Red/Black #1 Geometric

                                                                   How it began

I have been working on an abstract painting. Abstract is not something you do because you can't draw, but a very intentional, mathematical and also intuitive thing. Here is my process as far as it has gone. There is still work to do, but I want to talk to my teacher, Sandra Paynter Washburn, first to get some direction. This is, after all, my first attempt.
                                                                   First steps
I poured and spread Crimson, burnt orange, gold and yellow on the paper. On a whim that I have since regretted I glued some broken eggshells (washed and dried) on a light spot. Then, with blue chalk, I drew some lines and shapes. An egg shape seemed logical, given the shells.

                                                                      Next steps



So much warm color seemed to call for something cool, so I did the little shapes in blue-grey. I also added some to the shells. I darkened around some shapes to bring them out. Not a good job of it as it turns out.


I wanted to keep looking at it in different ways so I flipped it before I photographed after adding a little orange . Looking a little patchy.

                                                                 Big Change Here


Since I was supposedly following an organizing principle that Sandra had shown us in class, I reread the description and looked at some of her paintings, then went to the visual black, a mixture of many dark colors. The upper right corner is good but the whole is far too "patchy" for comfort. Back to the painting table. I did tone down the blues. They look like old fabric to me.

                                                             Making a little progress



Taking out some yellow and toning down the blue helped but not enough. Dark crimson and black to the rescue.



Here it is as it stands rests now.  There is still much to do, I think, but since I am not sure how to go about finishing it I will wait until class. After all, why take a class if you  can do it all by yourself? Questions include what to do with the eggshells in the upper right? How to add some interest to the black (I have some ideas)? Others things I haven't even considered but Sandy will know.

I plan a series which will include this and go on to: R/B #2  Organic; R/B #3  Strata; and R/B #4 Grid. Do you do things in a series? I guess that would apply to every craft and possible every hobby! Thanks for taking a look. Let me know what you think.

Comments

Unknown said…
Caroline, I think it is really good. I liked the lighter blue in it but like it the way you have it placed last (with the "egg" sideways). I'm sure Sandy will have good things to say and some solutions to your questions, but I think your instincts are good. Can't wait to see 2,3 and 4. Joanna
Chrissy said…
The great thing about your paintings is that you persevere, adding layers and really putting your personality into them.
The changes to No 1 are interesting, rich and surprising. The whole atmosphere has altered.
Could you bring back some gold to texture the black areas?

I like series too. This is reflected in my reading, for instance. I find a book I like and admire and then I have to read everything. I'm just starting to re-read everything by Virginia Woolf.

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