Personal Art Blog

Sharing the lessons I teach at the Artist Guild and the personal discoveries in my art.

Saturday, September 22, 2012

Pouncer- Bird Watching.




Pouncer - Bird Watching. ( sketch)

6x8in oil on linen (mounted on panel)  $100. SOLD

No matter what country you live in in this world, this is a universal
happening.

Artist Note.

Another sketchy type painting where I leave the linen canvas showing.
After painting the gull I thought I would try the Fracturing technique on a
cat. This is from a painting I did of of one of my grandcats in 2004.
It was painted in a more decorative and linear style.
This is a detail - a small part of a large painting.













I tried to copy more or less the same position of the cat,
but put him up on a ledge instead.

The new one was painted on the Senso linen I mentioned yesterday.
I used neutral colors to see if I could paint an animal
without deforming it too much with the fracturing technique.
I found I was a little bit tentative and it looked like a hedgehog quite
a few times as the legs would come and go!!!!

If I didn't say they were birds in the title, I bet you could not tell.
They certainly are tiny as the canvas is so small.

It is funny how you can mush a tree or flower and it is okay, it works,
but you mush a specific animal beyond a recognizable shape and the party is over..
There is a quality about this painting I like but have to figure it out.
Like most of what I paint, I need to really have a familiar feeling  or good
image to get it right. I know you understand and are thinking, been there, done that.

I think I will try it again tomorrow in the colors above
and in a square format.. I will try and show a step-by-step demo.
I love bright colors so it should be fun.


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37 comments:

  1. this is a beautiful technique with the cat as well. This gorgeous cat looks like its going to pounce any moment..! Love this one, Julie.

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    1. Thank you Hilda. You have a great new portrait of Sierra. Love her hair. Hope she never cuts it.

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  2. love them both - the first one is wonderfully traditional and the fractured one is magnificently modern!

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    1. Thank you Myra. I am anxious to get started on another one.
      How do you keep producing the jewel like perfection in your work? Your creativity astounds me.

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  3. There is aspect I like in both paintings, but since I strive getting looser myself I prefer the new one. I can really relate with figuring out how to do some subjects in the style you want/do.

    Happy painting and have a great weekend.

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    1. Glad you can relate. Roger. Your work seems flawless all the time so thanks for saying that.

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  4. Looking at the two works, I get the feeling that I am in front of the classical painters works.
    The gesture of the cat, universal, timeless, became two classic masterpieces. This exquisite and fine quality of all your work is so awesome to me!Dear Julie,your art blog creates in me the enthusiasm to keep the brushes in hand, looking my way!

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    1. Your poetic way with words always makes me feel so good, Rita, and I truly thank you.
      the colors in your blue bird are simply beautiful.

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  5. Absolutely beautiful, Julie! I just love this fracturing technique so much!

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  6. First let me say I look at this piece more as a painting than a sketch!! :)Super!
    I LOVE to see you tackling animals...Look out...next comes fractured portraits! I know what you mean about landscapes versus animals.
    Really, Really looking forward to the step by step!! The more steps the better.

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  7. So lifelike, insofar as one expects the cat to leap at any moment, I really like it, this fractured technique is really special.

    PS Relating to the seagull reply ....and 14 years old (flattery will get you everywhere)... some clues: I have been married 53 years and we were 21 when me married :0)

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    1. You have a great sense of humor, John.
      I love your comments and thank you for the visit.

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  8. I really love your work. This is no exception. I think you are a true artist Julie. You can take a painting from the past and revamp it. I am not so sure I could do that. Very impressive!

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    1. Wow - great comment and it means such a lot. Thank you Kaethe.

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  9. What a beautiful painting Julie, I really love the "fracturing" technique"

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    1. Thank you and I love the cat you painted in watercolor, too.

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  10. Beautiful re-vamp! Love everything about this one! I ordered some Senso online yesterday...Cannot wait to try it!

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    1. Thank you Donna. I enjoyed seeing the changes you made to your abstract.

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  11. It's amazing how your fracturing technique effectively transcends genre. It's just as amazingly stunning in landscape, still life, animals, floral, etc. I love the posture of this little cat. Wonderful and inspiring work!

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    1. Thank you so much, Carol. It is harder when I need to maintain the integrity of the shape - like with this cat. I am going to keep at it because it is a stimulating challenge. How does a fractured person sound?

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  12. Brilliant painting...it has the atmosphere of that moment you expect the cat to jump!...love it.

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    1. Thanks so much, Ann. I laughed and groaned at the answer to the and, and, and!

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  13. I find your "fractured" cat to be a beautiful gesture. He so looks as though he's ready to pounce. (He also looks remarkably like one of my cats, spots and all.)

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    1. Thank you Shirley. Lucky you having a cat like this one. I love the black and white combination.

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  14. Great cat painting, Julie. I'm will be trying the Senso linen soon. Kathy

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    1. Thank you Kathy. I enjoyed seeing your landscape and congratulations on being accepted into the Paint New Mexico group/blog.

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  15. O yes, it is real lurking cat pose. Great captured! This Senso canvas looks interesting.

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    1. Great to see your drawing and know you are back on your blog, Maga.
      Thanks for stopping by with such a nice comment.

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  16. Love this, along with the Gull. Can't wait to see tomorrow's post/demo. Do you ever do workshops in the North East? I would love to see this technique in person.

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    1. Glad you like it. thanks.
      I used to travel to do workshop but now I hold them here. Better for me!

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  17. I dont like cats when they do this, I am watching them helplessly from my kitchen window when they try to do that in the next building terrace,, but your cat painting is so stunning, I have to like this cat, he is so so looking good :-)

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    1. I understand how you feel. This cat has never caught a bird yet but he loved watching and talking to them.

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  18. Hello Julie:) You have no reason to be unsure about your work. I loved the seagull and def love the cat. It's beautiful. I think you can paint anything in each style. I love your work!!

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  19. Gotta get a cat! There seems to be a never-ending supply of inspiration!

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I love that you are taking the time to comment and thank you for it. I am sure other readers will enjoy them too. If you cannot comment through this format then email me at juliefordoliver@gmail.com
Cheers,
Julie