Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Value Study SOLD and Painting Stats


'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)


28 comments:

  1. Glad to hear I'm not the only one who struggles. This value study is gorgeous just as it is!

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  2. I 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.

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  3. My 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!

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  4. Crystal, 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 ; )

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  5. I'd love to see one of the acrylic "fails" I bet it isn't as bad as you think. acrylic paint is my homeboy.

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  6. Beautiful piece Crystal! Acrylics are so forgiving. Just keep plugging away.

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  7. Oh 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.

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  8. Great 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!

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  9. She shines with success! You've done a beautiful job with this value study and she doesn't look "forced" at all. Bravo, Crystal!

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  10. It'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:)

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  11. Funny post, mostly because I can relate! Hang in there and can't wait to see what you come up with!

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  12. Thats 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.

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  13. Thats 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?

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  14. Thats a lovely value study! You have captured the softness of her skin perfectly

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  15. GREAT 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.

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  16. Your portraits are the top, I could need some lessons from you!

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  17. Crystal--Thanks for viewing my site and your comment. I loved your comment when you said....too hideous to post. I know the feeling.

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  18. Great 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.

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  19. by your frustration comments I can tell you are an artist.

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  20. keep with it crystal ..b+w looks an excellent painting

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  21. I chuckled all the way through this post! When you do publish your book, let me know because I really want to read it!
    And the painting is stunning! As they ALWAYS are :0D

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  22. Congratulations on persevering! Your number four is Awesome!

    I 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!

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  23. 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!

    One 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.

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  24. Wonderful piece of work! Great values!!

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  25. Welcome 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!

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Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a comment they really do mean so much to me! Because not all bloggers have their email enabled so I can reply directly through email I will try to reply here in the comments. If I don't please forgive me, life must have been hectic that day! :)) Huzzah!!

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