don't throw pics away - small change big difference

jackiesimmonds · #1 08-11-2012, 04:18 AM

Two or three years ago, I created this sky scene, but was never that happy with it , not entirely sure why. I think I felt it a little empty, somehow:

I did not throw it away, I stuck it in a drawer - and brought it out yesterday and contemplated it for my Open Studio framing session. i still could not settle to it. BUT...... Good lesson here - never throw anything away....

I like it much more now. It just needed some signs of human life for me to enjoy it more! Who knew!!!

friesin · #2 08-11-2012, 05:01 AM

much more interesting

jackiesimmonds · #3 08-11-2012, 05:06 AM

thanks for looking.

Judi1957 · #4 08-11-2012, 06:55 AM

What a beautiful painting Jackie. The figures and change to the water do finish it off perfectly! Brings you right in.

jackiesimmonds · #5 08-11-2012, 08:48 AM

thank you very much Judi, it is always nice to get appreciative feedback!

It is interesting, those figures are hardly figures at all really, just tiny strokes of pastel ...but they do work as figures. Less is more!

Donna T · #6 08-11-2012, 09:00 AM

I like the sense of scale much better now, Jackie. I can relate to feeling small and humbled by such a vast space, as I imagine your beach people do. You made a very nice painting into a real beauty!

jackiesimmonds · #7 08-11-2012, 09:43 AM

what a nice comment Donna. I have to agree...I always feel a bit humbled when facing the open sea, it is just such a vast, awe-inspiring body of water. And it somehow makes the sky feel bigger...

I am really pleased if the addition of the people underlines that impression as I never feel I am much of a landscape painter.

Deb F · #8 08-11-2012, 10:32 AM

A HUGE difference, Jackie. How astute of you to see what it needed. I am so amazed by the change. So beautiful.

water girl · #9 08-11-2012, 11:31 AM

Yes! Now there is a point of interest and it tells story as well.

Winny Kerr · #10 08-11-2012, 11:59 AM

Jackie...what a great thread and example and I agree with that Donna said; "I like the sense of scale much better now, Jackie. I can relate to feeling small and humbled by such a vast space, as I imagine your beach people do. You made a very nice painting into a real beauty!" And what Karen said that there is a point of interest. It is a lovely painting. I must remember not to toss my painting...which I have done all too often.....

**allydoodle** · #11 08-11-2012, 12:41 PM

I agree, you've turned a ho-hum into something brilliant! The addition of humans adds the scale as well as a story, I also like the addition of water foaming on the sand, excellent lead into the painting. You brightened the sun and added a reflection, superb work!

Colorix · #12 08-11-2012, 12:59 PM

Wow, what a change! The whole of the bottom part was really just a rectangle before, but with the beautiful lead-in of the foamy water, the horizontal movement of the rectangle is changed into a movement into the depth, and the figures really set the scale of this beauty.

Great lesson, thank you, Jackie!

jackiesimmonds · #13 08-11-2012, 01:35 PM

thanks for all the comments. I really posted it as a lesson as much as anything else, because I am sure we ALL produce images we aren't too happy with, and all too often, they get binned.

Not only was I pleased I kept this one, I also revisited some photos I had taken when I went on a trip to Cornwall, and from those, got the little distant figures on the beach. although I daresay I could have made them up, given that they are simply tiny strokes of pastel, it was still helpful to see those distant figures in some of my photos, never having sketched anything like that from life. And to be reminded about the light on the tops of waves against the sunlight like this, with a hint shadow on the side nearer to me.

Those were the days when one sent off rolls of film to be developed. I find that keeping pics on my computer is simply NOT the same as rifling through a big box of photos! I found quite a lot of photos I began to see with new eyes. Fun.

And another thing folks. I have also purchased some small frames for this Open Studio. And managed to find, "inside" some rejected paintings, a small section to use in the small frame. Sometimes it is a good idea to cut a mount, or two L-shapes, and move it around on a rejected pic, to find a new composition and new picture!

Unfortunately I did not photograph the original image, but this section still works I think, as a little semi-abstract landscape, reminds me of the glaciers I saw in Alaska - mount aperture only 4"x4":

It actually matches one of my bowls! It is collage, with pastel on top.

J

crazywoman53 · #14 08-11-2012, 02:58 PM

You gave it the kick it needed and the people seals the deal. Beautiful save. Interesting collage.. what materials did you use?

jackiesimmonds · #15 08-11-2012, 05:14 PM

It was done quite some time ago, so I cannot be certain, but I do know I used a strong, thick piece of smooth card so that it would not buckle and using PVA glue, I stuck tissue paper, japanese paper with fibres in it, and something thicker, like a torn piece of card or thick paper I think. The pastel was used on its side, over the top, and in places, softened in with a finger.

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