Back in the saddle again! It's over a month since my last painting session so I was very pleased to finish this off today after beginning it yesterday. I have painted this for my daughter's birthday. She is a keen reader and also has a penchant for collecting old books. This particular tome is a rather well loved 1907 edition of Great Expectations by Charles Dickens. I'd had great expectations of being able to paint the title legibly on the spine, but I discovered very quickly that it was a case of unrealistic expectations.
It seems that every time I see my daughter ensconsed in a book, she is devouring a Fuji apple. They are not the reddest or prettiest apple ever invented, but they are by far the tastiest!
You were right to have great expectations!
ReplyDeleteThis is beautiful Wendy!
You are so very, very talented and you use your talents very well!
The apple is so realistic! I am waiting to see a tiny little bite taken out of it! Great highlights and colors on the apple!
The book is so realistic! Maybe even a bit musty smell!
I also love the leaf and flower pattern that holds the piece together very well!
Bravo Mate!
Happy Birthday to your daughter!
Michael
Thanks so much Michael!
DeleteI had to re-do the apple because the first time around it looked too brown. It is always fraught when trying to change something that basically looks ok, but thankfully it turned out to be an improvement in the end.
The leaf and flower pattern is from my daughter's lovely collection of fabrics.
I will pass on your birthday wishes thank you!
I'm enjoying seeing the progress of your self-portrait.
Happy painting Michael!
What a beautiful painting! You did an amazing job with each of the different textures. Those textures and the colors complement each other so nicely! Funny what you said about the expectations, too!
ReplyDeleteThankyou Katherine! I appreciate your visits and compliments! I so love your beautiful artblog and your philosophical observations.
DeleteHi Wendy, what a wonderful painting!! Excellent work on the apple, it's a perfect still life apple and you painted it so realistic. Love also how you did the book, it looks very old!
ReplyDeleteI wish your daughter a happy birthday!
Thanks so much Hilje. My daughter's birthday is a week or so away yet, so I have warned her not to look at my blog until after I have given her the painting.
DeleteI'm looking forward to seeing your next amazing piece of art!
Beautiful painting, Wendy! And Happy Birthday to your daughter! :)
ReplyDeleteThankyou Darla, I was thinking of you when I was painting the top edge of the book. I felt pleased that I'd managed to keep it softer than I would normally. I thought of your beautiful paintings and how you are the master of soft edges.
ReplyDeleteI am always interested in classical literature and I love the way you painted this Dickens classic! If you are interested in reproductions of ancient books, there is a great company in Switzerland that specialises in reproducing limited fascimile production of books that date hundreds of years ago. Have a look here: http://bit.ly/19iE21H (hope you don't mind the link!)Great work Wendy, I love it!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for the nice comments Dave and also for the great link. What an incredible site! I was amazed to see what faithful reproductions they are able to create. It is such a great way to ensure the immortality of these works for everyone should anything ever befall the originals.
ReplyDeleteThis is a very oddly beautiful painting and I mean that as a compliment for sure.
ReplyDeleteAs others have said the apple is very real but more important painted with great economy of tones and a simplicity, which is why it is oddly beautiful within this painting. That is more difficult to do than we think and is why Manet was so good,, he rendered his forms much the same way.
It would be out of place if not rendered in that manner. Instead it fits perfectly.
This is because the book is one more step away from being painted as realistic, then the pattern another step away.
So from top to bottom we are led from real to stylized in a short distance, from volume of form to flat pattern. I should also add that the limited palette enhances that quality.
The subtle shadow from the apple on the book and the high-lighted tone just behind the apple ties the two together, makes it believable and prevents the apple from looking pasted on like a collage which would defeat the painting as a whole.
Had you articulated the books title too much it too might have defeated the painting as a whole by being distracting. Sometimes that works but here no. The vagueness of the title ties it better to the pattern below, part of that stepping from top to bottom.
As artists it is good to recognize these things in our own work so you should see that here. I was immediately stuck by something unusual here and found myself looking at it for a while. Recognize that special quality this painting has that goes beyond just paint on a surface.
I could easily see you working in this direction and developing your own uniqueness from it.
I have paintings laying around my studio that some special quality found it's way into without my conscious doing and although they might have fallen short of my expectations I knew enough to leave them be and hold them for that reason, to remind me.
Just my thoughts,
Keep painting...
Wow David! Thanks so much for your very kind and very detailed comments on my painting. I was fascinated to read your take on it as I hadn't really been aware of the aspects you spoke of while I was painting.
ReplyDeleteI had done the book first and been pleased that I'd been able to loosen up. I had hoped I'd be able to continue in the same style throughout. However, my natural tendency to tighten up got the better of me with the apple and I wondered briefly if I should return to add more detail to the book to balance things out. But I had been so happy with it initially so I resisted the urge. In the end I felt the painting worked quite well despite this difference but hadn't known why - or even given it much further thought, so it was wonderful to hear from you as to why it gelled. That is the great thing about painting - you never quite know what will come forth from the brush! I felt a bit like an observer for much of this painting.
It was very kind of you David to take the time to help me see what did in fact allow it to work. You are right to say that it pays to recognise these things to help us develop, as I will now keep those things in mind in future. So I value your insights and appreciate the time you took to offer them.
I have just been admiring your wonderful paintings on your blog and your new Daily Paintworks Gallery. Beautiful work!
Great Expectations my favourite Dickens. Your daughter has good taste. No pun intended considering the apple. Fabulous painting. I love the rhythm of the colours and textures. They all blend well together. The shine on that apple is fabulous. Your daughter will undoubtedly have loved this. I certainly do. xx
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Laura! My daughter does love the painting thankfully. I always feel the pressure is on when trying to come up with an idea for birthday paintings or cards. I am just about to check out your latest painting!
DeleteAmazing work Wendy!! This will be a timeless keepsake for your daughter! I like the lack of title because it doesn't become about the specific book but about your daughter's love of old books. Beautiful realism on the apple and I think the pattern works well against the two textures.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your new card collection too! I wish you much success, they look wonderful!!
Hi Celia, Thanks for your lovely comments and congratulations. Loved seeing your photos of Crete!
DeleteThat is an amazing painting! I love it! I love how you added in the cute little personal detail of the apple that she always eats while reading. How adorable!
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting my blog Heather and for you great comments. I love your illustrations!
ReplyDeleteLove your post. What a wonderful birthday gift. Your painting is great. Best wishes to your daughter.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Robin!
DeleteThis painting for your daughter is wonderful Wendy! Such a personal gift and special because of that too. she will love it.
ReplyDeleteThanks Sally. She does appreciate the personal touch with the subject matter which is nice.
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