Reworked and...Getta-Load of This!

Original

 

Inky Water  

(Reworked)

12x12  

sold

The above is a 12x12 acrylic painting I did at Spruce River last summer. The first image shows it's original state. Time passed and I realized there were aspects of it that bothered me; in particular the dark space above the grass that seemed too uniform. I also began to feel like it was a little ho-hum in the colour department. A few weeks ago I decided to rework it; to see if I could get it to a place that I would feel more satisfied. Now that I see the images together I realize just how much I actually changed the original, but I think I am happier with it now. I definitely prefer the grass to disappear off the canvas at the top left as opposed to the original grass which seemed so straight across. I am also happier with the movement in the distant grass, whereas before it was all going upwards. And I like that the island grass is more distinct now from the distant grass. As well, I think the reflection seems to make more sense. I'd love to hear any comments and opinions... anyone? Hopefully no one thinks I've ruined it... don't tell me if you do.  :o)

A few weeks ago I had a couple of my best girlfriends over on a Friday night when my husband was out of town. We ate and drank wine and talked and giggled. I told them about this book (Landmarks by Terry Fenton) I had read on a famous Canadian landscape painter who happened to be from Saskatchewan and was a stay-at-home mom in the 50's and 60's. When the last of her three girls went to school full days, Dorothy Knowles bought herself a van and would go out into the country and paint. I told my friends that I couldn't believe the awesomeness of this idea. If I had my way, next year when Tommy is in school full time, this is what I would do.... roam the city and countryside in my studio on wheels... painting in my van down by the river! My friends were all over this idea for me- these girls really are so encouraging and supportive. Well, Shauna and Nancy, if you are reading... getta-load of this.... L'il Van Go.  I couldn't believe my eyes when I came across this yesterday. Oh the possibilities! How fun would that be... a studio in a van with a sunroof and all! I am in daydream heaven right now. However, there are a couple of minor glitches with this as a year-round idea in the prairies (what with the odd minus 40 degree Fahrenheit winter days, and in my case, a lack of a garage... read: frozen paint)... but it definitely has potential for 6 months of the year. Dorothy Knowles would go out and paint en plein air, but then she would spend hours in her studio working on massive canvases (one of the largest I am aware of is 40x90). She did it... she was a stay-at-home-mom... that means other stay-at-home-moms can do it, too! Maybe not to the same staggering degree of success that she has found, but that's okay... I'd be happy with a smidgen of success (and a part-time job).

Who knows, maybe someday I will be blogging about my upcoming show called "Nicki Ault: The Mini Van Go Series".