Personal Art Blog

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

Monday, October 1, 2012

Oranges and Grapes



Oranges and Grapes

6x8in  oil on canvas panel  $125.

The stores are starting to get in these smaller oranges.
Almost tangerines, but not quite.
I can't wait for the Clementines.

Artist Note.

I split this with a dark and light diagonal... with a couple of
interesting shapes breaking into each side. At top, the
white bowl and at the lower end, a line of the grapes.
Curves are repeated. See below.
All of the round shapes - grapes and oranges -  are linked
to another shape, breaking up the possibility of getting
the dreaded "headlights"
(two separate, similar sized, round shapes,
usually kerplonk in the middle.)


A clever person can do the diagrams on the computer but
I printed out the picture, drew the curves,
photographed it, cropped it and then downloaded it
so I could pick it up!
In case you are wondering...
I do these Artist Notes for the artists I teach and several
artists who have let me know they do not have
access to instruction.
It is good for me because it makes me think.


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32 comments:

  1. You are a dedicated teacher to go through all that for sure Julie! Lovely work again!

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  2. great to hear from you Lisa. You say... to go through ALL THAT...are you kidding me? Coming from the lady who put at least 42 photos on one post on her blog!!!!! You put me to shame.
    I loved the story of your old house so much Lisa it was a great job and I felt the nostalgia.
    Missing your art.

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  3. You are a very generous artist. While I do have access to wonderful instruction, different words, different eyes, so much more information. Thank you for sharing. Your painting reminds me about the oranges of winter.....sounds good. My instructor would notice both the strong diagonal and how it is broken up but also the S curves leading you through the painting. the movement is lovely. thanks, Julie.

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    1. Such a lovely complement - thank you, Helen.
      I admire the way you are constantly working to improve. Self instruction is powerful. Even though you have a great teacher you add to her lessons by always being on the prowl to learn more.
      A day does not go by where I do not learn something new.

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    2. And isn't that part of the magic of life. We keep evolving, learning, creating. My morning was spent doing another hen. She is fun, I learned about drawing correctly. Again.

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  4. Dear Julie, a stunning still life that leaves me amazed for the beauty of it all!
     Thanks for these lessons in composition!
    I like to work with something printed, sometimes cut the flowers pieces to put them near ,in a different way, and I find that it takes a moment... while photoshop takes me too long to move the pieces to try composition. Thanks for talking of your ART so generously !!!

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    1. Hi Rita - I love seeing your new one and the steps you are taking to develop it. You explain so well.
      Thanks for the lovely complement.

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  5. It is just beautiful, Julie. I also noted the strong diagonal and think it is a wonderful tool! Of course, I never think of these things when my feeble attempts to paint happen.

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    1. It is a shame you are not painting Crimson, but at least the piano arrived!!!! Lessons on playing it will be your art form.

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  6. I like the arrows and the notes! It is easier to see that there are a lot of nice opposing curves this way. It's a good composition as always-the shapes aren't detached but aren't so bunched up that they become one big shape. Just enough planning to look random:)

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    1. My still life layout can take me quite a while to set-up. It is rare I can whip one out automatically. They say practice makes it easier but I like to try slight variations on the tried and true.
      I like the way you are showing your process on this new post Libby. Your blog is always interesting, but I have the anticipation factor included this time!

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  7. Gorgeous painting, and YOU ARE a clever person.....clever, generous, talented, creative, ......the list goes on. I am sure it would be even longer if I actually could meet you :)

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    1. Please, please let me adopt you or at least make a recording for me to listen to when I am in need of a boost. I thank YOU!
      I love your painting with such a fabulous fence. The negative shapes between the posts are to die for!

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  8. Thanks for another great Art Talk, Julie!
    Love your clear and understandable words and diagram.
    I am especially attracted to the lost edges of the center orange and it's accompanying attached beautifully green leaf!

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    1. Thanks so much Dean. I really think your colors are beautiful on the Birch Challenge.

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  9. Wow! Love it!!...Another beautiful painting, Julie! Its so wonderful that you share your process with us. Again, you have such patience and teaching skills.

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    1. You are wonderful to always comment in such a positive way. I appreciate you, Hilda.

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  10. It'a all in the composition really isn't it ... apart from the painting of course:0)

    Rita expresses it nicely, you are generous with your art, and we thank for that.

    I've got some Clementines and you've made me fancy them now:0) .

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    1. You have some of the real things eh? When I lived in England my Christmas Stocking always had a tangerine in it and I still feel nostalgic when I eat one.
      Thanks for the very nice comment John.

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  11. Such a scrumptious painting, Julie. That's the word that comes to mind when I look at your work. Thank you for your insight on composition and repetition of curves. It's those little things that no one notices (unless they're trained and actually looking), that really make a painting work.

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    1. Hi Jennifer - thanks for the lovely word, scrumptious!

      I enjoyed seeing your beautiful birch tree painting.

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  12. Beautiful painting once again Julie. Rich thick paint I love it. You also manage to get a very good image onto the website, I guess thats down to good photography...would be interested to know how you do it

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    1. Hi Nigel
      I use a Nikon D80 and a tripod.
      I shoot outside when I can and if inside, I have to fiddle with the white balance to fit my lighting.

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  13. Visiting your blog is both educational and a great art experience. This is a lovely still life and composition. I would love to be able to say that I think of all those things, but I mostly go with my instinct. But there are times when thinking would have helped.

    Happy painting

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    1. I appreciate your comments very much Roger. Thank you.
      Love your sense of adventure with your painting today. Great design and colors. It certainly is a keeper - for a while anyway.

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  14. Very interesting, Julie. I appreciate your efforts to explain your methods and "thinking." I know it takes time, but it's so appreciated! I'm also in awe at the amount of planning that goes into beautiful work such as yours.

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    1. Hi Carol, Your reds are fantasic on the raddish - love them. thanks for the comment

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  15. Julie, I am curious about this "fracturing" technique. Are you putting together an Artbyte? I am very interested in finding out how the technique is implemented. I have been admiring your work for some time. Your pieces catch my eye every time!

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    1. yes, Lavon. I am in the middle of putting one together. Not easy for me as I am so busy and I do want it to be good and clear what the fracturing is and how it is done. I will be announcing when it is ready. First I send it off to Jennifer at DPW and it may take her some time to refine it all. It will not be next week for sure.

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  16. Julie, I am beginning to be in awe of you as a person( apart from a wonderful artist) as well, you are very generous and showing that sharing is so much joy! A valuable lesson to learn.

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    1. Thank you , and you are a special person to have a mind which works in such a generous way.

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  17. Julie
    Your painting style is lovely. I look forward to following your blog.

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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