Personal Art Blog

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

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Crab-apple Blossom Study



Crab-apple Blossom Study

6x8in oil on canvas panel  $125.
Click HERE to purchase

Getting ready to paint crab-apples in a larger size.
Best to do some studies first.

Artist Note.
Anyone else relate to this?


Cleaning out the stash of old paintings I always thought I would get back to do
some magic brushwork on and improve them. Found just over a 100.
What to do...


Pour black tar paint over them - Ahhh...that made me feel so much better!

Yep, Julie must still be having a hard time and cleaning is the way to better mental health!














25 comments:

  1. Ha! Black tar, huh? I agree - make the decision and then just do it. Every so often I need to clear out all of the junk that I keep for "just in case"...as if I would ever actually do anything with it! Truth is, it's much more fun to start with a clean slate.

    Love the crabapple blossoms...feels like spring!

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  2. I am in the same position and I think this is going to work for me too! I wish I had a good place for a bonfire.......
    Love the crab apple blossoms and looking forward to more lovely blossoms like these.

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  3. It feels so good to take left over paint or some I muddied beyond belief and just stroke it harshly over old paintings that are going away. Such a release. And many need to do just that.
    What I love about the crabapples........the unusual composition. It makes me stop and really look. The blossoms are lovely, their placement so interesting.

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  4. I have fantasized about burning a stack of my old art. Never thought of the black tar.

    I would say your crab apple blossom study went rather well...it's gorgeous!

    Believing in better days for you soon Julie. Sending you hugs.

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  5. Excellent idea! It does free up the mind and allow for fresh ideas, like your beautiful crab-apples blossoms!

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  6. Drastic but necessary! Be brutal and move forward:)

    Beautiful study. Hoping that things will gradually get better for you (soon!).

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  7. Oh I'd so glad to see I'm not the only one with a disorganized pile of "could do betters". Cleaning is marvelous therapy. And studies make good sense, but sometimes a study does it. This one looks like you'r know your crab-apples. I once made jelly from the ones that fell from our tree. Only once. Making jelly is hot and I can't stand the heat so I stay out of the kitchen as much as possible. Better to paint them. Cheer up Julie. "This too shall pass" and if it doesn't kill you, it will make you stronger. That's all I got. :-)) hugs

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  8. Your crab-apple painting is really beautiful , your colors are always so lovely , but I must say I do feel a bit sorry for that lovely little painting with white flowers that is now doomed covered in tar :-( But glad you are feeling better :-)

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  9. I, too, have several boxes of paintings waiting to be perfected...Lol! They should be sent to the tar pits.
    Love the texture of your crab-apple piece!

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  10. Thought I had everything I needed with my 12" scissors. I'll be out shopping again today for black tar. The blossoms on this painting are amazing.

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  11. Oh dear, Julie. What a shame to splash that black tar!! However, if it was cathartic then it was more than worth it!! I love the crab apple blossoms...there is an almost festive sense to them with the golden background. Very beautiful work!

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  12. Ha ha! I need to clean out my old painting stash as well. Black tar is the beginning of a great abstract! Might as well recycle!

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  13. PS Love the Crab apple blossoms. One of my favorite trees and they will be blooming soon. My Dad hates the darn crab apples in the fall! He doesn't complain about much else though and is a great gardener so I guess I'll cut him some slack:)

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  14. What wonderful crabapples!!!! Somehow your 'studies' look better than my 'finished'!!! lol Now then, since I don't have any black tar laying around, I'll have to use black paint and an old grubby brush, but darn it, that's a great idea and I'm off to my studio to attack those guys that have been hanging around just too long!! Thanks for the motivation my friend!!

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  15. Lovely flowers! I tend to paint over mine. The old ones don't have too much texture and so it's not too bad. I did put a stack by the woodstove to burn and my son went through them and said, "Why are you burning this?!?!" and "But I like this one!" So - they either have to be disguised (!) like your black tar idea or else painted over :) It doesn't help when your family likes your old stuff better!

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  16. I understand the need for and appreciate the cathartic effect of getting rid of art pieces that hang around, but it still is a shock to see. That being said, I think I need to follow your lead and purge my stash of old dinosaurs.

    You're off to a new start with your stunning crab apples. Brings back sweet memories of crab apple trees in the northwest where I grew up. Good going, Julie! You're a woman of action!!

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  17. Oh Julie not black tar! Of course with my watercolors I build a big bonfire in the field and take them out and watch them burn into ashes - usually once a year I do this - very purifying indeed. Hope though you get feeling better and so you should because those Crab Apples are beautiful. Take care friend. Hugs

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  18. Spring, dear Julie is rebirth and from the last few postings you have a great start. Let us all move forward and get rid of the old problems. Makes us better artists. Here, here as I hoist a cup of tea.

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  19. The crab apple study looks like a success....it's a beautiful piece , Julie! As far as the black tar!! Unique....

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  20. I like the branch of flowers ... but I'm doubtful on the black tar!
      I also understand the problems of a professional painter who has to think about work in a different way from an amateur painter, as I am.
    It is correct for a artist like you, keep only the works when you are convinced, to maintain a high level of your Art. Mental health, then,is very priceless.

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  21. The painting is fabulous, but black tar..I understand why you did it,, but I am sure there are so many of your fans who cant afford to buy but would have loved to give them homes..come on, it is a Julie Ford Oliver painting, it is priceless!

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  22. Lovely crab-apple study, beautiful colors....it looks so delicate. I have just done the same thing with a huge pile of paintings big and small! Oh it felt sooo good...out of sight out of mind!!

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  23. You have had some VERY nice O'Keefe setting pieces..Black tar...yes..making the paintings more funky..worth more now
    xo

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  24. Very beautiful crab-apples blossom. I like the red colours on the golden background !!!

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Cheers,
Julie