Monday, August 15, 2011

Walking on Sunshine


Original Acrylic on Canvas 24 x 30

I'm walking on sunshine, and don't it feel good?! That's the song and sentiment that was going through my head when I painted this scene. Some days are just so beautiful and peaceful. This scene is a walk down the beach from Whaling Station Bay on Hornby Island, one of our favourite places to holiday. The gorgeous big arbutus tree, with it's unique red bark, hanging out over the sandstone shoals was picture perfect. I was quite pleased with my interpretation of the tree, until I browsed through Julie Davis' blog with her wonderfully informative tree studies, and I realized that I could definitely reinterpret this arbutus. However, not wanting to upset this sunshiney feeling, the fact that I could have interpreted differently, applied fewer highlights, created a more active/passive approach to my tree, is not something to feel bad about. It's something to look forward to! I can take Julie's pointers and do my own tree studies, and use that information to inform my next tree paintings. I'm still happy with my tree, I just know I could improve on it. But then Van Gogh felt that way about everything he painted.Speaking of which, I saw on Virginia Floyd's blog, that she is feeling frustrated with her painting process these days, and her husband said "You're not going cut off your ear are you?" I laughed out loud when I read that! We need to take ourselves less seriously, and just enjoy the journey, and keep learning from each other. I strongly believe that apart from a painters need to create, the fact that painting is not static, but a continual learning process, is what keeps all of us coming back to our easels each day. Smile and onward!!

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Posted by claire christinel at 11:23 AM
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10 comments:

  1. Antonio MachadoAugust 15, 2011 at 1:51 PM

    Hello Claire,
    very beautiful realist painting. Beautiful intense colors!
    Congratulations

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  2. Carrie Waller WatercolorsAugust 15, 2011 at 2:05 PM

    Claire, this is beautiful. Those blues are so intense but serene at the same time and that green just pops, just lovely. I keep meaning to e-mail you back but I'm not sure what's up with all of the links to your blog. Maybe some kind of glitch.

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  3. Virginia FloydAugust 15, 2011 at 3:48 PM

    Wow, this is lovely, Claire! This SHOULD make you happy! Beautiful dappled light on the leaves, and the ledge is beautiful too, partly in shade and partly in sunlight. What a beautiful place.

    I saw Julie Davis" tree studies, too. They are different from yours, but not necessarily better. Just a different style. I like your attitude about using them as something to look forward to!

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  4. claire christinelAugust 16, 2011 at 6:45 AM

    Thanks Antonio, Carrie, and Virginia! I had to celebrate the sunshine on this perfect day, because we haven't had a banner year for weather.

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  5. hmuxoAugust 18, 2011 at 4:50 PM

    Claire, I LOVE this painting. The rocks ...the tree...very realistic and beautiful!!

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  6. claire christinelAugust 19, 2011 at 11:38 PM

    Thank you Hilda, I really appreciate your feedback.

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  7. Carol Schiff Daily PaintingAugust 20, 2011 at 4:16 AM

    Beautifully done landscape Claire! The post is beautifully written too. It is always encouraging to see that others have the same frustrations and doubts that I have. I think you are right, that process is what brings us back to the easel day after day.Otherwise, we could just as easily be on an assembly line, punching out new paintings days after day.

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  8. claire christinelAugust 20, 2011 at 12:49 PM

    Thanks Carol! Sometimes we artists tend to beat ourselves up, when really we just need to see it as a journey. Glad you enjoyed my post. :-)

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  9. viagra onlineDecember 6, 2011 at 8:28 AM

    wow thank you so much for sharing with us, very beautiful realist painting. Beautiful intense colors!
    Congratulatios

    ReplyDelete
  10. Elliott BroidyOctober 30, 2012 at 10:45 AM

    It's beautiful

    ReplyDelete

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