01 September 2008

onion family

6 1/2 X 12 oil on loose canvas

I thank my son for the title of the painting. I left room for cropping changes, planning for a long skinny piece, but I don't know any more. Any suggestions about alternative cropping/chopping are welcome.

How do you prevent the tears when you're chopping?

Johnny Cash, Cry Cry Cry
Lucinda Williams, World without Tears
Roy Orbison & k. d. lang, Crying
Richard Thompson, Tear Stained Letter

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

Your son picked a good name.

I think I would bring the right edge in to where it touched the onion and the left edged in a bit more as well.

Great color.

Dar Presto said...

Good call, Bill. I played a little in photoshop, and your suggestion works well. When I have a chance, I'll update it. Thanks.

Dar Presto said...

Did I say photoshop? That's funny. I don't have it! I used some pre-installed paint program. But my birthday is approaching...

Dianne Mize said...

Well, now. This is a sweet little piece and I love the purple onion especially. If you crop, don't lose that wonderful little shadow on the right.
There are two wonderful and FREE photo programs that you can download. One is from Google called Picasa and the other is WIMP. Google each of them or e-mail me (dianne.mize@gmail.com) and I'll send you the URL. WIMP, for my money, is every bit as good as Photoshop for the stuff we artists do, and there's an ongoing tutorial at Empty Easel as well as a wonderful on-line manual.

Dar Presto said...

You're right, Dianne. My son has convinced me that freeware is the way to go too. (He doesn't want me to dip into his allowance money.)
I appreciate your Empty Easel work, as well as the Composing blog.
Thanks!

theresamillerwatercolors said...

I love this painting, the purple of the big onion and the yellows and ocres on the small ones and the tabletop. SO BEAUTIFUL!!!

Dar Presto said...

Hi Theresa, thank you so much.
Your tomato series is glowing and delectable.

Theresa Rankin said...

Just stumbled on your work by way of Dianne Mize...Beautiful!!! I will be back!

Dar Presto said...

Hey Theresa R, thanks so much. I'm a lurking fan. I'll be sure to say Hi next time, if I can think of an intelligent way to gush over your work!

Jeff Mahorney said...

Damn this is nice. Those highlight pop out so well. Great varied edges on the onion. :)

Dar Presto said...

Thanks Jeff.
I'm glad you have an opportunity to paint again.

Gail Murray said...

What a lovely glowing piece. The purple onion does indeed look very maternal.

Dar Presto said...

Thanks Gail. This one is my current favorite. (don't tell the other paintings...)