Thursday 29 October 2015

Over the fields


Over the fields


Last week I mentioned I had started a commission which I'm not ready to share yet as I’m still working on it but instead a new piece which I have just finished. I like to work on many pieces at once, each at various stages of readiness.
   This way when a piece isn’t working I can leave it. Often pieces need room to breathe before I decide if they are finished.  I leave them for a day or two, sometimes longer. When I look again with fresh eyes I know what needs to be done to finish them.  Sometimes it’s a splash of a complementary colour, sometimes a tweak in the composition.  Collage is great in that paper can be layered over surfaces if things are not working, it’s an intuitive process and it’s very hard to explain why I know when something is wrong and when I know something is right. It can take a short time, it can sometimes take longer. Often the pieces which I have to battle with are my favourites.




 When the painting stops  grumbling at me it is ready to go on its way.
At the same time as I was working on the little wooden panels i posted last week  I was working on a similar larger canvas.
I used similar colours and fields of Thistle like flowers which blanketed the hillside during the Summer months.

I think this is knapweed, my thistly inspiration.




I liked all the textures and papers but spend ages deliberating on the size of the wee house on the hill. If you look at this shot you can see it has been painted out and in several times!



The finished house

After several days rest I returned to the little house and knew what size it should be....

It has stopped grumbling at me and can be seen at Skyeworks gallery in Portree on the Isle of Skye

14 comments:

  1. As a regular visitor to your blog I remember you feeling uncertain about the little houses in past works. It's funny how we have our little niggles about things. Your houses always fit in great with your compositions in the finished pieces. I love the quilted effect on the hills it is very effective.

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  2. I just love this piece Morag, and could spend ages looking at it, all those fields with their different colours and textures, it's perfect!

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  3. This piece reminds me of a quilt. What a fun piece. Blessings, Janet PPF

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  4. The patchwork fields look wonderful here and the little house looks just right.

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  5. Lovely textured piece Morag. This is really charming...a sort of idealized country view where the sun always shines.
    I don't think I ever let my art breathe. I go at it like a maniac and then I am finished when I can't stand to look at it any longer.

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  6. I love your quilt like piece. Beautiful colors.
    Happy PPF ♥

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  7. Love the thistles in your art. Sometimes I let my stuff breathe and then go back and fix it, like you do. Other times it seems finished when I lay down the brush. Your art is always so beautiful and I look forward to getting a peek at the commissioned piece.

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  8. Oh how I love to click and enlarge your work to study the beautiful details...even the little house has texture. Gorgeous piece...I am the same about art journaling... I leave it and return to pages...some get a wash over and others get completed..but yes the paint does dictate what happens...and when.

    Hugs Giggles

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  9. great piece!! I love it!!

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  10. I'm learning the art of letting a piece breathe. it is an art within itself as I prefer to finish what I start in one setting. I admire the quilt-like texture of the hill. Mostly I love the color and texture of the thistles in the foreground.

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  11. I know exactly what you mean about working on several paintings at the same time in various stages and about the grumbling. Well said. This turned out just right. You foun exactly what to do to make it perfect!

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  12. What beautiful textures and colors.

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  13. I love your color-sense. Love the texture and variety of sizes.

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  14. Morag this really is a beautiful piece, I know I say that for every piece you show, but I think this has something extra special, I could gaze for ages at the different textures and patterns of the fields with the beautiful flowers and patches of fresh green grass, I love that light green. I also love that little peaceful house in the distance on the top of the hill, such a peaceful and beautiful piece of art, a real favourite for sure!

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