A lot of my paintings are like found objects - pencil and paint handled almost subconsciously until things begin to emerge. Other come to me whole and then I plot and create them from the internal image. The Cicada painting is an example of the latter.Here is the page from the moleskine, where the idea came to me - back on August 1st. (The octopus, by the way, was a doodle - he may also have a future in some other work.)
And here also, is the line drawing that was done in prep for the painting. I do not usually outline shapes in my paintings, but this one is all about the shapes and their edges - the individual cells of the cicada's wings, etc. So this one is inked (in green) prior to watercolor. Even my signature, in this case...
4 comments:
hi steve, i have just spent a nice long time reading all your posts and looking at the sketching you are doing....i think you have improved amazingly! not that i have any right to pass judgment on it! and cicada blew me away, all that detail IN INK before a drop of paint? wow, i just don't work that way and probably never will....it's always so fascinating to learn the different ways artists get to where they want to get.. he is a little creepier in ink for some reason, perhaps the color renders him happy?...anyway,thanks for sharing all your knowledge, you inspire me to get out my moleskin and look in the mirror or something and just start drawing...doubtful but maybe :)
Hi Steve - been too long since I've been to visit and a mention in Linda's Coyote Moon blog reminded me of that. LOVE the cicada. Have been dreaming of painting but find I have nothing to say in paint - or at least it feels that way. But I sure enjoy you and Linda!
I love it! I cannot wait to see the cicada in color. I especially love how you've incorporated elements of some of your signature works (the buildings, for example).
What would we do without the moleskin? even your sketches have great class and sophistication. some day... when I grow up.....
Post a Comment