Please?
15 x 20 watercolor
Finished! And I am really pretty happy with it. I had to change some things at the last minute that I thought would work, but really just weren't. Which then basically took the whole concept of the painting and threw it out the window. That concept being, my little boy getting caught eating my still life.
But I like the new idea here too, that he's pouting because I won't let him eat one of those apples yet.
But I like the new idea here too, that he's pouting because I won't let him eat one of those apples yet.
Ah well, such is life as an artist. Must be able to adapt to change.
But before I changed it, I showed the painting to my husband, who I can always depend on for a loving, honest opinion, and asked what he thought of one apple that I had painted with a bite taken out of it. This is how it went:
Me: "So. . . what do you think? What does it look like?" *points to the apple with what's supposed to look like a bite, but really looks like some sort of apple leprosy*
Him: *Silence*
Me: *Nervous twisting of hands*
Him: *looks at wife with a loving smile while internally debating the pros and cons of being honest with said wife*
Me: *wipes sweat off forehead* *chews fingernails down to stubs*
Him: *smiles gently and wraps arms around wife* "I know what it's supposed to look like."
Me: *sigh* "Yeah, you're right. It sucks." *pulls out the scrubber and erases the offending bite/leprosy mark*
Him: *looks at wife warily, wondering just how far he put his foot in his mouth*
Me: *looks at husband and thanks God that he's hers* "Love you."
Him: *BIG sigh of relief* "You too."
We artists and creative types need cheerleaders, we need the people we love to tell us that we're amazing, talented, and perfect in every way (what? You mean that's just me that needs that? Hmph.), but we also need to have someone who can tell us what isn't quite working.
I knew that bite mark wasn't working, but I was trying to hold onto it because of my Grand Artistic Idea, thus sacrificing the strength of the painting. So, I'm very glad my husband was there, in love and kindness, to tell me that it sort of, kind of, okay, really wasn't working. Gosh, I love that man.
So, what about you? Do you have someone you can ask who will be honest with you in a way that won't crush your sensitive artist's soul? And when's the last time you told them how grateful you were for them?
Crystal,
ReplyDeleteI like it without the bite (or leprosy-lol). There's a wonderful look of longing in his face. You can almost feel him smacking his lips in anticipation. Great expression.
I showed my husband my recent Christmas card idea to which he asked, "What is that string holding the star above the polar bear's head?"
I replied: It's a HAT!
I've learned not to ask.
My wife, but she is a little too nice. c
ReplyDeleteWonderful post, Crystal. The painting is adorable. My husband is my biggest fan. Everywhere he goes he turns the conversation to art somehow and mentions that I am an "artist," a title I am sometimes not sure I deserve. Then comes my 10 y.o. grandson Jacob who comes into the studio to see what I'm doing and always notices when something new is on the easel. His critique is most appreciated. My daughter (his mother) on the other hand can always be counted on to point out what she feels is "wrong" with the work, so when she has not comment I know I've done a good job. LOL
ReplyDeleteThen there is you and several other watercolorists here in blogland that always encourage me and give me hope that one day, with much practice and patience I will be "almost" as good as you are.
It's absolutely beautiful as is. The look on his little face is so precious. I love it!
ReplyDeleteNeither my husband or my daughter with whom I'm sharing a household have any artistic genes. They both say "that's nice" for everything. My son-in-law has more appreciation of what goes into a painting, so he will give me his true analysis of a painting.
it's perfect!!! just amazing, as always. your skills are incredible! and i just love the subject matter. great idea. i think the concept comes through, even without the bite!
ReplyDeletehimself, being an artist as well, can be a bit of a pain in the ass at times when i think i'm right...which is most of the time...but i value his opinion revel in his presence. great post and painting!
What a fantastic job!
ReplyDeleteMy wife and my daughters are my first fans!
Ciao!!
Francesco
Crystal the painting turned out beautifully.Congrats.
ReplyDeleteMy biggest critic would be my husband and then my sister.They do appreciate my good work and are worst critics at times, but they are the ones who encouraged me to take up art rather seriously and I am so thankful to them as I found my long lost passion back.
Love the painting, Crystal, and the story is fabulous!! A pleasure to read.
ReplyDeleteThis is a beautiful painting (due in part to the adorable subject) and I loved your post!
ReplyDeleteSheryl
First off, I LOVE this painting! You got your son's expression exactly right! The apples look delicious - I do like the idea of a bite being taken but if it looked leprous than you probably got the right response from your husband...
ReplyDeleteMy best critic, besides myself, is an artist friend, Lyndia. We can be very honest with each other but are never brutal. Generally we KNOW what is wrong but when we voice it to the other, or not, it comes out anyhow and then we'll say, "see, you KNEW what was wrong and what had to be done, didn't you!" We also see things in each other's work that we had not consciously seen ourselves.
The painting is lovely! And so is the story. I must say I am also lucky in this regard. My wife is always honest in her opinion about my work. If a painting turns out too bad she just says that it doesn't quite look as if I have painted it. She is a marketing executive and so knows how to sugar coat words like "crap"! :-)
ReplyDeleteThe perfect pout! It's great ;)) Okay - your post made me laugh. It could have been a scene from our place. In fact, a lesser version happened just a few minutes ago...lol And Vinayak's comment was great. Excellent job Crystal! And I think if you wanted to paint diseased fruit it would still come off beautifully ; )
ReplyDeleteCrystal, it's absolutely perfect!!!! I love his face with his expression is priceless. The apples are flawless, no signs of leprosy:) I really love this painting, the warm colors are terrific. Gorgeous!!!!
ReplyDeletehow sweet. My husband would have said "I don't like it". He either likes what I do or not, no in between with that guy.
ReplyDeleteI also use my husband as my cheerleader. Whenever anything great, big, wonderful happens, he always says: "Just remember us little people." Thank God for husbands!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading your post as usual, Crystal. Too funny.! You captured your son's perfect expression looking at those apples! What an adorable child. This painting is absolutely beautiful.
ReplyDeleteWell I love your little guy and I LOVE your painting. If I had to choose who'd give me the best viewpoint it would be my son. He has a creative streak but in a non participative way. He has a good eye! My hubby on the other hand will always say 'that's nice'.... not to bruise my sensitive ego too much, but if it's not to his liking I get 'Na.. not your best' full stop!
ReplyDeleteOutstanding!
ReplyDeleteWell done your critic :)
Hubby is mine too, but he's more forthright.. he will even say things like, why didn't you put a shadow there? And he's usually right!
Crystal, your watercolour work just oozes with talent. Those apples are so perfect, I wonder if you polished them before you painted them! As for your son, you got the perfect 'longing for' look in his eye. Now this is where your plan went wrong. If he had taken a bite out of your subject matter, he would have a more sheepish or embarassed look on his face, a look that says "Oh no, I took that bite and you KNOW I did!" But once you and hubby saw what was wrong, you adapted to how your painting was going, and that is the compromise that all of us artists have to go along with in most of our paintings. Even in life, the best laid plans... have to be adapted to!
ReplyDeleteI've said this before, but my best critic is my wife. She will come along and look, then silence (with me starting to cower), then "this little bit should be like..." and she is always right! She is the one who remembers everything to take when we go away, and I forget to take everything!
PS, I just cracked up at Vinayak's last sentence!
crystal he's expression is priceless ... wonderful finish and decision ... lots of cc from all the family here.
ReplyDeletelove that perfect pout, polished apples, those lights and shadows and of course the story :) What would we do without our honest gentle husbands, eh?
ReplyDeleteYou could have painted a worm in one of those apples and I wouldn't complain becasue those eyes expression fill the whole painting and turns it to life.
ReplyDeleteThat said, poor husband! they're never in an easy position, right? I bet your sweat wasn't the only one during that conversation lol
That is some painting.. I am blown.. How can you do this. I just do not have words. How can ou create so rich colors and such a great mood. This is just out of this world.
ReplyDeleteBravo, Crystal. Love the story too.
ReplyDelete"Apple Leprosy" had me laughing. Good work again, the colors are vivid, warm and full of life. Great job.
ReplyDeleteI love your wonderful children art. You have a special gift for it.
ReplyDeleteWonderful painting Crystal it brought a smile to my face:) Yes always good to have someone to ask and I always ask family for their opinion. My girlfriend is particularly ruthless "well you did ask..." she will say and all is forgiven;-D Also shes right a lot of the time, but we will keep that a secret...
ReplyDelete