Personal Art Blog

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

Saturday, November 19, 2016

Bouquet of Yellow


Bouquet of Yellow
6x8in oil on canvas panel $140.
Purchase HERE

Artist Note.

It was fun to get back to the 
fracturing technique in oils.
I find that although I use the 
same technique in other mediums,
only the acrylic comes 
close to the same effect as oils.

Another from my avian show.



Waiting  13 x10"
acrylic SOLD

Quite a fun one to paint
pushing into the abstract.
I used the fracturing 
technique a lot
It doesn't really show,  
but first I wrote 
all over the white surface 
with my thoughts 
about the avian world 
and then painted over them.
Small areas of it
appear here and there.



34 comments:

  1. Hello Julie,
    I love both paintings but that is not new as
    I love almost all what comes out of your brushes...
    This yellow flowers are so beautiful and I am - again -
    surprised about/of the interaction of yellow and purple.

    The nest with the eggs is wonderful as well. And I`m
    astonished that you wrote about the white surface before
    painting. I like to do that in my journal but that YOU do
    that under your wonderful paintings is - ... can't find the right word for that :)
    Have a nice Sunday
    Beate

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    1. Thank you so much, Beo, for the wonderful comment. I appreciate it. Yellow/ purple - blue/ orange - a color harmony that I like with the yellow dominate.
      I am in awe that you made a pop-up book . How did you figure it out? Could not have been easy. The end result looked wonderful. I have to ask if you are from Germany. It doesnt say where you are from on your blog...I looked!

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    2. Yes Julie, you are quite right that I am from Germany. And to this pop-ups: I worked with the book from Paul Jackson "THE POP-UP-BOOK". That's where I got/learned the techniques. It's explained very good there but still not easy to do. I needed lots of dry exercises. But I love to this.
      I'm happy you like it.

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  2. The 'Yellow' is really beautiful. Do you plan the background or does it just happen spontaneously?

    'Waiting' I really enjoy, although I can never imagine myself painting like that. I could mimic such work (poorly) but I would
    never be able to paint anything original. When I say that I don't get 'abstract,' people assume that I don't like it. Not true - I just don't get the thought process that goes before the painting. Does that make sense? :)

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    1. Thanks, John, I am influenced by the background of the still life itself, but if it is propped in amongst the crowded area around my work area then I make deliberate color harmony decisions in an abstract way making sure one color is dominate (more of)
      Thought process hmmm...to me, abstract means eliminating most of the details and leaving just enough to show what it is. The nest has far fewer twigs than the actual nest. I added the shapes of two leaves but the background was a process of fracturing the colors on and off until my mind saw shapes and values I liked. That is the part you probably would want to see a boat!

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    2. Thanks for that Julie. Unfair of me to ask you about your thought process. I just NEED to understand how things work in order that I can modify how I paint.

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  3. I can see why the nest sold! Love that there is writing underneath. An added bonus now for the new owner:)

    Libby

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    1. Good to hear from you Libby.
      I have mixed feeling about sales in reference to the qualitly of the painting. Taste is so subjective. I was pleased this nest went to a local collector who likes funky as well as non-representational works. I have found price plays a part also. I live in a rather financially poor community so I am even more grateful if I have sales locally.
      I have been looking for a new post from you. Missing your posts.

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  4. Thanks for visiting and commenting. I do like the birds nest painting.

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    1. Thank you Barbara. I enjoyed seeing the colorful huts at the seaside. During my years in England I cannot remember such wonderful colors. Great eye with the camera

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  5. Julie, these are just beautiful! Those yellow flowers against the complimentary background just sing! I love that you wrote on your surface before starting your aviary painting! I would think it promoted its spirit. I'll have to try it sometime!

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    1. It definitely promotes its spirit for me, adding a certain dimension in my heart while I paint. Most have them have some words underneath somewhere... hidden...a personal connection.
      Your new calendar is fabulous. What a treat to have one of your paintings each month.

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  6. Wonderful yellows that really pop from the purple background , such a beautiful and captivating bouquet.

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    1. Thanks, Jane. Your new still life has awesome flowers and colors too. The bowl of oranges are so real they look ready to roll off the table. Wonderful!

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  7. Simply luscious Julie! Happy colors for a dull-color time of year. Bravo!

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    1. Thanks Shelley. I am envious of the wonderful Scarlet color the cardinal has in your lovely new painting. (Our Cardinal has the red under his wings.)

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  8. Just as others have said, the yellow-purple harmony really sings, and the painting could not be more captivating. Like John Simlett, I too find the thought process behind abstraction of an image intriguing and somewhat mysterious. It's one of many reasons I enjoy -- and study -- your work. Of course, your continued curiosity and non-stop explorations inspire me enormously. And your lastest technique of underwriting puts a whole new twist on underpainting; again, so creative!

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    Replies
    1. Good comment, Helene, thank you. For me, abstraction is far simpler than realism. In fact nothing is as hard for me as making something look photo realistic in a painting. That is why I am an impressionist.it is much easier to give the impression of something.
      I started off as an illustrator with a very realistic viewpoint and it changed as time has gone on and I cannot go back.
      I value the work of Andrew Wyeth who was a master of using the abstract with realism.
      Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

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  9. I love your bouquet of yellow flowers! Your fracturing technique is amazing Julie! Nobody does it like you!! Congratulations on the sale of "waiting"... !!!!!

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    1. Thanks, Hilda. Happy you like it. I was really thrilled to see your beautiful still life. I loved seeing the white of the jug against the rich dark background....wow! Did you set it up in the same area where you put your models when you do their portraits?

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  10. Beautiful compositions, beautifully handled!

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    1. You are great - thanks Bruce.
      Wonderful to see your appreciation of the plein air groups on your blog. You are one beautiful woman/artist!

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  11. I'll bet getting back to your fracturing technique was a great feeling. Like coming home from being away on vacation! I am really mesmerized by both paintings, particularly the avian one. It's very powerful in part because of the vivid relationships between the neutral colors. What a powerful impact. I also like the paint application - some with a big-sized brush (?) and another section where the paint seems to dance a bit within the nest! The painting's abstract lean is tasteful and dynamic!

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    1. It is fun to get back to communicating with other artists and seeing their work. I was really immersed into the show, especially near the end, and it was pretty stressful as I still was teaching. I do feel like I am on vacation now by comparison. The flowers were a joy to paint.
      The nest - I worked with a one inch flat acrylic brush plus knife and fracturing tool. Many layers from a limited palette of colors put down and partially removed. Satisfying when it turns out. You should see the pile that didn't make it!

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  12. the subtle writing add a lot of interest and random texture to it :)

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  13. Thanks, Jennifer, there is texture on there but didn't think anayone could spot it on the screen.
    I enjoyed reading your post and seeing the toys you gave your dog for his...lol... barkday!! Clever!

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  14. Julie both paintings are so superb. Have a soft spot for your bird nests. Love Sunny Lunchtime. Does have the appearance of Natick. Do you like the alcohol inks as well as watercolor on yupo? I have never tried them. When they dry are they permanent? So glad to see your work friend. Hope you have a super Thanksgiving. Hugs!

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    1. It makes me happy to know you have a soft spot for my bird nests, Debbie. Thanks. To answer your question...
      I think the inks work in such a different way on Yupo that I cannot compare them to watercolor. I like them for different reasons. They are not permanent because you can move them with alcohol, but they dry so darned fast and they are hard to layer. Watercolor requires patience with slow drying but many layers can be added. The same image would have entirely different results with each of them. I am working on a combination of using both. Interesting.
      Hope your Thanksgiving is a true BLESSING. Hugs!

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  15. Love them both but the ideal writing your thoughts is so wonderful and then painting over them. They all become the painting! Your creativity amazes me!

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    1. Hi Sharon, thanks, and your creativity amazes me. What a great lesson on self discipline your new post is. I have it for painting but alas...not for exercising. Yoga and a daily walk is it for me.

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  16. Oh, that burst of yellow just sings with the lovely touches of purple around it!!! This is just lovely!!! The avian piece has such wonderful textures and shapes. I love searching and finding the white shapes of the birds in the background...so intriguing!

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    1. Hi Joan, yellow and purple work better for me than yellow and green on their own. Happy you like the nest. I loved painting it.

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  17. Love both the works Julie, but the yellow bouquet stole my heart, your uniqueness is unbeatable!

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  18. I love the buttery yellow in the bouquet, it is a gorgeous painting!!The colors sing happy!!
    I adore the textures you achieved through layering the nest painting and seeing the script peak through the white is beautiful.The gestural lines in the nest are so well done!!

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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