Tension is mounting! Painting #10. Only one more to reveal, and the Lessons from the Low Countries series is complete. As you can see it grew from the original 10 to 11 paintings which are now all completed, photographed, documented, and will be posted here in a few days. It is amazing how many chores must be done at this late date, and I am … [Read more...] about Pins and Needles
Margret's Still Life Oil Paintings
Formal still life oil paintings came into popularity in 17th century Dutch when people became more affluent. They were also withdrawing from the rigid constraints of the church and could paint subjects other than from the bible. Still life oil painting has remained a popular form of expression since that time.
Rembrandt, Oysters, and Pronkstillevens
Many artists’ names in this Rembrandt and the Golden Age of Dutch Art exhibit are not familiar like Rembrandt’s, but they are masters in their own right, non-the-less. This is true of Abraham Mignon, the painter of Still Life with Fruit and Oysters and is the source piece for #10 in my series. Mignon’s canvas, filled with flowers, ribbons, sheet … [Read more...] about Rembrandt, Oysters, and Pronkstillevens
Peek Performance
Posted here is a detail of painting number 9. The source catalog painting by Rembrandt is a very limited palette and includes many of the friendly colors described in Intimidations below. In spite of the limited range of hues used by Rembrandt, vermilion reds were prominent. I have attempted to capitalize on the chiaroscuro technique here by … [Read more...] about Peek Performance
De-ja Vu
While reading one of my favorite still life books this week, something very intriguing caught my attention. You have probably had an occasion where you have read something or seen something, and then had a nagging thought that you saw it somewhere, but couldn't put your finger on where or when. The mysterious tidbit I am describing here is a … [Read more...] about De-ja Vu
Blue Ribbons
A very faithful reader of this blog brought to my attention that I have not included any information about painting #6. I promised to write a post describing this painting which actually was completed several weeks ago. Shown here is a very small detail of my completed painting based on the Rembrandt and the Golden Age of Dutch Art Exhibit … [Read more...] about Blue Ribbons
Daily Mantras
As the months have gone by and the work on #6, #7 , #8 has been progressing, I have had a nagging issue with the very first project painting, #1. Last week I made the decision to remedy this. It would only be natural that I would become more and more adept at handling the very different historic pigments, just from the constant daily use. I must … [Read more...] about Daily Mantras