Recently, I stumbled upon a luscious piece of floral fabric that I just could not resist purchasing. I knew it would be a terrific prop for a painting one day. Sometimes it is very worthwhile to ramble aimlessly through a market just to see what captures your eye. When I saw the pattern on this cloth, I instantly knew it was something very special and I could put it to good use.
This came to me this spring while preparing a new piece for an upcoming 2018 Members Exhibit in New York at the Salmagundi Club. This prestigious show is worth the effort to create something really special, and this beautiful fabric fit the bill.
After settling on a 30×30 square format, I played around with the folds and the set-up for hours in an attempt to get just the right composition. To the left is the actual studio set up. You can see the graceful fall of the folds. In the end, I had to mute the color of the jar because it was too dominant.
Avoid Frustration by Mixing Lots of Color
Because this format is so large at 30×30, it takes lots of paint to cover the entire area. Nothing is more frustrating than having to stop and mix more paint, so I always make a lot to begin with.
In this image, you see the colors that were used in the flowers and leaves on the fabric. Many shades of violets, pinks, were prepared using white, quinacridone rose, cobalt violet, cinnabar, yellow ochre, Winsor Green, bohemian green. Alizarin and Winsor make a luscious dark colorful black.
As you can see, all colors have been prepared. This technique avoids stopping and mixing again and again. Here I have used Ultramarine blue muted with some umber, white, and alizarin crimson.
Grisaille: a Technique from the Masters
A grisaille, pronounced gris-eye is a technique developed and used by the Masters from many centuries ago. Usually one grayish or umber tone is used. After covering the entire white canvas with your chosen color, you can proceed by wiping away the paint which leaves the white of the canvas. There is no white added; light areas are achieved with the light color of the canvas tone, as you can see in the first image in the set
of three below.
Both Rembrandt and Peter Paul Rubens used this technique masterfully. Rubens was known to do a finished piece using this method, adding white and lead tin yellow for the lightest lights.
Forging Ahead with Color
The grisaille is usually dry overnight and then the color can be applied atop. In the center image below, I have proceeded by adding the blue, retaining shadow shapes of the folds which is imperative. To the right, the pinks and reds are added to the floral shapes.
Thank you Neil Young
While painting this piece, I binge watched the HBO Series, Big Little Lies. At the conclusion of the story during the credits, Neil Young was singing his famous Harvest Moon. I loved that album so much that I must have listened to it 75 times.
I am happy to tell you also that this painting won the Samual T. Shaw Memorial Award at the Salmagundi Members Exhibit. Wandering through that market the day I spied this fabric was an auspicious day indeed.
Aloha Margret,
What a gorgeous masterwork. Not surprised you won an award! The story of the fabric and details of the composition and colors were fascinating as always.
Say hello to Dave for us, and keep doing what you do so magnificently.
Congratulations and Best Wishes,
Gary and Michele
Hello in Sunny Hawaii! So very nice to get your lovely message with your nice comments. Hope all is going well with you two and you are happily painting every tenant in your building, between surfing lessons. Warm Regards, Margret
So beautiful! Congratulations on the win
Thank you Becky for your nice comment.
Thank you so much for sharing the progress of an awesome painting. It shows the amazing work involved in such a creation as well as your knowledge of your art. I so enjoy your sharing. Thank you.
Thank you Penny. I am glad you enjoyed the anatomy of a painting. This one was particularly fun to paint, though challenging too, because of the size. Sometimes it is difficult to fill up those empty spaces, but smooth blank background areas make the busy detailed areas more prominent and important. I always have to tell myself that!
Thank you for this post; I have learned two new techniques: Grisaille and Chiaroscuro Painting. I will look up and learn more. I love the painting you did it is beautiful. I see why you won without viewing the other paints in the contest.
Hello Jo, So splendid to know you have learned two new techniques for your paintings. That is always my goal in writing my blog, to impart to others the endlessly exciting ways to paint. Let me know if, in the future you have experimented with grisaille or chiaroscuro. I would love to see what you have done. Best, Margret
Greetings Dear Margret… I spent a very nice moment in this morning enjoying your sharing the creation of this beautiful painting…..Your work is always inspiring for me, not to paint, I do not, but just living life! That there is such beauty!…. I am going to go listen to Harvest Moon~
xo
Cherise
Hi Cherise, So nice to be a part of your enjoyed moment reflecting on the beauty in life. I hope you do listen again to that wonderful song, Harvest Moon. The lyrics, the melody, the rhythm, all so lovely – over and over again. Well, maybe not 75 times but at least a few. Stay in touch, Margret
I loved all the details you painted for us from beginning to end of this informational story. The work of art, the award winner, is amazing. Congratulations!
Who could have known, when we grew up together you would enjoy such greatness. I am proud to know you, to love you and to enjoy with you, your prestigious
Works of art. Joanny
Oh MY, Joanny! I don’t know if I can live up to those words. You are too kind. Do you ever wonder where the years have gone? Too many to think about.
Nice painting
Hey Annie,
Glad you liked it! Margi
You are just amazing! Once again I feel like I could reach out and stroke my finger through the folds of the table cloth. I love seeing the photographs of the process too!
Thanks so much Michelle. Comments like yours makes artists like me stay chained to our easels. I am so glad you liked to see the process of making a painting. It is rather like building a highrise where you build a foundation and everything goes atop that.
I have been a self-taught artist for many years. Now I actually see what I’ve missed and why certain paintings resonate with me and others not so much. Thank you for sharing these incredible techniques and your exquisite examples. Your award is well deserved. You have such a beautiful talent. I have a lot of studying to do. Thank you for sharing.
Being self taught is an admirable way to learn. That you have now ‘seen’ what resonates and what doesn’t is a big step in the understanding of going forward. Do keep studying and learning. After all these years, I never stop learning new things with new ideas. Please do not hesitate to write with questions anytime and keep me posted on your progress. Best Regards.