and I don’t want to eat – but I have to … in a bit.

Wanting to be Done But …

I'm so trying to get this finished. I'm close. I'm having trouble with lighting in the studio and getting the photo to show the true light. 

Recently, in my last couple of paintings, I get the sky done beautifully, then when I start working down, the tree colors get up into the sky and when I try to fix, it ends up getting muddy. Usually I do pretty good with skies, so this problem is driving me crazy. Maybe I just need to get a painting done and stop hemming and hawing and “fixing” it so much! 

This one is Number 4 of the year but was actually started in December 28. I've finished numbers 5-9. It's time I finished this one before I get into Number 10.

Today I worked the reflections a lot more and I better defined lines between land and water. I also worked on the rocks and water. I’m thinking I only need to fix up the right-side reflections and sign it.

Creativity Endeavors Run Amok

Between gardening and other outside work, painting often gets put on the back burner. I pushed myself this week to finish “Angel Pose” and put “Pele and the Wind Glasses” back on the easel to touch up before bringing them to the framer.

In the meantime, I’m still picking away at “Winding through Autumn,” a painting I started in December. I worked on it here and there throughout the months and here it is July and I’m determined to finish.

I’m struggling with the lighting in the studio. Even using a daylight lamp, the light when I take the progress photos is inconsistent.

July 14 was the first day in July I work on it. 

Here’s what I wrote about the work at the time: The sky looks muddy up close. I added more blue and white. I can’t figure out why dark color gets in the sky … I should put on the fan to blow the dust downward, I guess.

I added yellow grasses, yellow greens, black penciled edges water edges. I also better defined the bare trees on the right, worked those grasses and the rocks.

July 17: Back to it again. I worked on grasses, rocks, shoreline, and started the reflections. I added a different color blue to sky and water. I’m to the point where I feel I need to sit down to do the finish work where I can get closer to better see what I’m doing.

I’m struggling where the left piece of land juts into the river, the change in the water there, and how the reflections begin.

But it’s coming along. I made a to-do list of what to “fix” and that’s not counting the muddiness of the sky. That’s driving me crazy, though standing a couple feet back, you don’t notice.

July 18: In writing about yesterday’s work in the morning pages, I pulled up the original edited photo in PhotoScape and enlarged to full screen. Oh, my goodness! I can see so much more! The question now becomes, how do I work from this … if I print an 8 x 10 on photo paper, will I see it this way?

So, I added a little saturation for printing purposes and printed an 8 x 10 on regular paper. Much better than the 4 x 6 I’m working with. It would still look better on photo paper. (photo Corey’s edited … a little more)

Now I want to get in the studio! But I have morning pages to finish and it’s an editing day. Gosh, though, can I bring this vibrance to the painting? Maybe I should wipe off the sky and re-do (it looks muddy anyway.)

I finished my writing then did a first. I brought the easel and painting outside. I’ve been saying I want to do that for a while and never made the time. 

What a difference actual daylight made on the painting! I didn’t sit, though, and I really need to do that for the more detailed work. I went back for supplies including lint free paper towel.

And so, I stepped backwards with it to go forward. I turned the board upside down and wiped off the sky, then turned it back around and wiped off the excess water. Wow, there were layers of pastel – what a waste! The amount of pastel dust floating in the air was unbelievable.

I didn’t bring out enough colors, so did the best I could for now rebuilding the sky. Then I worked the trees, bringing the tops higher into the sky, shaping them better, adding some dark. I redid lower bushes though I didn’t quite have the right shade of green.

I like it better with less clouds. 

July 20: Outside again to work while also watch tree cutters taking down leaning oak. I brought out more colors but still not quite enough.

I added more gray and blue back to the sky. Up close it still looks muddy, (think it’s because I overworked the paper itself.)

                                                                                                                                              

I’d brought out a couple deeper reds for the trees and added that. I brought the branches a little higher and made them more tree-like. I time better defining the rocks, adding more green to grasses and bushes, darks to bushes and reflections. Not bad, for now.

Tree-cutter guy said I needed to move, so I packed up. Good thing. A little while later the tip of a dead branch crashed down right on the table where I was working. Thankfully, it didn’t break the table tiles.

July 28

Time for a little studio work. I added lighter colors to trees, grasses and water. The water is getting muddy, I’ve gone over it so many times.

I used a ruler to make lines to have the reflections match the tree line, however, I found when I worked on the reflections, my trees would lean. That meant I went back in with some water blue to try to straighten the tops.

What a difference in the progress photo when I snap the picture after working outside compared to a photo taken in the studio. (The difference in color and tone between the July 20 photo and today.