This piece really bugged me because of so much tweaking to get the figures close to an accurate gesture. Rendering like this makes me hate art, but I manage to get sucked into it every time--remind any of you of anybody you know? I think the head of the lady in the middle is one of the best I have done. The effect of light is a big fat value chase combined with grey and saturation--a la Sorolla but I keep Potthast and Benson in mind as well--anything to hinder originality--O well. I often crap out in dark values and fail to lift the lights high enough while holding on to some color--by that I mean I spend so much time building toward the lights that I am sick and tired of the project and just what to "get it out" and fail to put the "kill" on the work--the thing that gives it snap--you real oil painters out there know what I mean--who loves ya?
After a year or so of raising my grandkids I am getting the system down and am building toward 8 hour painting days--something I haven't done since the 80's--I have already lived longer than Sorolla and Sargent and still haven't done squat--according to a recent health questionnaire I filled out--one which predicts one's longevity according to the answers to questions like--do you floss?--I am supposed to be dead at 68--two more years. Don't you love it? When asked--Hatfield are you going deef (deaf)? I love to reply--I have heard enough! I have also seen enough but don't look forward to blindness. Anyway painting is still a dear old friend and probably will be to the end--sorry.
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Juste un petit coucou et vous dire bravo !
ReplyDeleteGros bisous
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ReplyDeleteUnknown Craig here. That middle head looked spot, spot, spot on even in the earlier stage of the painting when last posted. Its very interesting to read your comments about it. Love to see it in person. She is "an angel unawares," communing, therefore rendered perfection.
ReplyDeleteDios te bendiga amigo...ala Sorolla.
So beautiful, Don.
ReplyDeleteIs the Don we know and love returning to us? This post you've given to us really inspires me. I'm on a Retreat this week at Unity Village, MO but I left a painting on my easel, just blocked in and your post has me wanting to get back to it. . . . even if I fail getting the little girl's gesture and the brilliant light she is in right. It was a wonderful vision and I'd like to put it on canvas.
ReplyDeleteMany thanks to you, master artist and good friend. Hope to hear again from you soon. Who knew the agony and ugliness of grief could bring forth such beauty. . . . Nora
Nora
Amazing work!!
ReplyDeleteLooks pretty snappy to me. The middle head must justify the rest of the struggle. Your near-8-hour painting days--on top of everything else--inspire and put a lot of us to shame. Finally, pay no attention to "health" questionaires. My first illustration teacher painted until he was 90. Whether that's good or bad news, I'll let you decide. A happy post.
ReplyDeleteNice to see Beth and Julia in such a great work of art.
ReplyDeleteOh Don, so nice to find you here talking a bit like you used to. I've missed that so much! This painting is amazing, the light, the color, the gestures. I just love looking at your work. 8-hour days? Blessings to you. The world will never have enough Don Hatfield's floating around it in... Paint on my good friend!
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