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10x8 oil on panelWhat was I thinking?! A pineapple? I gave up swearing for Lent, so this was a challenge. This was an arduous exploration of color and texture. Actually, I like the process of searching for color. I don't mind getting it wrong a few times on the way. Since I'm too lazy to make charts, I should save my palette paper, because those are my charts. I read something once that advised not mixing more than 2 or 3 colors, ever. Bullshit. (25¢ for the swear jar.) Some really luscious colors, sophisticated colors, require a more involved recipe.
Since I knew I wasn't going to achieve a certain level of realism, I had the freedom to play a little. The tiles or scales of the pineapple are colorful calligraphy. This was the first time I felt comfortable painting on a gessoed panel. The smoothness was my ally for brush strokes and luminosity.
The background of the painting is a terracotta wall in the second room of my studio, the clean room. When I moved in, I painted, installed a picture rail, and glazed a stencil pattern to look time-worn. I built a bookcase, from recycled wainscoting, to fit in an unused doorway. Welcome to my studio.
20 comments:
Hi Dar, You did a wonderful job on this pineapple. I have checked them out at the store thinking I should paint one but haven't tried it yet. I bet it is a challenging subject, once again you amaze me.
Very nice subtle painting. I like it! Love the overall color scheme - use as many colors as you like.
Very impressive!!
What do you do with the "swear jar" money? :)
new painter ??
you 're already a good one!
We used to have a "swear jar" for our kids back in the day (okay, we had to contribute once in awhile ourselves!) Your pineapple is really wonderful!!!
Delightful post, Dar. (: I LOVE the stenciled pattern in your "clean" studio room! Usually hate those, but that one is brilliant.
The subtle earth tones of this pineapple and background are lovely. Wonderful painting.
Kim
Barb, thanks. You can do it! Think of it as a portrait of a very prickly person with spiky hair.
Hi Bill, thanks.
Jala, my son thinks he should get the money. If we pick a noble cause, it would only encourage me to swear more. :)
Bonjour Helene, thank you. Your women's day drawings are lovely.
Thank you Laurel. I wonder if I should pay the swear jar every time I get a hit on a post with a naughty word, you know, like a royalty fee?
Diane, I'm with you, I don't go for crafty stencils. This is one I ordered from a magazine clipping I saved for years until I had the right spot for it.
Kim, thank so much.
Dar- what a serene, well chosen palette for a pineapple portrait.
Your work shows a skill of much greater than one year.
I like the slices of humor you insert throughout your blog.
The allusion of Senor Wences in your lemon/pepper still life cracked me up.
You can tell I'm over 35!
Wonderful work.
Bonnie lass, thank you thank you.
I can't resist dark, rich colours Dar and you really made this one sing its song! Agree about the mixing, sometimes it definitely demands more than 3!
thanks so much Sheila!
While I'm into figures and faces, this is a very compelling portrait of a pineapple. Somewhat moody and deep in thought. And in need of a friend.
OK... I guess I got carried away. After all, this fella has probably turned into a fruit salad by now!
Nava, I really want to do figures. Maybe I'm gearing up for that.
Pineapple made friends with mango (not Bill's dog), in a delicious veggie stir fry with coconut milk and ginger. Yum.
Yoo hoo, oh Dar, did you lose your brushes?
Yeah, I lost 'em, Bill! But I found them today.
a stir fry with coconut milk and ginger?
That's all I can think of now. Care to share that recipe?
I'd say you gave that pineapple a lasting dignity before it went on the chopping block
Thank you Mary!
And I'll email the recipe shortly.
That's a beautiful and thoughtfully done painting. Congratulations you're now a member of "the Order of the Pineapple" Just joking, but painters aught to get something for tackling this subject.
Welcome, Steve. Thank you very much. Now I'm picturing a pineapple-shaped fez and a secret handshake.
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