WIP meditation series

veedubya · #1 08-15-2006, 08:50 PM

MY IMAGE(S):

GENERAL INFORMATION:
Title: WIP meditation series
Year Created: 2006
Medium: Watercolor
Surface: Watercolor Paper
Dimension: 11x14
Allow digital alterations?: Yes!

MY COMMENTS:
This is another morphing image. I incorporated the spirals to introduce a new image in the vocabulary, but there may be too many. The bird on the left is bugging me.

MY QUESTIONS FOR THE GROUP:
Any C+C appreciated

**La_** · #2 08-17-2006, 02:25 AM

Hi V,

love the colors, how they're layered and combined.
it's a bit busy with actual content for me for meditation.
this series will look nice together.

i see in this one a small crowd in a balcony watching dancers below; they're all in a building. the birds hanging out in the parking lot.

La

veedubya · #3 08-17-2006, 08:01 AM

Wierd change, I know. This is a tough one- I think I've painted myself into a corner. You're right la, it's not meditative...what then? Might be time to crop. Thanks for looking.

veedubya · #4 08-17-2006, 08:08 AM

what do you think. A couple tweaks and it could be the solution?

lilacwino · #5 08-17-2006, 10:37 AM

First of all, I like this series, like your idea, like your colors, and like your style.

This piece, however, has more of an effect of pattern, like a piece of fabric, rather than a stand-alone painting. Part of the problem (I THINK, but don't know for sure) is that everything is the same size. To me, the nun was the one thing it had going in the right direction as far as composition goes. (It has other postives, though - just some composition troubles!) I would have thought adding another larger focal point rather than cropping out the nun. Maybe to the upper right of the nun? Again, not sure until i see it, lol...

veedubya · #6 08-17-2006, 10:47 AM

Thanks, lilacwino (it's a little early, but pour me a glass, would you? thanks!) Welcome to WC. Thanks for your thoughtful comment. I only cropped it on the photo program so the possibilities remain. They can't all be winners, but there are some things I like about this. That will show up elsewhere. This started to be just a way to introduce spirals as a new 'word' in my visual vocabulary. Some work goes quick and other just keep morphing!

vyala · #7 08-18-2006, 01:29 PM

Hi Virginia,

nice series!
Please don't crop the nun in this painting - it was a major improvement

in this painting and adds a bit of humorous aspect - as if the nun was talking to the bird on the RH side.
What is bugging me a bit is that all elements are somehow too symmetrical and equal in value as if placed in a hop scotch.

The other point I am not "content" with is the name of this series - no similarity with meditation but rather with recurring dreams. Maybe you should think about this. A meditation in its pure sense clears off all thoughts and concentrates on one image for the beginner and on empty space for the long term practitioner.

Cheerfully,

veedubya · #8 08-18-2006, 02:48 PM

THESE are things from my REAL meditation series.

Quote:

The other point I am not "content" with is the name of this series - no similarity with meditation but rather with recurring dreams. Maybe you should think about this. A meditation in its pure sense clears off all thoughts and concentrates on one image for the beginner and on empty space for the long term practitioner.

You caught me! I was being sloppy and didn't want to call it untiled so I put down WIP and the first title that came into my head. I guess because I was meditating on what to do! This thing was bugging me so bad I just needed to get some help. I think this will just go to the bottom of the pile for a while. Thanks, vyala.

In some was it is like meditating because while meditating in its pure sense clears all thoughts, the mind is a devious instrument and random things come spiraling in unbidden. How's that for a rationale? Thanks for looking.

vyala · #9 08-18-2006, 02:59 PM

Hi Virginia,

hope I did not sound like one of those school masters with the pose of finger held up high -

- was not my intention.
hope you don't lose that one but sometimes there's just a bug in it that does not go away.

Happy creating!

veedubya · #10 08-18-2006, 03:10 PM

No vyala, I appreciate your thoughtful comments and apologize for my sloppy posting!

And happy creating to you.
Is smug going to join greed in your series? Can't wait to see where those go.

veedubya · #11 08-21-2006, 08:03 PM

Here's an update of the image. I kept the nun and entwined her in a Celtic knot to sybolize the mystery of the intertwining of our lives.

yoyita_yoyita · #12 08-21-2006, 11:53 PM

I think the image is right, just play a little with the direction of the eye. Here I played with the lights and darks leaving a triangular light in the center, but you really can guide the eye as you want.
Pick a focal point (I picked the nun) and enhanced some of the dark silouettes.
You can always dim whrever bothers you (the bird for example) and blend it into the background.

It is just an idea. What software are you using?

veedubya · #13 08-22-2006, 07:57 AM

YO!! Thanks!

veedubya · #14 08-22-2006, 12:37 PM

Quote:

What software are you using?

Do you mean how do I photograph them? I manipulate the digital photos in Photoshop Elements. This image is watercolr, ink, oil pastel, colored pencil...etc. Thanks again for the ideas.

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