Sunday 17 April 2011

Scratchings

Still searching for the image that says "abstract" while expresses "figure":

Acrylics on canvas, 30x40cm.

I feel that I'm getting closer.

The real step forward for me here is scratching through one colour to get to the colour below. That requires  thinking ahead which, of course, is my forte.

Aye, right!

9 comments:

Melanie said...

That's a high bar, you've set -- the union of opposites. Better you than me, my friend.

Naive question: Is this "in prgogress"? I particularly like the lower left quadrant, but I'm not sure it hangs together. Of course, it's frustrating to try to absorb these things monitor to monitor . . .


[Re: my absent blog icon. I've been lazy about all the doubling-up to sign in, and I haven't posted anything in a while, so I'm taking the shortest route to Comment.)

Sheila Vaughan said...

David, I am on a similar quest but more trying for an image that says "me" I think, lol. I am finding Emily Bell's book useful - "Drawing and Painting people: a fresh approach".

Lisa Le Quelenec said...

This is gorgeous! I love that scratching through, the colour vibrations and the way the red/orange (on my screen) hugs the blue. Great painting.

Melinda said...

Now isn't that a wondrous thing to do--scratch through to find other colors/layers?!

It's a bit like discovering a treasure, yes?

Keep going! You're striking gold.

daviddrawsandpaints said...

And it's a pleasure to receive your comment, Melanie (whatever your icon looks like - in fact it's beginning to grow on me :o)

This painting isn't "in progress" as such (being in fact "finished") but is part of an ongoing process as I search for what I prefer to call 'the crack between' abstract and figurative. I wouldn't wish this adventure necessarily on anyone else but somehow I am compelled to do it. A bit like Sheila I guess.

Most importantly I am painting again. Fingers crossed I don't fall down that crack.

daviddrawsandpaints said...

Sheila, I can see you are on the same road as your images explore more than the purely representational. EB's book looks interesting...the question is (which I will ponder while I'm away on holiday next week) whether I want to look through it at this time while I try to find my own 'authentic' semi-ab voice or benefit from the pointing finger and supportive suggestions of Ms Bell. Even if I ordered it now I wouldn't get it in time before I set sail.
What to do...I never know.

daviddrawsandpaints said...

Yes Lisa! thank you. It's a big step forward for me.

daviddrawsandpaints said...

I can't stop scratching now, Melinda.
I know you know how that feels :o)

Melanie said...

Thanks. The white bits are not showing well on my screen so I was confused.

bon voyage.