When I think about starting a painting, I don’t necessarily think about the image details, but rather what feeling does the painting need to convey.
That sounds kind of vague, I know. But for me, it feels almost tangible, because once I know what the painting should feel like, only then I can figure out what it needs to be. My recent painting, “Sailor” is one example of this.
My daughter got married in October and since she is living her best life in Antigua, we had the wedding there near her home. Friends and family flew in from all over. One night we got to sail around the island on a 75-foot catamaran. Staff and a bartender included.
So while everyone made use of the bar and swam in the ocean during stops, I chatted with the boat staff. Of course, I had painting on my mind. (Oh, I drank and swam too, but for me the work never stops. It is a constant itch in the brain)
And so I took a lot of photos and asked the staff to pose for me. I used to be rather shy about doing that, but now I just ask. Most people are flattered. And I loved this guys’ hair in the rubber bands. It could be such a cool textural element and a great diagonal if I played it right.
The word that kept coming to me for the last few months when I thought about what I could create with this model was cobalt. It whispered to me at odd hours and started to be never far from being on my mind. I knew then I had to start the painting.
I love this color and rarely get to really unleash it in my work. So, I figured that saturating the painting (and him) in that color could be fun. I wanted the image to feel like that dense, deep saturated color of the sky and ocean. A fresh, and yet deep pigment that I could sink my teeth into. And since he is such a part of that environment, I could soak him in that hue too.
How to paint him? I loved the diagonal of the hair, and this pose had his chin lifted like he was sensing the wind. Enjoying the sun. Looking towards the horizon.
Then my brain gets to ticking about the composition: include the horizon or not? A loose background? Detailed? Detailed with boats? Or just the simple color of the blue? I really felt like I needed direct and crazy dashes of that blue, but yet a rather simple soaking of that color all around. I used a Roche stick, btw, so yes, with that heavily pigmented pastel stick I probably spent $18 on the background alone. So worth it.
I decided just a hint of a distant landscape shape was sufficient to show space. Without that tiny, green triangular shape he floats. (Put your finger over it- see what I mean?) Then I took that green and added it into him as well. The hot colors in the face was fun to paint. (of course over my yellow stage) The reflected lights in his face were exaggerated into that cobalt color too and even the highlights his eyes are cobalt as well. Somehow it works.
I like stretching things a bit. Pushing color around and finding if I can make someone exaggerated with color and yet feel realistic too. This one was fun to do and although the background may seem at first very thoughtless and just mindlessly “struck in” it was the hardest part for me. I have an app on my phone that helps with planning so I can see what may work. It is called FreeForm and it lets you take a photo of your painting and then paint around on it in the app. That helps a lot because this is the kind of color and power that you can’t take back once it is laid down, and I needed to be sure of what I was going to do. Once I had something I liked I grabbed that stick and a bit of courage. Slam Slam… oh yeah. And the photo does nothing to show the true intensity of that pigment. Its glorious in person.
When I look at this piece I feel like I am back on the boat. And that transportation to another time and place and to the feeling of meeting another human being registers in my brain as success.
“Sailor” pastel , 24 x 18”
Fantastic, as always. I appreciate the background aspect. I, too, find backgrounds to be challenging. Thanks!
😀
I LOVE Sailor! As always, your art always amazes me!
❤️
He’s my favorite of yours…
A success indeed!!!!!!!!!! Love this one Christine!
I love the loose quality of the background. The blue marks above the land and behind the subject evoke waves in my mind. He looks calm and contemplative against the energy and movement of the waves.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts Christine.
Happy to share😀
I love the colbalt blue in this painting. The offset of yellow highlight really enhances his look. You always do such excellent work. It’s no wonder you are famous.
Thanks! Well, working on the famous part…lol.
This blows me away! I’m leaving March 11 for 12 days in Antigua— 5th time — love it. Last year I took 14 photos of the employees at Keyonna Beach and have done charcoal portraits of them all to take for them. Lots of travel this spring to France and Sicily, bit when life settles down, I’ll finally watch the videos from your fall workshop and get back into color. Thank you for your inspiration.
Have fun! If you need any ideas on where to go there let me know!
Yes— we often take a cab to try different places to eat— any suggestions? We’ll probably snorkel at least one day.
Ill check with my daughter.
“Sailor” is truly a scroll stopper. Not just the intensity of the cobalt but also the reflection placement that illuminates this man’s soul. What a capture and interpretation. You are a phenomenal artist.
Thank you so very much!
I am in awe at what you produce. Makes my mouth water. This is such an expressive piece. But I don’t need to tell you that. Thank you for posting your blog. I await the next one. by the way I am closing my email and adding a different one. I was hacked big time.
This painting makes me think of british reggae singer Pato Banton, and his
version of groovin , “Summertime vibes come back again, tell all your friends, what’s this”
I’ve listened to that song a thousand times for the good vibes!
We all need the good vibes…
Amen!
This art is so beatiful and powerful. So much without words. You are amazing!
Thank you!
SPECTACULAR! I love how you used this most beautiful, vibrant color.
Thanks! 😀
Christine, DYNAMIC, indeed, yet wistfully inviting! (Would love to have been out on the ocean w/you, especially, as day turned into evening. Magical! ;)) This portrait is yet another powerful portrait, as only YOU can do, in every regard. The selection of cobalt blue and how you wove it, consciously, into the portrait — perfection. Thank you for sharing this work & all you experience along the way, while developing the story to be revealed to its most powerful self.
Thanks my friend!