Recognition

 In the Oxford Dictionary recognition is defined as acknowledgment of something's existence, validity,

and in the Cambridge Dictionary in giving recognition people are showing admiration and respect for your achievements.

 

This may seem like an unlikely topic for an art blog. Aren't artists supposed to be above such things? In many cases we do work in isolation, creating our pieces without consideration of how they will be received by the "outside" world. 

However, I like to think of recognition as a positive word. If one is not chained to the praise associated with acknowledgement of one's work, recognition can be a force to advance one's creativity and push the boundaries of what an artist wishes to convey. Sometimes that happens when it is another artist who receives the award. We can ask ourselves how we can move beyond a plateau in our own work, reflecting our own interpretation of the world. How can we approach a subject, a technique, a color in a new way?

There are few artists who are not moved by receiving an award, especially one judged by one's peers. When a member of the public compliments a piece, even if they do not add it to their collection, don't we feel gratified that our work has resonated with someone? 

 

Recognition gives us a sign post that we are moving in the right direction.

I have a few recent recognitions I'd like to share. 

 

Buoy Six     Original Oil   8" X 9"

Finalist  2023 Richeson75 International Landscape, Seascape, & Architecture Art Contest
 

Duet     Original Oil    14" X 15"

Finalist  2023 Richeson75 International Landscape, Seascape, & Architecture Art Contest 

 

 

Buoy 23    Original Oil    11" X 10"

Meritorious 2023 Richeson75 International Landscape, Seascape, & Architecture Art Contest

 

 

 

Got Your Back     Original Oil    24" X 33"

Merit Award at the National Oil & Acrylic Painters Society’s Spring International Online Exhibit

 

 

 

This last one is recognition of a different sort. My painting Blue on Blue has been included in the Oil Painters of America Masters Show. As a Signature Member I am honored to have my work included in the Master Signature member show.

 

 Blue on Blue     Original Oil    24" X 24"

Oil Painters of America Masters Show 2023

August 3 - 31, 2023

Illume Gallery West

130 E. Broadway
Phillipsburg MT

 www.illumegallerywest.com

 

 

 
 

Finished

 

Above is the photo from the previous post. 

(Note: none of the middle and foreground foam has been painted.)

I try to not hold my paintings too dear while creating them. Yes, I painted a section and liked it when I finished it, but if it is not effective with the whole it needs to be changed.

 

1.) the heavy lines here are distracting especially for a background element. I softened the whole area by adding more blue and blending into the existing paint.

2.) having foam here makes a confusing transition to the curl and draws attention away from the wave's "peak" in the middle of the painting.

3.) the inside of the curl needs to be darker and more blue (shadowed.)

4.) I wanted the feeling of pebbles underneath the waves and some dark areas but these heavy areas are too much. They are the first thing I see when looking at the painting

Those are just some of the alterations I made to finish the piece.

 

 

Below is the scan of the completed painting

 

After the Storm

Original Oil

25" X 48"
 

Almost Done

 

At this stage the wave is almost done. I still had to paint all the "white." For the lightest parts I use titanium white mixed with a tiny bit of cadmium yellow deep. This makes a warm white which gives the feeling the "white" is touched by sunlight.

 

For the foreground, I used larger brushes. There are some browns painted on the lower left as I wanted the feeling of pebbles underneath the water's surface. The foreground holds interest but not the viewer's immediate attention.

 

 

More Wave

 The top of the curl is painted and before I start with the crazy foam zone, I like to put in the base.

 

 

 From the base I work up in to the foam. While my reference photos can be an aid, sometimes I just ignore them and feel my way around the wave. That entails a lot of stepping back from the painting to gauge how effective a section is. On a painting like this I expect to make changes as the wave evolves.

Building a Wave

 My last posts showing the steps of painting the rowboat seemed to garner a lot of interest based on the number of visits. So, as a followup, I am sharing the painting steps of the other large piece I did for my Summer 2024 Sea, Sand, & Shore collection at the Louisa Gould Gallery on Martha's Vineyard.

This painting is 25" X 48"

This part of the wave I like to think of as the shelf, the "flat" part of the wave before the curl. Creating high and low features brings movement to this section.

The curl. 

This upper part of the curl feels gentle to me. The water is smooth, yet shows off a variety of colors from light yellows to reflective blues. I'll paint on a color and keep working on blending, softening the edges.