Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Artistic Subtlety

Am still doing Jane Davies online workshop.  It's a 10 week commitment and is getting harder each lesson.  In the past two lessons we have gone from the sublime to the gorblimey, or vice versa depending on your point of view.

In this lesson we were to use as many and varied techniques as possible, making each quadrant of the piece completely different.



On the left is a start...but we were asked to push it further, so the image on the right is the result. Similarly in those below....






In the following lesson...quite the opposite.  We were to make images with as little contrast as possible, but still make them interesting.




This was not as easy as it sounds. I really had to overcome the hurdle of thinking of them as backgrounds, but regarding them as complete works. It was a lesson in subtlety...and one that I needed.

14 comments:

  1. Wow, such a lot of learning going on here - they are fabulous. That last lesson,really does sound difficult! I am seriously considering this course when it starts up again, I think I would enjoy it.

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  2. Fascinating that this can even be taught.
    So interesting and a great way to stretch and grow.
    Now I must go look up "gorblimey" a new word for me.
    oxo
    p.s. your work is super Jo!

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  3. Nice work, as always. You got the subtle in spades. Alot going on there. xox

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  4. I think you've got it! and I would say she is a very good instructor, but then you are an exceptional student!! well done...

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  5. Fantastic pieces Jo! You're doing such a great job with Jane's class. I'd have much trouble with the last series:)

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  6. Really interesting lessons here! I like pushing things as far as you can at times, but making art with little contrast is foreign to me. You did a great job!

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  7. Great work, as usual. I thought those subtle ones were going to be a quickie....just slap some shades of paint down and call it good. HA! Creating the depth and subtlety like you have here, is much harder than I anticipated. It was just as much work as making the variety pieces! This week's lesson is going to give me serious anxiety - I have the feeling they should feel more like finished pieces and I definitely feel a bit unprepared - but I'll give it the college try! :) Can't wait to see what you do.

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  8. Jo - are you telling me that those wonderful background palettes are under the final works at the top of the blog??? I just love watching your progression and can say that what you do is incredibly hard - to find balance and joy and end up with such beautiful transitions is amazing!!

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  9. Really wonderful... I'm going to have to look into this course. I've never done an online workshop, but your recent posts are convincing me I should give it a go.

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  10. "gorblimey", I have never heard of that word before!! I loved the result when you pushed yourself, especially the middle series. It really grabs me.

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  11. Oh, wow, do I understand what you're saying about those backgrounds!! I just created two canvases that I kept wanting to overlay with elements and they were NOT to be overlaid!!!

    I love love love those first six pieces, too.

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  12. Hi JM - love your level of commitment. B

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  13. I know I've already commented here, but I had to come back and tell you your google + post was luscious! I will go over there later and figure out more about google +

    signed:
    she who is not very familiar with google+...

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