Monday 2 March 2009

Clearing Storm - Part Two


Source photograph for the painting.


Did a bit more work on this today. Some improvement made but I'm not sure if I'm there yet. I probably need to sit on it for a couple of days (although given my weight that won't do it a lot of good) and try to look at it with a fresh eye. Anyone viewing this, please feel free to offer any suggestions as to how it might be improved.





Oil on Canvas Board 20" x 16"

3 comments:

Daniel Corey said...

Hey Mick, please feel free to erase my comment after its written, I think the idea of the scene is a bit "EPIC" and am wondering if you are basing this on observation or a well timed photo. I do know that your work thats based on observations don't have this look, so I'm curious.

Unknown said...

Good question, Dan. I'll edit in the photograph used so you can see it. The dramatic quality, in particular the crepuscular rays, came from heeding comments made when I posted it on WC as a work in progress. In one sense my 'struggle' is one of a search for a style and in the furtherance of this I am trying different approaches. Therein lies another dilemma, different people respond differently to the different styles and it is often difficult to reconcile their views with your own gut responses. There is a huge emotional impetus to pandering to positive feedback. So for instance this painting and the previous one of Bamburgh elicit great affection from many who live locally, largely I suspect because they are familiar scenes rather than any great love for the artistic merit.

At the moment I need a period of reflection on these matters but also need the artistic input from people like yourself to feed that reflection. I understand that the prime voice for any artist must be his own spirit but it is sometimes difficult to hear that whisper in the cacophony of background noise.

Obviously having a 'questioning week', this week.

'Time's glory is to calm contending kings,
To unmask falsehood, and bring truth to light.'
W. Shakespeare

Daniel Corey said...

Well put.