Monday, May 11, 2009

How did you do that?



Step Two
Skype Diptych Mother and Child
The Mother
8 x 8 inches
acrylic on canvass
(unfinished. Working on the face,
hair, background.)


I've been working today on a small painting that will be
one half of a diptych (two paintings that can join together).
Someday I will do a very complicated painting with 10
or more pieces that work together. So far I think the
maximum number of joined pieces I've painted is five.
I'm a big fan of Larry Rivers, as I've said before, and I'm
really sorry that he died before I could meet him, because
I had a lot of questions when I started reading about him --
Mostly -- "how did you do that?"

That's probably the number one question I'd like to ask
any artist I admire. How? How did you get that light,
that luminosity, that mood, that colour, and on and on.
In Larry's case it would be, " how did you make things look
3D, and how did you join so many paintings together?"

In the blog world I'm learning by looking. I stare at
the work of favorite artists, and the lessons leap
out at me. That doesn't mean I can do anything
approaching what you do -- but it does mean I can
ask fewer questions when we all meet.

Have a looking-is-learning-and-loving-it day.

4 comments:

Liza Hirst said...

Oh! A good painting in spite of the teeth! I alsways find it very difficult and not really good to paint a face with teeth but here it works fine. She has a beautiful
face with a veautiful expression. Well done, Barbara!

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Liza,

We've talked about teeth before. I'm not finished, don't worry. But this was the beginning. I don't know how much more detail I'll put on the teeth. I'm trying to do a slightly softer work -- maybe not possible. I so like strong colour!

xoxoxoxBarbara

eldon warren said...

I don't know if you've noticed but my work has changed a bit over the last few months. Main thing is color is a little more bold. A lot of that comes from seeing your work. I'll never paint with the boldness and vibrancy that you do but seeing your work pushes me a little bit in that direction. Thanks for showin and sharin!!
EW

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Eldon,

Well the pushing certainly works both ways. And I am pulled and made to think by great artist blogs like yours. I cannot do what you do, I am not an oil painter, and I can't make a landscape sing, but I sure can stare at your work, and imagine doing that.

Take care,

Barbara

Portrait Artist

My photo
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
I paint and draw on commission and for shows. To commission a portrait, or purchase one of my paintings please contact me at: barbara.muir@sympatico.ca
A major highlight in my career? Drawing Oprah Winfrey live via Skype for her show "Where in the Skype are you? Galleries: Studio Vogue Gallery, Toronto, Canada. The Amsterdam Whitney Gallery, New York City. Gallery at the Porch Door, Kingston, Canada. Your positive comments on this blog mean the world to me. I'd love to hear from you!