Monday, February 21, 2011

POPPY FIELD, 8X8, MIXED MEDIA SOLD

I really like to go a little abstract, some days more than others.  I'm not sure that it is a good practice for an artist to vary subject matter and styles of work so drastically.  What do you think?  Should I bang away day after day, trying my best to improve my skills and develop a recognizable style...or is it okay to take a day off now and then to play?  Somehow, if I stay too focused, I think I get a little too serious about this..forgetting that I am retired and this is my "hobby".

Hmmmm, I think everyone needs a day off!  If it effects my more serious painting, so be it!

17 comments:

Kim VanDerHoek said...

Absolutely, you should have down time away from painting. I think it helps your mind process everything you are learning. Plus, you have time to get some perspective on what you just finished painting.

Beautiful abstract painting too by the way!

Carol Blackburn said...

I love it, Carol.....one of my favorite little 4 x 4 abstract acrylic paintings came about because I was trying to paint over something I had done in order to reuse the canvas. I ended up messing around with it for fun and got a really neat abstract. It's fun to play every once in a while.

Linda said...

It's lovely! Great colors.

Anonymous said...

Carol,

This is lovely~!

I think either option is fine - playing or pursuing. :)

Kay said...

well I am all about the fun..I think if this lovely little abstract makes you happy..don't worry..Being happy can only help your"serious"paintings. Of course i have no room to talk..I am all over the place.. I love to try anything!

Kim Vanlandingham said...

I'm glad you took some time to play! Love the colors! We all have to take that time to just be "fun" artists! Remember when you were a kid and just colored. Or just got out the crayons and drew whatever!! We need to be that kid!!!

martinealison said...

Très jolies ces nuances de couleurs... Bisous

Art with Liz said...

You can have lots of days off if you paint like this! Love it!

Susan Roden said...

Definitely play Carol! I like what you did here.

See where it gets one - the Donut War. And everyone needs to bring out the kid in them.

Carol Nelson said...

You're preaching to the choir here. People claim they can recognize my style, but since I do abstracts AND realism, I don't know how they can.

It seems most of my abstracts are large and my realism is small - that's the only thing I can pin down.

Your little mixed media piece is lovely. Doing a painting like that is liberating and a truly CREATIVE experience.

Shirley Fachilla said...

I really like your little abstract. I think showing it in a setting (second photo) is very effective.
Abstraction seems to suffer more by having its size reduced (even when it's comparatively small) than the representational.

Peter Greene said...

Play, play! It's as much a part of being serious about your art as technical excellence: form, I say, is for learning first and for love second. Content, content is what comes from your heart to your art. Play! And thanks again for images to behold: there are so many of us, so bright and lovely! This is getting to be a very pretty Internet. Thanks for sharing on it.

PG

Karen Bruson said...

This looks as though it was very freeing. Love the texture.

Carmen Beecher said...

Beautiful! And I think you work too hard for this to be a hobby!

Unknown said...

ABSOLUTELY! I completely agree, life is short and whether or not you see it, I DO see your own particular style when I see your artwork. I like to play with abstracts we well from time to time, play with tons of different brushes, mediums even, supports and 'see' what happens IF I do this? Enjoy, I personally love this piece btw...

Jane said...

I think you should always paint the way you are inspired to paint, play around, and the result of your abstract clearly shows, that following your heart ....pays! It is a beautiful painting, really like it.

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

This is so beautiful..such lovely colors! ♥