Personal Art Blog

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

Thursday, October 10, 2013

Farmers Market #23 - Musicians



Farmers Market #23 - Musicians

8x8in  oil on canvas panel  $150. SOLD

These are two guys who entertain us at our farmers market
on Saturdays, here in Las Cruces, NM.
It was the market in Santa Cruz, California which got me started
on painting this series, but the one here in Las Cruces was
voted the #1 Farmers and Craft market in the country
two years ago. Who would ever "thunk it"
Right outside my door!
The Artists Guild building is on Main Street, downtown, and
the market occupies three city blocks of the street every
Saturday. I have been out regularly with my camera and sketching.

Artist Note.
I went to a larger size with this one after I had complete
failures trying to get this one on the smaller square.
For some reason this was one of the hardest paintings I
have done in quite a while.The success is having recognizable
figures. The features are almost non existent but body type
comes across and someone saw it and knew who these
guys were right away.



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38 comments:

  1. This is fantastic, Julie...How lucky you are to have this farmer's market so close to you.! I can only imagine all the reference pictures you can get. I love the colors in this painting and that perfect light !! Wonderful work as always!!

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    1. yes - I am lucky. There is something new which attracts me every week.
      Love your new portrait - what an amazing job you did with it.

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  2. I love it! It seems so free........I am sure that is the extra space! The figures are just perfect and my eye travels with both the light pattern and the dark. yeah!

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    1. yes -the extra space does make a difference andI was surprised at how much. I did four 'off with its heads' before I switched sizes. The first time I have had to do that.
      I love your beautiful blue on the pump house painting.

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  3. Gorgeous Julie, love the fresh colours, bet the guys will love it.

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    1. thanks jane - I doubt they will ever see it. I have noticed that the market vendors do not go into the galleries.
      your boat painting is outstanding - adore the blue/orange together.

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  4. Wonderful painting! I can hear the music. You really are lucky to have such picturesque scenes outside your door. The sun dappled shade is rendered beautifully.

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    1. I do appreciate that - thank you. The shade drove me crazy. Comparing the values of the legs next to the value of the shade make for some unladylike muttering.
      your new post with the mixture of original and the digital images you have done while being laid up after surgery shows how good you have become with the iPad. amazing and wonderful stuff.

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  5. It's a great work, you make it seem so easy ! Love all the light you achieve and that without too much detailing none the less you see lots of different stuff .

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    1. thanks jane. it most likely looks as if it went smoothly because of the wipers before this one. practice makes perfect!
      I had a strong emotional response to your new painting. it is universal in imagery.
      it looks pretty well finished to me.

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  6. You've captured a lovely colourful moment in time - love it :)

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  7. Thanks Ann. It is colorful but here in new mexico we do not have moisture in the air to blue our colors down. The blue we get is from the sky reflecting down in the shade.
    You painted a beautiful amaryllis and i envy your ability with green.

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  8. I love the gestures, you can tell they are completely involved in the music.. Incredible detail in such a small space!

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    1. Thanks Celia - and I love your painting of the window. beautiful!

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  9. Festive! I can hear the music. You hit this outta the park!

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    1. Nice complement - thanks Celeste. The play good music too.
      I enjoyed your portrait done with the Zorn palette today.

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  10. Wonderful pianting !!! Very beautiful and nice moments in the farmers market, thanks for sharing with us !!!
    Have a nice weekend !!!

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    1. I really enjoyed seeing the brilliant sunshine of where you live. You capture it so well.

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  11. It is such a lovely painting and would be such a beautiful gift for one these two guys!

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  12. You sure said what I have come to believe about figures: it isn't always the faces that make someone recognizable. This is wonderful subject matter and it sounds like maybe others are on the way?

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    1. it is true and glad you see it too.
      Your navy lady has really a dynamic design.

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  13. Just love the way you handled this. It's like I can feel the shade and hear the music!

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    1. the painting was hard in the lower part. The guy's legs and chair legs were difficult to get right in the shade.
      What a beauty of a painting you posted today. The flowers looked 3-D

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  14. Replies
    1. It makes the struggle worthwhile when you post a comment like that. Thanks so much Kaethe.
      Your work is wonderful. I enjoyed following you in the 30 challenge.

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  15. Julie - this Farmer's Market has certainly been enjoyable for me...I love seeing the vibrant colors that you show in these scenes. Your painting transports me to this place and I can almost hear the music and smell the scents. Thank you for sharing...always am awed by your work. Take care and have a great week-end.

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    1. Hi Debbie - I am pleased you like the series. thank you.
      Your painting of the flower and hummingbird is rather special and the bonus was seeing Shelby growing up so nice.

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  16. Love the delicious color interplay, Julie! Lavender shadows touching the yellow sun in the lower right....great touch of green upon the blue shirt sleeve...and on and on....

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    1. You really did take a look - thanks Dean.
      The portrait you did of the young girl is remarkable.

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  17. I checked the dimensions after reading your description. Hard to believe how small this is.

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    1. I felt too small doing it and it is larger than usual.
      Your pen and wash drawings are fabulous, Jean

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  18. Julie, I really like the way the features are not clearly defined. That way we can each imagine who the musicians might be, and it makes the piece speak to so many people in their own way. That's the best kind of art! You also captured the excitement and friendliness of the farmer's market so nicely. Congratulations on a great painting!

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  19. You are always so generous with your encouragement and i really appreciate it.
    You finished your commission in great shape. it looked fabulous.

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  20. I don't know how you do it. One naturally expects that you would nail composition, values, etc. But you also got the gestures right with a palette knife in such a small format. The price is too low for a jewel you created!

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  21. I think I would have titled this "In Harmony" because that is what this painting is...in complete harmony of color ,composition and shapes- absolutely a marvel!

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  22. I love live music...and outdoors it sounds amazing. You captured these guys so well and I LOVE how you painted their sandals. I can hear their guitars.

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  23. Thank you so much for share the great information..!!
    Music jobs

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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