My blog is over two years old now and I find that since I have been so involved in daily posting, I have not been painting many larger pieces. By larger, I mean larger that 6x8" which is pretty small. I have good intentions, but it has not been happening. So I am TRYING to force myself to paint larger. I hope you like this one. I really struggled to get the correct greens on the avocado, but finally I think I was successful.
SOLD
12 comments:
Wow - this avocado looks fantastic and I like the way you handled the background. The light on the seed and the avocado half is beautifully painted.
Your radish painting from your last post is also beautiful!
I think you should paint on whatever size you want. If at sometime you feel you want to paint larger, then go for it. :-)
Mornin' Carol,
Lovely avocado. Ate one for my snack last night with original wheat thins, yum! I understand what you are saying about the size of your paintings. Being the Limited Space Art Studio, myself, I paint small paintings for people with limited space and my folding wooden tables also for limited space. Well, I've sold one table; have a commission to paint two more; but the paintings I've sold have also been commissions of my little ones only larger (8 x 10 and 9 x 12). I have so many little paintings in my cabinet and on my studio wall. I end up giving everything away. Sometimes to charities, as birthday gifts, to neighbors as thank you gifts, etc. Put my trays in a holiday art sale last year which was supposed to be "affordable art" and priced them only at $30. each but didn't even sell one. They are well worth $50. or more. I put them out during my yearly yard sale in a separate section and asked $25. ea. and none sold. I'm going to try the holiday art sale again this year with some of my small art pieces and see what happens. I am happy to paint for myself right now but a little money here and there is nice and supports this hobby I hope to turn into a small income when I retire. At least I still have about 3 - 5 yrs. to get there. Any suggestions for me?
I just do not have any more space to store large pieces. I only do large pieces if someone hires me to do a large piece or I want one for myself.
Love your work,,,large or small....
love this avocado! I think that if you are having success with what you are doing you should continue to do it! do a large painting when you really feel like doing a large painting! people love small paintings and if you love doing them it's so wonderful to be able to do work that you love!
I love this composition, Carol! I really like the way the dark and light division of the canvas balances effortlessly with the placement of the avocado. And that green! Love that brighter color of green instead of the usual olive. Gives it such a great contemporary punch.
Personally,I have found that the 6 x 6's are working out, although I'm trying to get some larger (10 x 10's & 12 x 12's) ready for a Gallery Show. Carol Marine said she has a lot of success doing it that way: small for internet/larger for Galleries, so I thought I would follow her lead and see how it goes.
This avocado painting is perfect,love the way you paint.
I know what you mean about painting large, I am struggling with that at the moment. I have bought 3 16 x 20 ins canvases and I'm putting off tackling them, as you say where do you put all this art when you've finished painting them, I have boxes of them stacking up, I just wish I could sell some! If you find the answer pls. let me know too!
Hi Carol, I like your avocados. This one is presented so formally, it reminds me of ballet slippers in a studio pose...lovely! As to the other, I have the opposite issue more often. I want to paint large, and think, "large works aren't selling right now and I need to get to my blog!" Guess we all have our "shoulds" and just need to be happier with where we are...?
I feel that way about the little pieces sometimes! I've actually had more luck lately selling larger paintings than small ones.
I think it can be refreshing to switch it up every now and then; sometimes the large ones will wear me out and it feels great to go back to painting smaller ones, and then sometimes I get tired of painting small and really want to be able to stretch out a bit and not worry about every little detail.
I like to think that the variety in sizes at least gives my customers a little more to choose from depending on their needs.
Love the angular almost abstract background with the organic flow of the avocados. Whenever I get confused about "where I am" as an artist, I will look through other artist blogs that I respect and enjoy and see what they are up to. I think it sort of validates our choices. The thing I like about your style is that you paint any subject that comes your way with flair and style and with the love of painting that shows through in your work. But we think that we must "do it all".
If you want to submit to galleries, they always want larger pieces. If you don't want to do this, then you should paint what suits you. I do believe that doing a larger piece now and again gives you some freedom to play with the paint a bit more and do some experimenting..which can be fun. I got so burned out doing the larger pieces for the show, I am having some fun with smaller stuff (as you have noticed and thanks for the comments!)
Like this avacado piece. I too have struggled with going to larger canvases. Feel like it is hard to keep the same feel. One thing I have done that has helped is moving brush size as your canvas size goes up.
Wonderful color and value changes.
Hi Carol. I've been painting small since around Duane and Juliann's time, but didn't post often - had a different site back then. I paint size as I think the painting dictates ie my latest 'No Loitering' is a 16 x 12. This piece did not want to be small. With that said, I find that at times a small piece poses as more of a study and turns out to be worked as a larger piece as well. We all have enough angst about our work as it is so I say do it 'your' way. Karin Jurick for one does not work larger than 8 x 8 I believe. And we all know how well she's doing. Her art is sensational. Anyway, that's my take. Your question led to some great conversations.
I love the shadows, colors and the arrangement of Avocado Shadows. A great piece, no matter the size. Less is more as they say.
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