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| On Watch for Rustlers, gouache & wc on arches, 14x17 |
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| First drawing |
Inspired by:
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| My Egypt by Charles Demuth (Whitney Museum) |
I was perusing THE 20TH CENTURY ART BOOK when I saw this painting by Demuth. I didn't see a building; I saw boots and cowboy hat. I closed the book and made a quick sketch on green card stock--a cowboy and his dog/horse. Later I read that cattle rustling was on the rise in the West; I took that as a sign I should make a painting, and this one was pure fun--watercolor background and first time using gouache for the figure.
The gun (probably an over-and-under) was an afterthought; I thought the painting needed a vertical. Later when I looked at Demuth's painting I noticed the smokestack--it was probably buried in my subconscious. Wonder what else is there?
I always like my first childlike drawings. I added the grid later just to check placement--I believe that we have an innate sense of where things should be placed and can hit the marks without aiming. 
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Wow. The land between your ears is as foreign as a cowboy in Canaan or poor Demuth in Lancaster.
ReplyDeleteHi SamArtDog. I suppose it's possible that's not a cowboy, but an Amish farmer in Lancaster PA. The land between my ears is rather airy--things float in; things float out.
ReplyDeleteIs the horse winking at us?! I love seeing how the inspiration for this came to you. Your imagination is an incredible thing.
ReplyDeleteSeeing your inspiration after seeing your painting and sketch was amazing - I, too, saw the boots, hat and rifle! ha ha Interesting how this came to you :) By the way, I like it a lot!
ReplyDeleteThanks Robin. The horse and cowboy are on break; they each have just one eye open. (I felt like a kid painting this.)
ReplyDeleteHi Rhonda (RH). I was hoping someone else would see it. To me it was obvious but I might have had boot-shopping on the mind when I saw Demuth's painting.
I like that both the horse and the human are winking out at us! Love those boots! Thanks for the including the inspiration painting. It's interesting to see it with your finished painting.
ReplyDeleteSeems to me you had boot-shopping on your mind when you saw Demuth's painting. Must of been cause I saw none of it! Then again for me shopping is a dirty word. Nice to see you use w/c. Nice job - and great fun. I esp like how the gouache part turned out. I've yet to try gouache and have to look up how to spell it every time.
ReplyDeleteAmazing how you got inspired for this! And you did it in watercolor..well...and gouache. Love the humour in it!
ReplyDeleteI love the background especially, Hallie. It is so soft for the close up and sharpness of the horse and rider. I love how protective he is of his horse and I love that they are napping with one eye open! What a lovely piece!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Carole. They could be winking.
ReplyDeleteDan, I can't believe you don't see the boots and hat. Shopping is something I hate unless it's for art supplies. I've been thinking of boots for several years but I'll have to visit an actual shopping center and try them on! And I had to look at the gouache box to spell.
Hi Jane. I'm still playing with watercolors. I used gouache so I could finish this quickly and get to Christmas preparations. After the holidays, I'll get serious.
ReplyDeleteConservativeBohemian, thank you. I thought of the horse as his sofa, but, you're right, it looks protective. For the background I wet the paper, touched it with w/c, and watched it creep--fun.
I can always count on a smile coming to my face when I see what you've been up to...I imagine Demuth is feeling a bit of an upturn too.
ReplyDeleteGreat inspiration at work.
Donna Iona Drozda--your comments always make me smile--and your blog inspires.
ReplyDeletewow---this is outrageous! I LOVE it! It's really very thrilling and it makes be want to go to the Portland Art Museum and draw things from paintings that aren't really there.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Celeste. But they are there if your mind's in neutral. It's fun--you'll come up with something amazing.
ReplyDeleteI did it again, Hallie... I came by last week and typed up a comment only to come back this week to find that I probably missed the confirmation step again since my comment isn't here. Oh well, maybe I'll learn eventually...
ReplyDeleteI remember seeing this Demuth at the Whitney a few years ago and I must admit that I did not see the boots or the hat. I was too caught up in the way he broke up the planes with different values of color. I love that you did see them, though and really enjoy your rustler-watcher-outer.
Hey, I just went up to look one last time at your drawing before moving on and I see that your grid over the composition kinda' reflects the grid in Demuth's painting...
-Don
Hi Don. I have the same problem with comments--I look to see if there is a response--and there ain't no comment.
ReplyDeleteThe more I look at the Demuth painting, the more I like it and the more I see. I didn't notice those planes until I posted it here; to me they look like search lights.
My "read" on a painting can sometimes be off. I had Gurney's book "Light & Color" for several months. I thought there was a cuddly animal on the front--large head and bird feet--very cool. I looked at it one morning and realized it was a bird with its head and beak tucked back--don't know which I like better, the cuddly animal bird or the bird.
p.s. Don. And it's probably a dinasaur--not a bird.
ReplyDeleteI think you're right about the cover featuring a dinosaur, since Gurney is an artist for the Dinotopia series. Have you found his book helpful?
ReplyDelete-Don
Yes Don. And the correct name for the book is Color and Light--I checked on Amazon. (What I saw as the eye is the crook of the neck.) It has lots of information and is wonderfully organized. I really studied the section on skies but, when I paint, I just go outside and look up. I've recommended the book to lots of friends--it makes you think before you paint.
ReplyDeleteHowdy, Pardner! Couldn't resist. Wow, what an inspiration. Love the winking horse and cowboy. The boots are wonderful! Good use of gouche and watercolor. If you can get this from a Demuth, I can't wait to see what you do with Picasso.
ReplyDeleteHowdy, Mary. I guess you didn't see many cowboys when you were celebrating your birthday in NYC. I actually was thinking of Picasso when I was painting this.
ReplyDeleteI have just noticed that the horse in the top image is winking at me :)
ReplyDeleteHi Hallie, OH! I had never notice, but since you mentioned it, I can see the hat and boots! Clever! What a fun source of inspiration! I'll never look at this painting the same again.
ReplyDeleteHi Peggy. Toy Pony did pop into my mind when I was trying to think of what a horse might look like. Happy Holidays.
ReplyDeleteI have just noticed that the horse is chewing on a hayseed! lol
ReplyDeleteHi Celeste. I thought the painting needed one more arc (to match the cowboy's right arm and left arm). I don't know how you manage to get so many wonderful paintings done and look at blogs!
ReplyDelete