Loose Calla Lilies

[marionh]

I've set myself a task to do 101 daily paintings related to my gardens, to try and loosen up my style. I did a few featuring the lemons and oranges from my trees but now that the flowers are blooming I am using those and painting en plein aire when possible.

Here is one of the calla lilies


27cm x 19cm (11"x8" approx)
Oil on canvas board
Painted alla prima wet in wet.

I'd like your opinions. I am quite happy with them when I paint them (I have several iris paintings which I shall post later) - but when looking at them later, they leave me less than satisfied.

I am always undecided on whether or not to leave well enough alone (and use as a ref to see if I am improving), or to rework some of the areas and bring them up to a more finished piece. Or is this my nitpicking and fiddling side taking over

All comments welcome.

PS I do like sloshing that thick paint around

[Antiqueteacher]

I do like sloshing that thick paint around

I like seeing it, too!!

If you need to be away from your painting for a while, you can always send it to me and I will store it on my wall for free!

I think it is beautiful!!

Katherine

[marionh]

Thank you Katherine for commenting.

[mcassatt]

To let it be or not that is the question many an artist ask themselves. I can never quite let things be. I think your lilies have a loose feel and that is what you were going for. What I think might improve this is more blending in the b/g and grouping values together(also in b/g) to eliminate confusion and a more unified, uncluttered look.
grace

[pancho]

Very, very nice.

Janet

[marionh]

Thank you Grace. That top area bothers me so I shall rework that. A couple of crits in the oil forum say that I need to work on tones - OH THOSE TONES
I find it so so difficult to weed out the unnecessary info when painting en plein aire, but then that is what the practice is all about. Let's face it if it was easy, what would be the challenge? - or that's what I keep telling myself

Thank you Janet for commenting.

[mcassatt]

If it were easy, everyone would be creating top notch flowers and we wouldn't have to help one another, no need for the forum. But, yes, it most certainly is a challenge and everyone is striving to get better. I'll check back to see what you've done w/this.
Talk to you soon.
grace

[KreativeK]

I like this a lot, Marion, just super plein air direct painting. The only advice I can say is to leave them alone awhile, turn them to a wall, then look again days or weeks later. Usually any glaring trouble spots will be evident.

[marionh]

here's an update



I think it's an improvement and I am quite happy with it. What do you think?

[KreativeK]

Looks fabulous Marion, but I liked it before. You've simplified the top then added shadow to main top calla and also pulled some bg color filtering thru the leaves. I love it!

[WannaBe!]

Very pretty... I'm stunned at the thought of 101 daily paintings... That rocks!

[marionh]

Thanks Kate. I took your advice and after a few days it became obvious that it would benefit from simplification, but of course in doing that some of the spontaneity is lost.

Thank you Wannabe. It's an interesting project and I am more or less on track, my aim was to do about 5 a week - I missed out some in April as that was a busy time for me, plus a holiday - but now the garden is in full flow there's such a lot of opportunity. I can certainly feel myself improving though, which is good.

[Lady Carol]

The background works better in the second. I also like the glow of light through the leaves.

[marionh]

Thank you Carol

[Charlie's Mum]

I was going to say leave them and compare with newer ones later to see what you'd absorbed!

I like what you've done though, so you obviously did reason it out - it's a definite improvement and a nice piece of work.

You've set yourself a tremendous task Marion - good for you! - and just as well you're not back in England when painting PA, you'd freeze!