'Shiver' value study 7" x 9" gouache SOLD
photo courtesy of Jenny Martinez Photography
my homage to Maggie Stiefvater's novel 'Shiver' one of my favorites :)
Number of acrylic paintings attempted within the last week: 5
Painting attempt number 1: marginally successful (still a work in progress)
Painting attempt numbers 2-4: epic fail (in other words, too hideous to post)
Painting attempt number 5: successful (early work in progress, too early too post, not sure you'd see anything in it that resembles art yet)
Artist state of mind after 5 acrylic attempts at artistic genius (or at least something that's pretty. Shallow much? Nah. Not me. ;) : borderline terminally frustrated
Number of possible solutions to this problem: four 3 (stated as follows)
1. Quit Not an option
2. Try again. Think of a different strategy. Baby steps. No rushing allowed
3. Start a new watercolor painting with GORGEOUS-knock-your-socks-off-sunlight
4. Join in on the Daily Paintworks Challenge fun and start yet another painting for their value study challenge.
Solutions attempted: numbers 2-4
Artist state of mind after implemented solutions: tentatively optimistic
Until next week my friends! Huzzah!
What I'm listening to: October by Broken Bells (because it has rained for almost a solid week (week?! I mean month. . . or two) here in Utah which may or may not have contributed to my artistic state of mind in the beginning of these stats)
Glad to hear I'm not the only one who struggles. This value study is gorgeous just as it is!
ReplyDeleteI think you're too hard on yourself. From what I'm seeing, your are a very gifted artist. I think a solid week of rain may be influencing your perspective. Enjoy the sunshine.
ReplyDeleteMy dear Crystal, your value study "shiver" is wonderful. I would really love to see all your acrylics so you can just email them to me and I won't show anyone else, I promise. I bet they are not as bad as you seem to think they are. You can trust me!
ReplyDeleteCrystal, it's beautiful! And when we struggle it's because we're figuring out a new solution to a problem - it's making another climb! That's what people always tell me anyhow..lol The softness of the skin and the sparkle and intensity in the eyes is perfect! I wish you a day of sunshine ; )
ReplyDeleteI'd love to see one of the acrylic "fails" I bet it isn't as bad as you think. acrylic paint is my homeboy.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful piece Crystal! Acrylics are so forgiving. Just keep plugging away.
ReplyDeleteOh Crystal, I can't even believe you have failures, your work is so amazingly beautiful! Always! I just love this value study, she is so beautiful, love her eyelashes.
ReplyDeleteGreat value study Crystal, that said even if you think you've ruined 3 out of 5 I'd say that having done 5 paintings in a week and also taking on a daily challenge like that there's no way I can read it as failures at all, you're more that winning!
ReplyDeleteShe shines with success! You've done a beautiful job with this value study and she doesn't look "forced" at all. Bravo, Crystal!
ReplyDeleteIt's beautiful, Crystal!!! So glad you kept on working through it! Maybe the sun will start shining soon and everything will look a little brighter:)
ReplyDeleteFunny post, mostly because I can relate! Hang in there and can't wait to see what you come up with!
ReplyDeleteThats so beautiful! I could use your help with the little portraits I'm trying to finish! I know what you mean about the rain. Ugh.
ReplyDeleteStunning!
ReplyDeleteThats a gorgeous study! I have this quote from Robert Brault I like about paintings that don't go quite as planned : "There is in every artist's studio a scrap heap of discarded works in which the artist's brush prevailed against his imagination." :) nice way to look at it, no?
ReplyDeleteThats a lovely value study! You have captured the softness of her skin perfectly
ReplyDeleteGREAT post and study!! i love the format you broke your experience down into...like reading those mags with quick info boxes!! very cool and very interesting. it gives one a step by step process on how to overcome what is perceived as a struggle.
ReplyDeleteYour portraits are the top, I could need some lessons from you!
ReplyDeleteCrystal--Thanks for viewing my site and your comment. I loved your comment when you said....too hideous to post. I know the feeling.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful portrait Crystal!
ReplyDeleteGreat value painting and I loved reading about your whole self-critique. Your persistence is motivating. Don't be too hard on yourself however. Artists are often their own worst critic.
ReplyDeleteby your frustration comments I can tell you are an artist.
ReplyDeletekeep with it crystal ..b+w looks an excellent painting
ReplyDeleteDulce muy dulce!
ReplyDeleteI chuckled all the way through this post! When you do publish your book, let me know because I really want to read it!
ReplyDeleteAnd the painting is stunning! As they ALWAYS are :0D
Congratulations on persevering! Your number four is Awesome!
ReplyDeleteI think we all have those paintings that we think of as failures. I TRY to tell myself that it was learning experience and maybe I learned not to do that again.
And the "Synchronize" painting is beautiful, too. You really captured the movement in the horse. Amazing!
Enjoyed reading your thought process on your recent paintings. Like you, I like to dissect both my painting and my painting process to see what's working and what isn't. I get quite a few comments left telling me that I "shouldn't be so hard on myself". But I don't consider that I'm being hard... just observant. And isn't observation one of the artist's most powerful weapons? I think so!
ReplyDeleteOne thing I have started doing... shifting focus from the final result to the fact that 1) I started a painting, and 2) I finished a painting. Both reasons to celebrate! And if I'm lucky I learned something new along the way.
Wonderful piece of work! Great values!!
ReplyDeleteWelcome to my world! ( Ha Ha) But, seriously, have you got the winning combination: skill, determination, and passion. But most of all, I see you, the artist, in your pieces. Your work is absolutely awesome!
ReplyDelete