Not Afraid #22

[tuzigoot]

Back to Zion - this is from a photo I took on our last trip - posted at the campfire last week. Struggled w the rock wall and ended up wiping it away - resulting in pretty much w what you see here. It has this odd Japanese quality to it - not necessarily what I was going for, but we take what comes.
Image is a bit bluish compared to reality.

So what works? What doesn't? Thanks for your comments!

[KJSieloff]

It's gorgeous! I love the mood it creates. Makes me feel I'm standing in the shadows in the cool, looking out at the rocks where the sun is hitting them. Kinda backward from the way it's 'supposed' to be, meaning cools back and warms forward. You have cools forward and warms back, but I like the effect.

Kate

[jennaboo88]

What works? Everything, IMHO! This is stunning, Linda! Once again, your handling of the water is impressive; it looks so liquid and real. I love the play of light and shadow in this painting, and really find it a beautiful piece. Excellent work!

[tuzigoot]

So was that the struggle? Warms back and cools front? This one was odd - one moment it was awful, then better, then terrible, then much better... I continue to be surprised at how these pieces just sort of paint themselves.
Thanks for your thoughts, Kate.

[mtnrunner]

Linda, Now THAT:S what I'm talking about!!! Best one so far.
In this one I feel you've not simply tried to paint what's there. You've created poetry by placing the foreground in shadow, and leaving the light to focus on the rock wall in the background. We travel through this painting to get to that spot of sunlight there. There is movement and feeling of a good sense of the light and shadow you're portrayed.

My friend and fine artist, Stapleton Kearns, says, "It's not WHAT a painting is about, but HOW it is about, that matters!"..

In other words, you could have copied the photo with exactness, but if you didn't find a concept, or an idea, or a quality, to focus on, and portray, then the painting ends up being a mere transcription. This one goes beyond that to have some feeling and mystique.
deb

[rugman]

Deb said it all much better than I can. Really is a winner, I think one of your best too! Cant wait to see whats next, your on a roll....

[Lisa M]

Ditto--It's a beauty! And for what it's worth--it does have 3 layers/perspectives!! I really like the unique way you do the red rock and canyon walls.

[tuzigoot]

Thanks everyone - this is high praise coming from the likes of you! And kudos to my teacher, Gabbie Hirsch, who manages to push me over that cliff of uncertainty every week. I really can never tell if what I do is good or a candidate for MOBA - the Museum of Bad Art... arrived at class w this yesterday wanting to know if it could be saved. I really didn't know.
Lisa - that rock wall was a total accident - after two tries I scraped it and found what you see underneath. Not sure I can reproduce that effect - frustrating at best.

[bigskysooner]

I really like this one Linda! Very pleasing to look at. The rock wall turned out great - I once did a similar rock cliff in a painting that was about to go in the trash until I scraped it off in frustration and discovered an interesting wall underneath. Funny how things can work out! Keep sharing the not afraid series - your skills are expanding!!


Larry aka bigskysooner

[Catherine1]

Ditto Ditto Ditto.. what they all said.. Nice job Linda!!!

[Jo Castillo]

This is beautiful. It works so well. I'm enjoying your journey.

[Tonalist]

Linda.. I love this back lit peice of yours.. cold against the warm..
the cracks in the back rocks..
well done. frame it and hang it!

woody

[Hoofnpaw]

I think the piece is outstanding! The shadow and the light is just awesome!

Sean

[tuzigoot]

Thanks Larry - some of my best stuff is totally accidental. I guess the talent/experience comes into play when you manage to recognize that the scraping, scratching, slobbering, etc. actually worked!
As for the rest of you reprobates - thank you for the positive feedback.
Works on monkeys.
Works on me!