Friday, August 15, 2008

"Hot & Spicy" --- SOLD



I had a few people over last night and ended up not having the energy to post, so I'll post this now and another this evening.

This turned into an exercise in sparity. Is that a word? Spareness? It's really amazing how few brush strokes you can put together to make a clove of garlic. It's also amazing how easy it is to screw up garlic. This was my third attempt. Sometimes I feel sheepish about how quickly I paint and then I remember the countless hours spent getting it wrong over and over and over ...

5 comments:

Frank Gardner said...

Hi Carol. Beautiful painting. Looks like the makings for a good salsa.
Just had to comment about your feeling sheepish over how quickly you paint.
People often ask, "How long did it take to paint that?" like that should determine the quality or price.
What lots of people don't realize is that there is a ton of time spent learning and making clunkers.
I think painting fast is just proof of your outstanding skill.
Enjoy your trip to Germany.

Christine Mercer-Vernon said...

hi carol, i agree with frank, the fact that you paint fast only proves you have a keen eye for value and color and hands that can translate what you see as fast as you interpret it. i also like that you make a note to point out your attempts that don't make the cut, it shows that art is a trial and error process as well, even the great one's don't always hit it out of the ballpark the first time.
LOVE the garlic in this painting!!

FCP said...

Carol,
I read an article once that addressed the question of "how long did it take you to paint that?" It basically said if artists' prices were gaged by painting time required, then those painted the fastest with least effort should cost the most. The argument was that the ones that seem to "fall off the easel" are proof of the many miles of canvas you have covered, and the work it took to get there. Of course no one is going to do that, but it should help assuage the sheepish feelings. The garlic looks great, by the way!
Faye

Mary Sheehan Winn said...

It's true. You can't charge by the amount of time. Sometimes it's magical, sometimes it's a struggle.
Just recently, at a gathering of artist 'gal pals', one who is painting for a gallery which holds many shows yearly, said that she overworks her paintings in the mistaken belief that she owes the buyer more time for the prices she asks.

Marian Fortunati said...

I love the loose lovely style you use. I don't CARE how long you took to paint it. I'd LOVE to be able to have some of the pizazz and sizzle of your brushwork!!