A Study in Reflection
‘A Study in Reflection’. Oil on panel, 10″ x 8″
I call it strained because I tried to paint with looseness and vigour, but kept getting tighter and tighter, with too hard edges everywhere and elegant brushwork proving elusive. I scraped back a couple of times in order to redo passages with simpler handling, but still it doesn’t work for me.
Admittedly the composition is also awkward. The addition of the tomato was an afterthought, as I felt the balance was wrong and a focal point was lacking. I like the reflection of the tomato in the pot, but I don’t think the positioning and size of the fruit itself has helped the overall composition at all. Up until the last 5 minutes of painting, I had also kept the horizon line plain and straight across. Things continued to feel off balance, so I folded the cloth around the pot and very quickly painted that in – using it as an excuse to chase the simple, dynamic brushwork that I had hoped to employ throughout the rest of the painting. Hmmm, another questionable decision in hindsight.
Of course, in greatly admiring such masters of this genre and painting style as William Nicholson and (to a lesser extent) Samuel John Peploe, I am always going to feel dissatisfied with my efforts. Nicholson is one of my favourite artists (in fact, he may even be my very favourite). Whether painting loosely, or with a greater degree of finish, the sophistication and apparent effortlessness of his brushwork is truly beautiful. His compositions are stylish, but understated, and he can create calm or tension at will, but never with any sense of jarring.
In ‘The Coffee Pot’ by Peploe, the brush work has been deconstructed even further to that of Nicholson. He has worked wet into wet with immediacy, but also the accuracy that comes with a strong foundation of thorough drawing and skilled pictorial design. Onwards and upwards….
Sir William Nicholson (1872‑1949) ‘Silver’
Sir William Nicholson (1872‑1949) ‘The Lustre Bowl”
Samuel John Peploe, R.S.A. (1871-1935) ‘The Coffee Pot’
Well. There already WAS a William Nicholson.
You are Helen Davison Bradley, and I LOVE your painting as it is. My compliments to the chef. 🙂
Thank you for leaving a comment – and a nice one at that! Unfortunately this painting continued to bug me and I ended up painting over it. I’m so cautious in other areas of life, but with art I can make very quick decisions and often destroy something that isn’t working. I can’t pretend that I don’t sometimes have regrets.
I just adore that painting, that little coffee pot had such conviction. I think it must have been treasured by someone as it looked most determined to show itself off in your painting. Beautifully expressed. I just went to pick it up and hold it, it feels very alive.
To me the tomato was a delightful quirky addition which added so much to the life of the picture and the story. The white fabric also a necessary element of softness.
I could look at that picture for a long time.
Don’t be so quick to judge your work, sometimes you can create an expression which you can release for others to connect with. You don’t have to hold so tight, let things be sometimes and you will find resolution, acceptance or release
Thank you very much for your comments Nicky. Unfortunately I painted over this one in a moment of despondency. Sometimes the self critical, artistic temperament can be quite destructive! Still, there is always the opportunity to revisit this subject, and your very kind feedback might provide just the motivation I need to have another go.