Farmers Market #5
Two Pounds of Peaches
8x6in oil on canvas panel $125. SOLD
I loved this scale as soon as I saw it. There were
several of them throughout the market, but I liked the
deep blue trim on this enameled basket.
Artist Note.
This started as a demo in establishing basic shapes
from this photo. Click to enlarge any of these.
Demo - first layer.
The trouble with
photos are I tend to
follow them pretty
exactlyat first.
All I changed here was
the stall in background
It bugged me that so many other elements were detracting from the
focus I wanted - which was the scale.
I cannot believe I did it, but I even placed the truck and cars in after this.
Oh no...someone smack my hand and stop me!
I closed my eyes, relaxed, and took myself back to the time and place of my
photo source. Doing this simple thing has helped me more times
than I can remember. The air, the noise, the smell and then
there it was as clear as can be - the scale. In my mind I recalled
how the glass looked and remembered all I could see in detail
was the color of the tent reflecting in the scale glass and fruit around
it. NOTHING ELSE.
It is only the camera which can pick out every single detail.
After getting the handy tool out it was easy to get rid of some of the
distractions. Squinting turned the trees and vehicles into dark shapes
so I merged them all into the green cover and a pattern of dark and light.
I left the scale exactly where it was but eliminated all
unnecessary details, even leaving out the precise details on clock face
like the exact width and numbers. All implied but not
painted in detail. Even so, I still created a feeling of intimacy with the scale.
Now I really like it. The artist who bought it named it
Two Pounds of Peaches - nifty!
Very nice! Thank you for talking about your process when working from a photograph, it is very helpful to see & read how other artists manage the all the detail a photograph gives us.
ReplyDeleteI've never seen a scale like this! A fascinating mix of technology and poetry,dear Julie. I really love it. Looking at the small changes, so effective, between the photo and your amazing painting, I understand the strength of your experience!
ReplyDeleteFollowing you and doing a lot of practice I can also improve the way I look at the photograph and turn it ,to paint,in the better way .....
This is so good Julie, love to see and read how you 'rescued' (if I can call it that)this painting. I was going to ask if you ever do a step-by-step demo online of your working process...well there, I have just asked :)
ReplyDeleteA great result despite the trauma of the photo! LOL! I know what you mean though. The photo can make you do things that you didn't even think you were going to do. But, I like your trick for getting back to square one and I am going to use that. Getting recentered is always helpful and you method helps to solidify my blog topic for tomorrow:)
ReplyDeleteLove the scale too-very old timey:)
Good afternoon Julie, thought of you this afternoon as I toured our own Farmers Market here in Lake Forest Park. Way too hot and crowded to take pictures not to mention sketching. I'll go earlier next week. Your beautiful painting made an important statement. "Kiss", or, Keep It Simple Stupid. I try to write that on the canvas before I start. No misunderstanding please. Julie and stupid do NOT, go together.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful painting and thanks for sharing your process!
ReplyDeleteI can picture you working on this one after your description. Whenever I work from photos, I too tend to paint more details than what I should. I like how you said it...somebody slap my hands.
ReplyDeleteLove these market works...they are so summer and make me want to eat corn on the cob with every meal.
What a lovely impressionistic painting, and such a unique subject! Painting from photos can be so distracting! All that detail! Your description of your process was perfect-- I felt as if I were right there with you, struggling to eliminate what wasn't needed while focusing on the star of the show. The result was definitely worth it! Just wonderful!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful painting. I loved reading your painting thoughts.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed this process. I can even paint a fly on the window I get so precise. The scale is lovely but I get distracted by the beautiful, almost brilliant oranges you played with as you painted the peaches. This painting is very successful. yes.
ReplyDeleteActually gold and red.......I guess they made me see orange!
DeleteReally interesting post to read Julie. I love how you got back to the reason why you wanted to paint the scales in the first place. The painting was a great success !
ReplyDeleteI meant to add that 'smacking your hands' and going to the 'naughty corner' could be the same thing ......hehehe
ReplyDeleteWONDERFUL painting! And I especially appreciate your thoughts about painting from photos...and ways to help us use them as a better aid to memory! Thanks Julie!
ReplyDeleteThe painting is simply superb. Thanks for explaining your thought process. I face such problems all the time but don't have a solution as elegant as this! :)
ReplyDeleteI just love your compositions, Julie. All the struggles you encounter in the making are worth it for your end results. This is fabulous and probably would have caught my eye as well.
ReplyDeleteGreat post Julie, especially your thoughts on using photos. The red hands against the green background really grab your eye.
ReplyDeleteHow much do your art weigh?
ReplyDeleteVery nice, love it.
Great job Julie, love how you made this your own and only used the photo as a reference:) Fantastic title as well!
ReplyDeleteI have really enjoyed the Farmers Market paintings. Thank you for sharing your art wisdom. It's a reminder to me to have license when painting and not to be a slave to the photograph. Very lovely painting!
ReplyDeleteThe process is amazing, Julie but the painting is outstanding!!
ReplyDeleteWonderful work!
Julie, I know just what you mean about using photos. I love to use them and will paint several "looks" of the picture. Check out my posting for today "Wild Flowers I". There are about 4 paintings and they are all from the same photo supplied by Dee Sanchez for a "Paint New Mexico" challenge.
ReplyDeleteYour scale is gorgeous! I envy the artist who bought it first!
So inspiring!! An incredible painting and post!!
ReplyDeleteI love how you show your changes here--they worked to make the painting very successful. I love these Farmers' Market paintings--great series!
ReplyDeleteI think I lost your email address. But wanted to let you know I got the tool and your note--thank you so much. Hope to try it out today!!
ReplyDeleteI got great news! Got your painting today and it is lovely, thanks again. =)
ReplyDeleteI can imagine that you had some thinking to do about this one. I think you solved one thing by putting some items on the scale.
Hug!
Julie - this is beautiful...I love the mint green background. Thank you too for sharing your thinking about how to use a photo and simplify what is important and make all the rest just shapes. These farmer's markets are such a great series of paintings. Since I enjoy the one in my hometown makes them even more precious.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful piece Julie! Just wanted to pop in & say "hello!"
ReplyDeleteSaw this on DP today and imeadiately loved it! I've kind of used that same visualizing exercise and it really does help! Beautiful work as always.
ReplyDeleteJust beautiful work Julie, I love seeing your work, each piece is so special and uniquely your style...Leesa
ReplyDeleteHow you managed to capture the space between the glass and the scale markings is a pure bit of magic!
ReplyDeletesuper ...this is my favorite of your beautiful colourful market scenes
ReplyDelete