Since my last post I have been working on my ‘Buddleia and Crocosmia’ and my ‘Bluebeard’ paintings. As always, seem to be the case, I have made less progress than I would have hoped, but I have been experimenting with my colour palette, inspired by the work of Susan Lichtman. I first saw Lichtman’s atmospheric paintings of home life after listening to her being interviewed on the Savvy Painter podcast: https://savvypainter.com/love-literature-telling-stories-art-susan-lichtman/
Working from her home in Massachusetts, Lichtman beautifully paints the light, shadows and colours of domestic scenes. I love how she captures the contrast between the bright daylight and the darker interiors. She is a master of using a cool and warm colour palette to create vivid scenes of her family home and its inhabitants.
You can view more of Susan Lichtman’s paintings here
In my own paintings, I’ve realised I need to use a more complex range of colours and tones, in particular, more greys to create stronger contrasts with the brighter colours of the flowers. I’m also continuing to overwork areas and I need to keep areas of my paintings looser, less descriptive, and let the viewer use their imagination and visual memories.
At the moment, I am not happy with my ‘Buddleia and Crocosmia’ painting – I have overworked it and I need to make lots of changes. I don’t feel able to show you the whole painting – here’s a close-up of an area that I feel is getting somewhere…however, the composition and colours of the painting are not working as a harmonious whole.
I am happier with how my ‘Bluebeard’ painting is progressing and I am trying not to overwork areas – I particularly want to keep the background light and airy and let the light of the paper shine through.
Going forward with this series of flower paintings I need to use thinner washes of paint, only building up thicker, more opaque layers of paint in carefully selected areas. I want my brushwork and mark-making to add a sense of movement and aliveness to my paintings.
As the clocks go forward at the end of this week, the evenings will be getting lighter, the days warmer and longer, so hopefully my energy and working hours will increase so I can complete my current six flower paintings over the next couple of months.
Wishing you all a lovely Springtime!
50 Flowers for 50 Charities 