Tuesday 7 December 2010

Water studies



While I have several projects on the go at once, there are several water-related ones that keep jumping into my head and insisting that I make some inroads on them.

Reflections on water is the predominant image that calls me and I've done a couple of studies in preparation of larger pieces.  I'm a firm believer in doing studies that let me work out most of my mistakes before I translate them onto a large canvas.


The first is a simple water pattern in late evening on a local pond.  Its not complete in terms of light but enough information is there to make it recognizable for what it is.  This is done on in oils on a 6 x 12 gallery canvas that I reclaimed from another start that didn't go as planned.


The second piece is strong reflections on the surface of slowly moving water. The distorted shapes create an abstract pattern and lots of negative shapes to work from.  Its a bit of a puzzle to paint but a little concentration helps as well as the small size of just 6 x 6 in acrylics.  I wanted to ensure that I would like to do this before I went larger with this one.   I drew this up on a 20 x 20 canvas and will work on it as and when I can.

7 comments:

Making A Mark said...

Love the one on the left!

I've got a ton of photos I keep taking of reflections. I think it's one of the things I like best about water. I'll be really interested to see how this progresses.

vivien said...

I love reflections as well

These are lovely and a great new idea for a long series

Jeanette Jobson said...

I'm really drawn to reflections also Katherine. Yes the one on the left has much more punch. I still need to bump up the constrast on the one on the right, but as a study it shows me what works and doesn't.

I want to take some photos of thin and cracked ice over water this winter, that should be fun.

Vivien, I've been rolling ideas around in my head for the next project after gyotaku and this may be it. A year of reflections. But I have to finish up the gyotaku project first. The end is in sight!

Unknown said...

Gorgeous work!!!

Jeanette Jobson said...

Thanks Kathy. Once things slow down a little I'll have time to work on a larger version of these.

Suma CM said...

Great abstract shapes in that painting -- really nice!

Anonymous said...

I also think it is the best and most challenging aspect of water! great studies!
Ronell