A Year of Making Art, Day 280: Giving Up One Painting to Gain Another

January 24, 2008 Day 280

I am writing my art blog on my new Imac for the first time today. I don't quite have all the files from my old computer transferred yet, but I have been making progress. It has been very frustrating and I was sure I'd made a huge mistake for a while there, but now I think it will all work out OK.

In my drawing this morning I used calligraphy pens in shades from yellow through red to purple, adding some final lines with a coffee-colored brown:

Drawing #286 14" x 11"

Then I worked on Canvas #32 again. From certain angles, I loved this painting the way it was, but that wasn't enough reason not to give it up for a new version. I felt I'd lost too much light, and drew thin lines across the canvas in unbleached titanium in order to get some of it back. After that, I used a pale blue wash to soften the lines and cover up some of the dark blue. A little more touch-up with sienna, and I ended up with this:

Canvas #32 step 1

Canvas #32 step 2

Canvas #32 step 3

Canvas #32 36" x 36" step 4

(Note: There is a gap between the dates I'm writing and posting in order to give me time to get ahead.)