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| Copper Bowl and The Three Pears, acrylic on 24x24 cradled panel |
Several bloggers mentioned and recommended the book, Alla Prima, by Richard Schmid. I bought it and read it--actually studied it. Sometimes a little knowledge can be dangerous; sometimes ignorance is bliss. I thought I'd whip out a painting from a pear photograph I had taken in my kitchen--I estimated it would be done in a couple of days. I used open acrylics and set up a palette, forgoing my usual ketchup cup/paper plate method. I was actually concerned that the painting might be so easy I'd lose interest. Ha!
That was ten days ago. I spent half a day looking for my copper bowl (it was hiding among other copper bowls) and I've eaten about twelve pears--I needed the real things. I tried palette-knifing the dish towel. It was interesting but did not look like my work; I spent half a day sanding those palette-knife marks. Then there was a cricket-rescue from the utility sink in my studio--a major delay in cleaning brushes. I wouldn't classify this painting as alla prima--more alla Hallie, although I resisted the urge to add a couple of bare feet in the background. I think it's finished.
Happy Thanksgiving.
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Alla Hallie! It's gorgeous!! I think I would have enjoyed feet in the background. Even so, I definitely see you in this work. It's bold and expressive. I like how the wood floor in the upper portion of the picture plane conveys movement in contrast to the static, yet lively pears and beautiful column folds. The blue ribbon stripe adds a nice contrast of color and the shading is well done.
ReplyDeleteI think I much prefer Alla Hallie over Alla Prima.
Happy Thanksgiving to you as well!
I'm kinda partial to "ala Hallie"! I like the richness in color and the interesting composition. You've made the pears look lush and the copper smooth. Most impressive...cricket rescue?
ReplyDeleteThanks Pam. The feet are still an option--this is almost too normal for me. Occasionally, I like a still life--I had to make sure it wasn't centered on the table (actually a kick stool I use in the kitchen). I look forward to your becoming an art critic! The book was well worth reading; I tend to paint the way I sculpt, though--attack from all angles.
ReplyDeleteHi Peggy. Thanks for the comment. If possible, I rescue all insects larger than flies and take them outside. The cricket was in the deep sink (among many brush-washing containers). I couldn't catch him and he couldn't jump out so I made a ramp from a towel and hoped he'd escape. That meant I had to bring the brushes into the house for washing (didn't want to drown him. He/she escaped; now I'll probably have many crickets as workshop companions.
I love the book Alla Prima--though I confess I have not read it all the way through. It appears you got a lot from reading the book...I am surprised that you make acrylics seem like oil. My favorite part of the painting is the blue stripe.
ReplyDeleteYou do seem like the type of person who would go to lengths to spare a cricket. I like you.
Celeste, What? There was a photo of you reading Alla Prima--one of the reasons I bought it. I thought I could learn to paint like you. I do read my books all the way through and underline and turn down pages; these were open acrylics which allow longer working time. The blue stripe was on my dish towel (I moved it a bit); and I try to do as little harm as possible to living things.
ReplyDeleteLoving alla Hallie! This is really a beauty -- the unusual perspective, the lush pears, the copper bowl, the softly folded cloth and the wonderful angular flooring. Gee, I am going to have to read this book! Building a ramp for a cricket fits you perfectly. You have a beautiful spirit. Your posts are so unique.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite part of this painting is that worn section of the floor which tells me how lived-in this room is - and lets me know that those beautiful pears won't last long with all that traffic passing through. I smiled at the idea of bare feet visible in the picture frame. This time of year, though, I think I'd have on a pair of socks as I'm sure those boards get mighty cool in the winter.
ReplyDeleteI wish I could have seen your palette knife work on the dish towel. Even though you felt it didn't look like your work do you think it is something you might try again sometime? Also, did you have fun with it?
-Don
I want a wood floor like yours! I am attracted to the floor and the linear contrast from the highlighted, voluminous pears. The cloth folds with the blue stripe looks amazing too. Yum!
ReplyDeleteHi Mary. You have those great workshops in your area; I have books. This one was an easy read--I didn't follow it--but it encouraged me to get out to the workshop and paint.
ReplyDeleteDon, that worn section is near the bath room; actually the floor is in good shape--walnut, guaranteed for 50 years--and I was actually trying to indicate distance. I enjoyed the palette knife; the cloth was finished in about 10 minutes. I'll try it again; I just didn't think it went with the rest of the painting.
Thanks, Robin. I like the floor, too--when we remodeled we used it in every room (small house)--looks good when it's clean; the dog doesn't wipe his feet, though. I squinted a lot when I was painting this.
Back in all your glory! I feel like such an ignoramus when it comes to art, but I do love those warm colours, the textured 'feel' of it. Ugh. I'm lousy at explaining why I love your work... I just do. Anyway, I'm glad you got to eat a whole lot of pears - hope they were yummy!
ReplyDeleteHi MM. I can't really talk about art either--I just know if I like it or I don't. I think about spirals, rectangles, movement after I've painting--they just seem to appear. The pears were delicious; I like them sliced and spread with natural peanut butter--a great snack.
ReplyDeleteHi Hallie
ReplyDeleteI like the size of this piece and of course your fabulous explanation...it clearly looks like you...bare wood, copper, pears and all...not that I would know that or actually presume it but ya know how we can just tell...
peanut butter on pears I haven't tried...hmm.
Happy Thanksgiving ;-)
Hi Donna. So you can tell that I'm no-frills; I've been known to use a Lowe's dropcloth as a tablecloth--leave the linen one in the drawer. I do like practical and low maintenance; form follows function, I guess. Enjoy the holiday--you'll probably be walking among tall trees and I'll be wading through deep leaves.
ReplyDeleteI'm impressed that it only took you ten days to do this. The vagaries of life defy alla prima. Part of its cussed charm, I guess. Be thankful for open acrylics!
ReplyDeleteA beautiful rendering!! The bare feet would have made it an hwfarber. :-)
ReplyDeleteThe broad scope of your mastery in painting and sculpture is remarkable! I always look forward to seeing what you'll come up with next. So original!
Have a Happy Thanksgiving!
Hi SamArtDog. I'll never be fast and there's always a dog to feed, trash to be taken out, a market to follow, and Criminal Minds to watch. The open acrylics didn't stay open that long. I recently bought some water soluble oils--one can never have too many supplies--I'll add them to the stash of alkyds, watercolors, inks, pastels, oil pastels, pencils and charcoal (powder & stick form). Someday my kids will have one heck of an auction here.
ReplyDeleteHi Kathy. Thank you. The bare feet are still an option, yet there's something about the emptiness that I like. I'll probably make that decision two days before I need to hang it someplace. Have a great holiday--we're invited for shrimp & grits tomorrow (save a turkey).
Nicely done! I think bare feet would be appropriate. I think it would be you. You are so playful in your work. I have used acrylics but not the open acrylics. I guess I might not have gone to water mixable oils if I'd had those.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Davida. If I hang this in my house I'll probably add the feet. I am going to try the water mixable oils; maybe my next painting. Enjoy the day.
ReplyDeleteWhat's left to say Hallie? This painting has an unusual perspective and lots of energy. It's difficult to make an ordinary subject interesting but you have plus your description of the goings on around its production gave me a good laugh. I've also studied this book in great detail - pink highlighting and pages of notes if I recall.
ReplyDeleteHi Margaret. There are always goings on when I'm bent on painting--life is like that. This is an interesting book; I believe he said get the first color and shape correct; then go to the next--makes sense and sounds simple; maybe some people can paint that way. (It worked for the upper part of the top pear.) I seem to spend a lot of time squinting from the other side of the studio, flipping lights on and off while snacking. I'm loving your encaustics.
ReplyDeleteThis is absolutely luscious, Hallie. The energy of the diagonals, the warm hues, the sensuous forms. And the blue line in the table-cloth is inspired - it makes all those oranges really pop and its zig-zag adds so much extra zing. And ive been watching Schmid clips for the last hald hour, thanks to you!
ReplyDeleteHi Harry and thank you. I never think to watch clips; I guess I'm old school--have to underline and make marks. Re your comment on sensuous forms: maybe the pears are a substitute for the zaftig models from my sculpting days--I think of them when I look at this painting. The toughest part of this was waiting until the end to add the blue line; I was hoping for zing.
ReplyDeleteAnd Harry--now that you've watched Schmid clips, I'll mention that my favorite book is "An Artist Teaches" by David Leffel. I think both these books are more about seeing than painting (I don't expect to paint like either of them).
ReplyDeletetrès très belle composition !
ReplyDeletecath
Merci, Cath.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous, rich colors!!
ReplyDelete